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Writer's pictureAlyssa DiTomasso

10 times ICONIC celebrities were rejected from ICONIC roles

You'll be shocked to know Robin Williams was totally bait for THIS A-List celebrity for THIS movie


There is nothing more enjoyable than watching a movie for a little bit out of your day to transport you to a magical world to forget about your stress and fears or remind you to be thankful for what you have. While movies can be full of magic and wonder, the making of movies is full of trickery and deceit. Here are 10 times major actors were rejected from big time roles.


1. Michelle Pfeiffer in 1989's Batman


The actress was being considered for the role of Vicki Vale, but Michael Keaton was trying to get back with his ex wife, and Pfeiffer and Keaton had previously dated. Pfeiffer eventually did land a role in the Batman series as Catwoman in Batman Returns.


2. Robin Williams


Another 1989 Batman reject is the iconic King of Comedy, Robin Williams. Williams was offered the role of the Joker; however by the time Robin responded to the call the part went to Jack Nicholson. It's rumored that Robin Williams was actually just used as bait to get Jack Nicholson to play the part. I mean come on am I the only one seeing the irony here a guy named Robin, set to supposedly play Batman's archnemesis...


3. Beyoncé


Back in 2009 the Queen Bey herself wanted to voice Disney's first Black Princess in The Princess And The Frog. She was rejected for not wanting to audition for the role and expecting it to be handed to her because... well she's Beyoncé


4. Beyoncé... again


The Queen Bey has been snubbed twice by Disney actually... it's reported in 2017 she was approached for a role in the live action version of Beauty And The Beast. The role Disney approached her for was Plumette the feather duster, Beyoncé rejected the opportunity because she felt the role was too small for her.


5. Richard Gere


This lost gem from the 70s stars Sylvester Stallone. Well one of the original members of the cast was Richard Gere, you know 90s heartthrob starred across Julia Roberts in like every romcom Richard Gere. Apparently he was booted from the set because he accidentally spilled spilled mustard and chicken grease on Sylvester Stallone and the two ended up in a physical fight. Stallone said this about the altercation, "The director had to make a choice: one of us had to go, one of us had to stay. Richard was given his walking papers and to this day seriously dislikes me." In my movie expertise Richard was better of without this Grease knock off.


6. Meryl Streep


Meryl Streep auditioned for the 1976 version of King Kong. During her audition an Italian Producer for the movie said she was too ugly for the role and rejected her. The kicker is this producer said his mean comments in Italian hoping Streep wouldn't understand what he was saying, but the joke was on him when she did understand exactly what he said... I wonder what that guy is up to now? The role ended up going to a very young Jessica Lange.


7. Russell Crowe


Russell Crowe was originally approached to be Wolverine in the 2000s X-Men series. Crowe actually rejected the part because he'd just finished Gladiator and didn't want to be associated with another role that wolves played a key factor in. Ironically he didn't realize that a wolverine is actually more closely related to a badger. Russell actually suggested Hugh Jackman play the role and that's who's played the character since.


8. Olivia Wilde


Olivia Wilde auditioned for The Wolf Of Wall Street. She was initially told she was too sophisticated for the role she was interested in. The role went to Margot Robbie and producers actually later said they felt Wilde was too old for the role.


9. Will Smith


It's possible there is another timeline where Will Smith plays Neo in The Matrix. He was being considered for the role and many other movie deals at the time and decided to star in Wild Wild West instead. The kicker is the movie he chose ended up being a total flop and The Matrix is considered a huge cult classic.


10. Michael Jackson


Now this is shocking... Michael Jackson could have possibly been in Star Wars as Jar Jar Binks. Allow me to explain... creators were trying to convince George Lucas to include Jackson in the prequels, but George was dead set on using CGI. Apparently there was enough of a conversation between George Lucas and his team of creators and Michael Jackson to know that Jackson wanted to be in a full costume and prosthetics makeup to make it happen.


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