Amanda Seyfried
The star of Mamma Mia! (54%) and Mean Girls feared Guardians of the Galaxy (91%) would be a box office disaster that would have a major influence on her career. With an unusual tone within superhero cinema, an "indie" director at the time, and a massive budget... it could all have gone wrong. The fans also had their doubts, but in the end, the gamble paid off big. However, this actress cannot say the same, since she rejected the role of Gamora for fear that the film would become a huge flop. She said that she didn't want to be a part of Marvel's first big box office flop and who can blame her; she never thought the story of a tree talking to a raccoon had potential.
Bette Midler
Speaking of roles that ended up earning her actors an Oscar, Bette Midler passed on the role later won by Kathy Bates in Misery (89%) because she was scared of the violence that takes place in the story. It's hard to imagine an actress other than Bates in said movie because she does it so terrifyingly perfectly, but the Academy Award winner hadn't even been considered for the role. Midler, instead, told Metro in 2010 that she wasn't sure if she would have achieved the same success, but that she turned it down because she was so scared of the violence.
Christina Applegate
The fear of feeling that she was “repeating” herself as an actress and then only being offered the same type of role was what turned Christina Applegate away from Legally Blonde (68%). The fear she felt at the time is understandable, but at the same time, it's ironic to know that said film was the one that catapulted Reese Witherspoon, who certainly hasn't been typecast in roles similar to the iconic blonde. Applegate passed on the project, which was offered to her before Witherspoon was even considered.
Hugh Jackman
The X-Men star (81%) turned down the chance to play James Bond even before the studio talked to him. In the early 2000s, the Australian actor was mentioned as a frontrunner for the role as producers believed he had the talent to play the British spy, but he believed the role would pigeonhole him, according to what he said. he told The Hollywood Reporter. Curiously, he did not allow himself to be offered the role when he played Wolverine for almost 20 years and despite having had other roles he is always remembered for this interpretation.
Jude Law
Playing a character like Superman must surely cause a lot of nervousness for the actors concerned. Bryan Singer wanted Jude Law to star in the superhero's version of him and in a move to try and convince the actor, he sent him the suit so he can put it on and consider it. However, it was that great detail that made the actor step aside and leave the role to someone else at the last minute. Law told Variety that as soon as he saw himself in the suit he thought about what that meant: too much attention, his face everywhere, and posters on every wall. He didn't like having that pressure on his shoulders and he rejected it, assuring that having been Superman for two minutes was more than enough.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Speaking of iconic roles, Clarice's in The Silence of the Lambs (94%) originally belonged to Michell Pfeiffer. When the director signed her contract, her enthusiasm for having her as the lead in the adaptation was evident. Little did he care that the actress was at least 10 years older than necessary for the role and Pfeiffer seemed to be on board with the project but ultimately turned it down. Her reason was that she felt unable to accept the overwhelming darkness and violence of the script, which disappointed the filmmaker and led to Jodie Foster ultimately bringing it to the screen, later winning an Oscar for her performance.
Jennifer Hudson
The Dreamers star (78%) was offered the lead in Precious (91%), but she turned it down. Actress Jennifer Hudson says the decision initially had to do with her reluctance to gain the weight necessary for the character, but later she insisted that it had more to do with what was in the script than with the physical appearance of the character. protagonist. At the time told the Huffington Post that she just felt the character was doing things that were places she didn't want to go, nor did she feel the need to.
