Inside Hollywood’s fiercest battles for iconic roles

Christian Bale vs. Leonardo DiCaprio

Before landing American Psycho, Christian Bale kept losing major roles to Leonardo DiCaprio, including This Boy’s Life and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. When Lions Gate first cast American Psycho, they even announced Leo as Patrick Bateman at Cannes!

Director Mary Harron fought hard to keep Christian in the lead. Leo and director Oliver Stone later bailed, clearing the way for Bale’s iconic take.

Tobey Maguire vs. Jake Gyllenhaal

Tobey Maguire was the face of Spider-Man, but during the sequel, tensions rose. He was upset over a pay gap and pushed to delay filming due to a back injury.

Columbia nearly replaced him with Jake Gyllenhaal—who was dating Kirsten Dunst at the time! Once Tobey got spooked, he committed fast, and Kirsten was relieved not to film with her boyfriend.

Mindy Kaling vs. Maya Rudolph

Mindy Kaling was heartbroken after losing out on the role of Lillian in Bridesmaids, which went straight to Maya Rudolph, no audition needed. Despite Mindy’s love for the script and cast, the part never came her way.

Maya, already pregnant with her third child, shot the film while hiding her bump with belts. Bridesmaids later scored two Oscar nods!

Charlize Theron vs. Rob Marshall

Charlize Theron was originally attached to star in Chicago but was dropped when Rob Marshall took over the project. She said getting kicked off the film, despite her dance background, was a real sore spot.

She later admitted Renée Zellweger was amazing in the role, but confessed she still fantasizes about being in the movie. Sometimes Hollywood just breaks your heart.

Ryan Gosling vs. Miles Teller

Before Ryan Gosling sang and danced his way into La La Land, director Damien Chazelle had his Whiplash star Miles Teller in mind. But when Emma Watson dropped out and other changes followed, Miles got the boot too.

He was stunned, texting Chazelle, “What the f***, bro?” Ryan got an Oscar nom, Emma Stone won, and Miles later said, “Everything happens for a reason.”

Anne Hathaway vs. Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams was the studio’s top pick for The Devil Wears Prada, but she turned it down, three times. Despite being fresh off The Notebook and Mean Girls, she just wasn’t interested in the part.

Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway was dying for it, literally wrote “hire me” in a studio exec’s zen garden. Thanks to Meryl Streep’s blessing, the role was hers.

Julia Roberts vs. Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman confessed she was dying to play Anna Scott in Notting Hill, but said she wasn’t “well known” or “talented” enough back then to land it. Meanwhile, Julia Roberts nearly said no, calling the script “boring” and “stupid.”

Still, she was a fan of writer Richard Curtis and eventually said, “F**k, I’m gonna do this movie.” She took a smaller paycheck and leaned into the parallels with her real life, turns out, it was iconic.

Taron Egerton vs. John Boyega

Before Taron Egerton became the breakout star of Kingsman: The Secret Service, he was neck and neck with John Boyega for the lead role. Director Matthew Vaughn said it was a “tough call” between them, but his instincts leaned toward Taron’s fresh energy.

Boyega had buzz from Attack the Block, while Taron was virtually unknown with zero film experience. Vaughn took a risk on new talent, and it paid off. Still, he joked Boyega was probably glad things worked out that way, or else he might’ve missed his Star Wars moment!

Jennifer Lawrence vs. Emma Stone

Before Easy A made Emma Stone a teen movie legend, Jennifer Lawrence was gunning for the same role. “I wanted it so bad,” Jennifer recalled, only for Emma to joke back, “You didn’t get it because you suck!”

Both stars were constantly up for the same roles early on, but Emma’s online audition wowed director Will Gluck enough to seal the deal. Funny enough, she was already tied to Sucker Punch at the time, which clearly worked out since Easy A gave her the career boost Sucker Punch never could!

Lady Gaga vs. Warner Bros.

Lady Gaga stunned the world in A Star is Born, but not everyone believed in her from the start. While Bradley Cooper was confident in her talent, studio execs at Warner Bros. needed some serious convincing.

Producer Bill Gerber revealed that a simple screen test was enough to win them over. One look, and doubts vanished. Gaga’s performance silenced the skeptics, and the rest is Oscar-nominated history!

Patrick Swayze vs. Harrison Ford

Ghost became a blockbuster with Patrick Swayze as Sam Wheat, but he wasn’t the studio’s top pick. The role was first offered to Harrison Ford, who turned it down because he didn’t “get” the script.

Director Jerry Zucker had doubts too—until he saw Swayze tear up in an interview about his father. That emotional moment sealed the deal. Sometimes, it takes one unscripted moment to change Hollywood history.

Whoopi Goldberg vs. Tina Turner

In Ghost, Whoopi Goldberg stole the show (and won an Oscar) as Oda Mae Brown, the psychic who helps Patrick Swayze’s character reach out from the afterlife. But the role wasn’t always hers, music icon Tina Turner was also considered.

Director Jerry Zucker ultimately went with Goldberg, drawn to her signature humor and emotional range. It was a perfect call, Whoopi’s mix of sass, sincerity, and sharp timing made Oda Mae unforgettable and earned her a well-deserved Academy Award.

Marlon Brando vs. The Studio

In the early ’70s, Marlon Brando wasn’t exactly a hot ticket; he was seen as box office poison. So when director Francis Ford Coppola insisted on casting him as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, studio execs at Paramount, especially Robert Evans, were not on board.

Coppola had to fight hard to get his way, battling studio skepticism every step of the way. It was a major gamble, but Brando’s unforgettable performance silenced every critic and redefined his legacy. Hollywood can be fickle, but brilliance like Brando’s never truly fades.

Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis

Joan Crawford and Bette Davis weren’t just rivals, they competed fiercely for the same roles. Their legendary feud spilled into casting rooms, where each tried to block the other from landing plum parts.

This battle came to a head with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, where the two finally shared the screen. But behind the scenes, the casting clash was just as intense, proving their rivalry extended far beyond fame, it was deeply personal.

From backstage drama to chart wars, these country music’s biggest feuds will leave you shook.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.