8 Famous Actors Who Nearly Lost Their Iconic Roles
4. Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire got the gig as Peter Parker in Spider-Man with a 3-film deal, but in the middle of all that, he got into another project and messed up his back. Since being a superhero requires some serious physical prowess, the producers started to think about replacing him. Jake Gyllenhaal was almost the new Peter Parker, he even started preparing for the role. But, surprise, surprise, Maguire healed up and took back his Spidey role.
5. Johnny Depp
Did you know Pirates of the Caribbean almost had a different face? Johnny Depp mentioned in an interview that he was this close to getting the boot from the Disney hit. Turns out, the big shots were confused as to why he slurred and mumbled his lines. Depp was all about channeling Keith Richards and Pepé Le Pew for Jack Sparrow, but they told him he came off as drunk. We may never know why they stuck with him. But look, he aced the role, and Pirateskept sailing for over a decade.
6. Kunal Nayyar
Kunal Nayyar, who played Raj in The Big Bang Theory, was about to be left behind after the pilot episode, and the rest of the crew had no clue. Luckily, a producer thought Kunal had the chops for the role. See, in the pilot, his part was tiny, and the creators didn’t quite get his character. But this producer stepped up because he believed in Kunal and was willing to take the heat for it. They felt it was unfair to kick someone out based on just two lines he whispered in the pilot. Talk about a close call!
7. Rachel McAdams
Remarkable Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, despite their on-screen chemistry in The Notebook, had major off-screen clashes. Gosling wanted McAdams out and even asked the director to replace her on the spot. Instead, the director played therapist, letting them vent in a screaming match. After that, things were smoother, and McAdams stayed in the film. We would love to be a fly on a wall during all that.
8. Taylor Lautner
Originally, Taylor Lautner was only meant to play Jacob in the first Twilight movie. According to the book, Jacob transforms from a skinny puppy to a muscular wolfman. But since Lautner, who was cast at 16, didn’t look buff enough, they thought of replacing him with an older, hotter guy. Not ready to let go, Lautner hit the gym hard, bulking up. Still, he had to audition again to keep the role, not to mention all the mental trauma that followed.
