Actors Who Regretted Missing Out On Big Sci-Fi Movies

It's fascinating to think about what your favorite movies would have looked like if there had been different actors in the leading roles. What would the "Star Wars" franchise have looked like if Christopher Walken played Han Solo and not Harrison Ford? Would the "Batman" franchise have become a smash hit if it was Willem Dafoe playing the Dark Knight and not Michael Keaton? The brilliance of some movie casting decisions isn't always recognized until the films are actually released. Some "Batman" fans were furious when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker in "The Dark Knight." Of course, history proved them wrong when Ledger completely transformed himself for the role.

Similarly, there was significant controversy when Daniel Craig was announced as the next 007. The James Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams told "Entertainment Weekly" that "it was unbelievably negative." Once again, fans' initial expectations were wrong. Craig became one of the best Bonds ever, and honored the legacy of the character with his final performance in "No Time To Die." Some actors made the unfortunate mistake of turning down potentially great roles, and later regretted missing out on big sci-fi movies.

Will Smith had an unbelievable run of hits in the 1990s. After his breakout role in the sitcom "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air," Smith starred in smash hits like "Bad Boys," "Independence Day," "Men in Black," and "Enemy of the State." Within this golden period for Smith, his only real misstep was accepting the role of Captain James West in the 1999 western comedy "Wild Wild West." The film was a colossal financial and critical failure.

To make things even worse for Smith, he accepted the role in "Wild Wild West" after turning down one of the most famous science fiction films of all time. Smith revealed in an online video that his initial meeting with the Wachowskis about "The Matrix" came at a "crazy time" in his career. Although Smith described the Wachowskis as "geniuses," he said that "it's a hard movie to pitch." Smith's decision to pass on the role opened up the opportunity for Keanu Reeves to join the film. It worked out in Reeves' favor, as Neo became his greatest character ever. While it would have been interesting to think about what Smith would have brought to the role, Reeves certainly would not have the career that he does today if he hadn't starred in "The Matrix."

Will Smith isn't the only celebrity who missed out on an opportunity to join "The Matrix" franchise. Madonna revealed in an interview with Jimmy Fallon that she was offered many roles that she subsequently regretted passing on, including the part of Selina Kyle in Tim Burton's 1992 comic book film "Batman Returns." However, there is no film that she regretted not participating in more than "The Matrix." Madonna stated that "The Matrix" is "one of the best movies ever made," and that "part of me regrets just that one moment in my life."

Although Madonna did not specifically state in the interview which role she was offered, it's likely that she is talking about the role of Trinity, who was played by Carrie-Anne Moss. Madonna may be best known as a musician, but she's also given many strong film performances, stealing scenes in films like "Desperately Seeking Susan," "A League Of Their Own," and "Body of Evidence." However, the role of an action hero like Trinity would have been unlike anything else that she had done.

Tim Burton's 1989 film "Batman" proved to Hollywood that superhero movies were viable. After the failure of 1987's "Superman IV: The Quest For Peace," the genre was in a shaky position. Some actors did not understand what a phenomenon a new "Batman" movie would become.

Among them was John Lithgow. Lithgow told Vulture that he auditioned to play the Joker for Burton. Lithgow remembers that he "tried to persuade him I was not right for the part, and I succeeded." He admits that he did not understand that the film was such a big deal until he heard that Burton was also considering Jack Nicholson and Robin Williams for the role of the Crown Prince of Crime. In hindsight, Lithgow called his decision "stupid," and joked that "actors are not necessarily smart people." It's certainly hard to argue with the legacy of Nicholson's Joker. He turned the Joker into a character who was simultaneously scary and hilarious. That being said, Lithgow is an incredible actor in his own right. There's no doubt that he would have done a terrific job if he had landed the part.

Jessica Chastain is definitely one of the best actresses working today, using her celebrity status to advocate for change within the film industry while supporting female filmmakers and using her platform to support social causes. Chastain had been excited about potentially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but she wasn't about to join the franchise unless she knew that she could be an inspiration for young girls. Chastain was offered the role of Steven Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) love interest, Christine Palmer, in 2016's "Doctor Strange." Screenwriter C. Robert Cargill revealed in a podcast interview that Chastain turned down the opportunity, but that it was "the coolest rejection ever." Chastain didn't want to just play a love interest ... She wanted to be a hero in her own right.

However, "Doctor Strange" wasn't the only MCU role that Chastain regretfully didn't pursue. She had really wanted to appear as Maya Hansen in 2013's "Iron Man 3," but was forced to decline because her schedule was "jam-packed." Chastain stated that she was disappointed that she couldn't be part of the film, as she described Shane Black and the creative team behind "Iron Man 3" as "wonderful." She held onto the hope that "there'll be another Marvel film" in her future. Unfortunately, the only superhero film that Chastain has appeared in since is the disastrous "X-Men" sequel "Dark Phoenix."

While scheduling issues prevented Eddie Murphy from appearing in "Ghostbusters," the beloved comedian and actor revealed to Jimmy Fallon that the only film that he regretted actually turning down was Robert Zemeckis' 1988 classic "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." Murphy was originally approached to play the character of Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) and joked that he was uneasy about the film's blend of live-action and animation, but that he felt like an "idiot" after seeing the film. He told Fallon that he regrets turning down the offer every time that he watches "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."

While this was an unfortunate misstep for Murphy, his apprehension was understandable. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" isn't exactly the easiest film to pitch, and the combination of cartoon characters with more adult elements could have easily been disastrous (just think of 1986's "Howard the Duck"). However, getting a more seasoned dramatic actor like Hoskins ended up working in the film's favor.

Although Keaton managed to beat his competitors for the role of Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton's "Batman," he missed out on the opportunity to star in another science fiction movie classic. Keaton told Entertainment Weekly that he passed on the role of weatherman Phil Connors in Harold Ramis' "Groundhog Day." He regretted the decision and praised what Ramis had accomplished with the film. However, Keaton remains just as humble as he's always been, admitting that he couldn't have played the role any "better than Bill Murray."

Choosing between Murray and Keaton is a challenge, but Murray was better suited for "Groundhog Day." While both actors are hilarious, Murray was able to bring out the cynicism in Connors. Keaton had already done more endearing roles, so he may not have been as believable as a pessimistic, rude character who goes through a change of heart. Keaton did get to work with Ramis a few years later on the high-concept comedy "Multiplicity."

The Disney+ series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" has inspired a greater appreciation for Hayden Christensen's performance as Anakin Skywalker in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy. Christensen was never given the credit that he deserved, and nobody could make Anakin's romantic dialogue with Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) any less melodramatic. However, it certainly would have been interesting to see Leonardo DiCaprio give it a shot.

DiCaprio was reportedly George Lucas' first choice to play Luke Skywalker's father in 2002's "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones." DiCaprio told Vanity Fair that he simply didn't feel ready for the part at that point in his career, which ended up being a good choice. Instead, DiCaprio starred in 2002's "Gangs of New York," sparking his fruitful partnership with Martin Scorsese. That being said, DiCaprio may have regretted not being able to join the "Star Wars" franchise. In an interview with W Magazine, Jonah Hill said that DiCaprio was a massive "Star Wars" fan, and forced him to watch "The Mandalorian."