This table lists actors that were almost cast in these iconic movie roles. Imagine how different some of these films would have turned out had the original choices been cast.
| Film | Actor | Part | Went to |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Matrix (1999) | Will Smith | Neo | Keanu Reeves |
| Inglorious Basterds (2009) | Adam Sandler | Sgt. Donny Donowitz | Eli Roth |
| Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) | Sacha Baron Cohen | Freddie Mercury | Rami Malek |
| Lord of the Rings Trilogy | David Bowie | Elrond | Hugo Weaving |
| Lord of the Rings Trilogy | Sean Connery | Gandolf | Ian McKellen |
| Men in Black (1997) | David Schwimmer | Agent J | Will Smith |
| Shrek (2001) | Chris Farley | Shrek | Mike Myers |
| Back to the Future (1985) | Eric Stoltz | Marty McFly | Michael J. Fox |
| Avatar (2009) | Matt Damon | Jake Sully | Sam Worthington |
| Batman Begins (2005) | Cillian Murphy | Batman | Christian Bale |
| The Phantom of the Opera (2004) | Antonio Banderas | The Phantom | Gerard Butler |
| Batman Returns (1992) | Madonna | Catwoman | Michelle Pfeiffer |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | Michael Madsen | Vincent Vega | John Travolta |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | Laurence Fishburne | Jules Winfield | Samuel L. Jackson |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) | Tom Selleck | Indiana Jones | Harrison Ford |
| American Psycho (2000) | Leonardo DiCaprio | Patrick Bateman | Christian Bale |
| Star Wars (1977) | Orson Welles | Darth Vader (voice) | James Earl Jones |
| Star Wars (1977) | Christopher Walken | Han Solo | Harrison Ford |
| Star Wars (1977) | Jodie Foster | Princess Leia | Carrie Fisher |
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) | Tim Roth | Severus Snape | Alan Rickman |
| Fight Club (1999) | Russell Crowe | Tyler Durden | Brad Pitt |
| The Karate Kid (1984) | Charlie Sheen | Daniel LaRusso | Ralpha Macchio |
| The Shawshank Redemption (1994) | Tom Hanks | Andy Dufresne | Tim Robbins |