You shall not pass: These 7 actors, despite their fame, failed to land an iconic movie role

Even Hollywood's most iconic actors have a string of "what if" roles hidden in their history. With every defining performance that catapulted an actor to fame, there's usually a lost chance at a role that eluded them because of scheduling, creative differences, or just a hunch that didn't materialize. Looking back, some of these casting choices are practically unthinkable. Could you picture Tom Cruise as Iron Man? Or Al Pacino wisecracking as Han Solo? Neither could the actors themselves back then.

What adds to these lost opportunities so much intrigue is how legendary the roles ultimately became. These weren't mere characters, these were franchise-starters, career-makers, and culture-creators. Still, even A-listers with their Hollywood muscle and awards don't always see cinematic gems when they're served up on a silver platter.

This story explores seven such moments when top actors, far be it from all the adoration, ability, and sway, lost legendary roles. It's not about what they did not get, but about what Hollywood and viewers gained instead. The outcomes are an engaging mix of alternative history and on-set information that shows even the biggest stars receive an occasional "You shall not pass."

7 actors, despite their fame, failed to land an iconic movie role

1) Tom Cruise – Iron Man (Tony Stark)

Before Robert Downey Jr. revolutionized the superhero genre, Tom Cruise was considered for the role of Iron Man by Marvel. Cruise had been interested in producing and acting in the movie during its initial development stages in the 1990s. Cruise didn't commit to the script or the character's complexity during that time. Cruise later divulged that Downey was "born to play" Tony Stark. Ironically, Cruise is still an international superstar with franchises such as Mission: Impossible, but missing out on Iron Man was missing the Marvel boom that revolutionized Hollywood. The fans still speculate about what Cruise's tech-smart charm could've added to the character.

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2) Emily Blunt – Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)

Emily Blunt was originally supposed to be Black Widow and had already signed up for Iron Man 2. Unfortunately, because of a contract with Gulliver's Travels, she was forced to step aside. Blunt would later state she had "no regrets," and complimented Johansson's performance. In 2021, it started trending again, with fans calling on Marvel to put Blunt in Fantastic Four with her husband, John Krasinski. Although she has never officially joined the MCU, the ongoing "what if" about Blunt's Black Widow remains intriguing to both Marvel enthusiasts and movie lovers alike.

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3) Will Smith – Neo (The Matrix)

Will Smith famously turned down The Matrix to play Wild Wild West, something he's joked about since. The Wachowskis' presentation baffled him, and Smith himself later confessed he didn't get the revolutionary idea. Keanu Reeves went on to give us an iconic, stoic Neo, revolutionizing action films. Curiously, Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, ended up playing the sequels. In a 2019 video on YouTube, Smith openly fantasized about how terribly he would have miscast the role, humorously admitting that Reeves was the ideal choice. Nevertheless, fans tend to fantasize about the way Smith's charisma and vitality would have redefined the digital revolution.

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4) Gwyneth Paltrow – Rose (Titanic)

Gwyneth Paltrow was one of the front-runners for James Cameron's Titanic before Kate Winslet broke box office records. In some interviews, Paltrow was evasive, stating she was "one of the last two" under consideration. What's interesting is that she's never seen the entire movie, which earned more than $2 billion at the box office worldwide. Paltrow's career thrived nonetheless, with an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love and a Marvel stint as Pepper Potts. In retrospect, her more subdued style may have redefined Rose, though few would sacrifice Winslet's emotional depth for it.

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5) John Travolta – Forrest Gump

John Travolta passed on Forrest Gump, the role that won Tom Hanks his second straight Oscar. Travolta was riding a resurgence at the time, but could have taken it a step further. Surprisingly, Travolta had already had some of the roles Hanks would end up playing, including Splash and Philadelphia. The 2023 documentary The Offer That Changed Hollywood discusses how decisions on casting, such as this, spread across careers. Though Travolta is charismatic, one cannot quite envision him playing the gentle Southern Gump. Nevertheless, it contributes to the extensive list of "almosts" in his diverse body of work.

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6) Sean Connery – Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)

Sean Connery allegedly declined the Gandalf role because he didn't get the script. New revelations from Peter Jackson's crew in a 2024 Empire retrospective indicated Connery was offered as much as $30 million plus 15% of the box office of the trilogy, which would have netted him close to $450 million today. Connery's Hollywood exit allowed Ian McKellen to take over, giving an iconic performance that got him an Oscar nomination. Though Connery's reputation remains unsullied, this part could've brought a fantasy sheen to his icon status. McKellen afterward commented that he was "grateful" to have had the chance that Connery unknowingly let pass his way.

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7) Al Pacino – Han Solo (Star Wars)

Al Pacino was asked to play Han Solo but turned it down, stating he didn't get the script, a common refrain among actors who passed on Star Wars. He later said, jokingly, "I gave Harrison Ford a career." It's a strong assertion, but not really off-base. In 2022, Pacino brought up the subject again during a Q&A session, stating that science fiction wasn't in his comfort zone then. While Pacino set the standards for '70s and '80s movies with The Godfather and Scarface, Ford was the natural choice for rogue charm. Had Pacino committed the swagger and snark of Han Solo could have become something entirely else.