Casting choices that were almost different

[Ceremony]

I can't think of a snappy thread title, sorry. I was watching The Matrix for the first time in ages last night and did some reading afterwards. Some absolute belters in here.

The part of Neo was turned down by Will Smith (didn't understand the script), Nicolas Cage (family reasons) and Leonardo DiCaprio (special effects). Johnny Depp was the Wachowskis' first choice, and the screenplay was apparently also sent to Sandra Bullock. Samuel L. Jackson was considered for Morpheus. Janet Jackson was approached for Trinity.

If you can handle imagining The Matrix fronted by the Nic Cage Mace Windu and Michael Jackson's sister, are there any other notable examples of films that could have been this wildly different?

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[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Daniel Day Lewis (and also Nic Cage lol) turned down Aragorn in LOTR. The part then went to Stuart Townsend who got fired a couple days in before it went to Viggo Mortensen

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Ethan Hawke turned down Independence Day.

And the infamous Eric Stoltz/Marty McFly casting

 

[x Tame Impala]

Not on topic but I think Daniel Day Lewis would have done a hilarious and awesome job as Kramer on Seinfeld.

 

[StreetHawk]

Dugay Scott for Wolverine. Think he would have been fine, but since I don't follow his career, wonder if he would have done the role as long as Jackman did. Serious commitment by Jackman who really inspired/changed how actors got ready for these superhero roles. When you compare the physiques of the guys who played Batman in the 90's.

 

[Very Stable Genius]