Passing It Up
Michael Keaton and 'Groundhog Day'
Role: Phil
While promoting his 2014 film "Birdman," Michael Keaton admitted to passing up the starring role in the 1993 comedy hit "Groundhog Day" because he "didn't get it."
The role went to Bill Murray, and Keaton says, "You can't do it better than Bill Murray did."
Image via Columbia Pictures/Photofest/REX
Meg Ryan and 'Pretty Woman'
Role: Vivian
The charming romantic comedy about a hooker with a heart of gold was originally written as a dark comedy. After a few rewrites, director Gary Marshall lightened the mood and offered the lead role to Meg Ryan, who turned it down. The role was then offered to many other starlets, including Michelle Pfeiffer, before finally going to Julia Roberts. The movie made Roberts a star, not that Ryan did so badly herself.
Image via Buena Vista Pictures/Photofest/REX
Michelle Pfeiffer and 'The Silence of the Lambs'
Role: Clarice Starling
Director Jonathan Demme helped make Michelle Pfeiffer a star in "Married to the Mob," so she was naturally his first choice for the lead role in "The Silence of the Lambs." But despite wanting to work with Demme again, Pfeiffer turned down the role, which earned Jodie Foster an Academy Award. Pfeiffer admits to regretting turning down the role, saying, "I don't have an innate commercial sense. I'm always wrong."
That's lucky for Jodie Foster.
Image via Orion/Photofest/REX
Christian Bale and 'James Bond'
Role: James Bond
Lucky for Daniel Craig (and for us) that Christian Bale didn't want to be attached to the Bond franchise, which he categorized as "typically British." According to Bale's former publicist, "He thought that James Bond represented every despicable stereotype about England and British actors. Besides, he quipped: 'I've already played a serial killer.'"
Image via Columbia Pictures/Photofest/REX
Anne Hathaway and 'Silver Linings Playbook'
Role: Tiffany
Anne Hathaway backed out of "Silver Linings Playbook" due to "creative differences," and the role of Tiffany went to Jennifer Lawrence, who then won an Academy Award for her portrayal.
That wasn't completely bad news for Hathaway, however. That same year, she won the best supporting actress Oscar for "Les Miserables."
Win win.
Image via The Weinstein Company/Photofest/REX
Rooney Mara and 'Zero Dark Thirty'
Role: Maya
Jessica Chastain may have been the second choice for her role as CIA agent Maya in "Zero Dark Thirty," but she earned an Academy Award nomination for her work in the film that Rooney Mara dropped out of due to scheduling constraints.
Image via Columbia Pictures/Photofest/REX
