Lindsay Lohan once claimed she lost out on a Marvel role because of her manager. The timing lined up with casting for Avengers: Age of Ultron, which introduced Scarlet Witch. While never confirmed, she believes she was in the mix for the part that eventually went to Elizabeth Olsen. | © Netflix
Glenn Howerton came very close to being Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. James Gunn has said he was the backup choice if Chris Pratt didn’t take the role. Fans still joke that it’s surprising the “Golden God” wasn’t tapped for Adam Warlock instead. | © Lionsgate Films
Ryan Gosling was once in talks to play Doctor Strange during Marvel’s Phase Three planning. He met with the studio about taking on the role of Stephen Strange, but ultimately didn’t move forward. Fans still wonder what might have been, almost as much as his scrapped Haunted Mansion project with Guillermo del Toro. | © Netflix
Olga Kurylenko was in the running to play Wonder Woman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. She and Gal Gadot had actually competed for roles before, back when Quantum of Solace was casting its Bond girl. This time, Kurylenko missed out while Gadot landed the Lasso of Truth and launched a new era for the character. | © Argos Films
Emma Roberts was offered the chance to play Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, but turned it down. She chose to star in the TV series Scream Queens instead, which took her out of the running. That decision paved the way for Margot Robbie to step in and make the character her own. | © Amazon Studios
Jamie Dornan nearly traded the Red Room for the red cape. At one point, he was in the mix to play Superman in the DC Extended Universe, while Henry Cavill was eyed for Fifty Shades of Grey. Now the two have often been mentioned together again, this time as contenders for James Bond. | © Universal Studios
Amanda Seyfried was offered the role of Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy but turned it down. She doubted the movie would succeed and didn’t want to spend months covered in green makeup. Looking back, she’s admitted she was “very wrong” about that call. | © Stage 6 Films
Emily Blunt was originally offered the role of Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2, back when the character was introduced under the alias Natalie Rushman. Unfortunately, she had to pass because of contractual obligations that tied her to 2010’s Gulliver’s Travels. That opened the door for Scarlett Johansson, who went on to make the role her own. | © Netflix
John Krasinski was seriously considered to play Captain America when Marvel was searching for their Steve Rogers. He didn’t land the role, but he later took on another patriotic hero as Jack Ryan. Fans also got a surprise when he briefly appeared as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange 2. | © Paramount Pictures
Dougray Scott was originally cast as Wolverine in the first X-Men movie. Filming delays and injuries from Mission: Impossible II forced him to step away at the last minute. That opened the door for Hugh Jackman, who went on to define the role for nearly two decades. | © Netflix
Annette Bening was actually the first choice to play Catwoman in Batman Returns. She had to step away after learning she was pregnant, leaving the role suddenly open. Michelle Pfeiffer swooped in soon after and turned it into one of her most iconic performances. | © ABC
Before Robert Downey Jr. became the face of Iron Man, the role almost went to Tom Cruise. Marvel executives debated whether Cruise’s action-hero status made him the safer bet for Tony Stark. In the end, Cruise passed, and Downey’s casting changed the MCU forever. | © Paramount Pictures
Cillian Murphy actually screen-tested for Bruce Wayne when Christopher Nolan was casting Batman Begins. He even tried on the Batsuit, but both he and Nolan realized he wasn’t the right fit for the Dark Knight. Still, that audition paid off: Murphy landed the role of Scarecrow instead, kicking off a long collaboration with Nolan. | © Universal Studios
When casting Elektra for 2003’s Daredevil, the studio looked at a surprising range of big names. Kate Winslet was on the list alongside Lucy Liu, Salma Hayek, and Katie Holmes. It’s funny to think about, if James Cameron’s Spider-Man had happened, Winslet might have ended up tied to Marvel in a very different way. | © StudioCanal UK
James Cameron once had plans for a Spider-Man movie that never made it past the script stage. His choice for Peter Parker was none other than Leonardo DiCaprio, years before Titanic made him a household name. Looking back, it’s wild to imagine how different both of their careers might have been if that project had actually happened. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
Sometimes the actors we picture as superheroes weren’t the studio’s first choice. A lot of big names came close to suiting up before someone else got the role. Here are 15 stars who almost joined the comic book hall of fame.
