17 Hollywood Stars Who Rejected Superhero Roles In These Marvel And DC Films

Imagine getting offered the role of Iron Man or Thor or Superman and you simply turn it down as it was a comic-based superhero movie or you were just not interested. Later these movies get recognized worldwide now you are just sad about it. Nowadays, who doesn’t know about Marvel and DC after all?

Marvel Universe and DC are one of the biggest comic-cinema studio chains in the superhero franchise. They’ve given us the best movies of all time and some best actors too. Like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt coming from Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy are worldwide famous celebrities!

So, here is the list of actors who refused to be a part of the Marvel and DC films:

1. Sandra Bullock – Wonder Woman

Sandra Bullock with her charm, looks, and charisma, was the perfect candidate for DC’s Wonder Woman. Sandra was offered the role of Wonder Woman a decade ago before the DC Universe approached Gal Gadot. She simply refused by saying

“There’s other people much better suited to play Wonder Woman than me. I’ll just do it at home, at night, in my little Underoos”

2. Leonardo DiCaprio – Spiderman

Can you imagine the Inception and Titanic actor was approached to play Peter Parker in the Spiderman movie directed by James Cameron? Leo was at his prime in his career. We would’ve loved to watch Leo as Spiderman, but the Oscar-winning Actor turned it down and doesn’t regret his choice.

3. Will Smith – Clark Kent (Superman)

Clark Kent could’ve been played by Will Smith! The reason he refused was was simple, he already acted as Jim West of Wild West and he told everyone he would not indulge as superheroes are white people movies in Hollywood. The best works of Will Smith are Pursuit of Happiness and The Fresh Prince of Bel-air.

4. Matt Damon – The Daredevil

Before Ben Affleck came in for The Daredevil in 2003, his old pal, Matt was offered the lead role in Daredevil, Matt Damon denied the offer because he thought the role had not much of an offer.

5. Joseph Gordon Levitt – Star-Lord

The superstar of 500 Days of Summer, Joseph Gordon Levitt, was supposed to act as Peter Quill also known as Star-lord in the Guardians of the Galaxy, but when he was offered that role, Levitt was already working on A Sin City: A Dame To Kill For.

6. Rachel McAdams – Pepper Pots

The star of the romantic movie The Notebook, Rachel was supposed to star as Pepper Potts in Iron Man. But before she was available, Gwyneth Paltrow was for the position.

7. Joaquin Phoenix – Dr. Strange & The Hulk 

The man who broke the box office with Joker in 2019 under DC Universal Studio was first approached by Marvel Studios. Can you believe Joaquin Phoenix acting as a superhero? Initially, he was offered The Hulk and later Dr. Strange.

8. Tom Cruise – Iron Man

When you hear the name Tony Stark or Iron Man, whom do you recall? Of course the one and only, Robert Downey Jr. But did you know that initially Tom Cruise was offered Iron man? He turned down the role of Tony stark for vanity.

9. Oprah Winfrey – Amanda Waller

It’s a mystery why Oprah Winfrey turned down Warner Bros and DC Cinematic Universe for the role of Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad. Later Viola Davis was cast for the role offered to her in Suicide Squad.

10. Robin Williams – Joker

The man who was The Riddler in Batman Forever 1995, Robin Williams, was offered the famous role of Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. But later Heath Ledger was selected for the same. Robin Williams was featured in several movies of the DC Cinematic Universe.

11. Anthony Hopkins – Alfred & Mr. Freeze

Hopkins was chosen to be one of the main characters in the DC Cinematic Universe but he turned down DC Universe 2 times. At first, he was offered the role of Mr. Freeze in Batman and Robin and later was offered as Alfred in Christopher Nolan’s legendary movie The Dark Knight.

12. Matthew McConaughey – Ego

Another actor who could’ve been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but didn’t. Matthew was offered the role of Ego from Guardians of the Galaxy who was Peter Quill aka Star Lord’s evil biological father, but before he was available, Kurt Russel was already bagged it.

13. Emily Blunt – Black Widow

Emily was originally cast as Black Widow but Blunt was already busy being the cast of Gulliver’s Travel. Blunt would have been a sassy and stylish Black Widow but Scarlett Johansson just killed it.

14. Pierce Brosnan – Batman

Imagine Pierce Brosnan as the Cape Crusader alias in Batman. It would’ve been amazing right? Here is what he said when he was approached for the role,

“I just couldn’t really take it seriously, any man who wears his underpants outside his pants just cannot be taken seriously”

Later he clarified,

“That was my foolish take on it. It was a joke, I thought. But how wrong was I?”

15. Russell Crowe – Wolverine

Russell Crowe was first selected as Wolverine before Hugh Jackman but the fact is Russell Crowe himself suggested Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

16. Bryan Cranston – Sebastian Shaw

The actor was already in good books as the success rate of Breaking Bad was already high! But did you know Bryan Cranston was first selected as Sebastian Shaw in X men? but later Ryan Gosling aced it.

17. Heath Ledger – Batman

One of the most respected actors of all time Heath Ledger was offered the role of Batman. Before being offered the role of Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Heath was offered to play Batman but he wasn’t interested in playing superheroes. He straightforwardly refused the offer. But he accepted the role of Joker even before the script was ready.