Actors Who Didn't Get Certain Roles that Ultimately Became Iconic Roles

Role:  Rose in Titanic

Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly passed on the role which ultimately went to Kate Winslet.  Paltrow once joked she chose other films with "great characters and stories" over a movie about a ship.  

Role:  Jack in Titanic

Matthew McConaughey was supposed to portray Jack Dawson.  When negotiations fell through, Leonardo DiCaprio was installed in his place.  The iconi film generated over $2 billion at the box office.  Before DiCaprio was cast, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp were considered for the iconic part.  Despite McConaughey's feelings about his audition that he felt "went really well" .. DiCaprio landed the role and both actors will likely agree their respective careers turned out just fine. 

Role:  Allie Hamilton in The Notebook 

Britney Spears reportedly auditioned and blew the casting directors away though the part ultimately went to Rachel McAdams.

Role:  Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

Christina Applegate reportedly turned down the role which went to Reese Witherspoon because she was leery of playing another "dumb blonde" character after her role as Kelly Bundy in Married... with Children.

Role:  Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

The role of Indiana jones was originally intended to go to Tom Selleck who was a huge hit in "Magnum, P.I." (1980) at the time.  The show was reluctant to let their star perform in a movie that was obviously destined to be a mega hit.  The moustached actor was forced to choose between the two roles and decided to honour his original commitment to the TV show.  

Role:  Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994)

The classic role of Forrest Gump was initially offered to John Travolta.  He declined the part and has since openly admitted that passing on the role was the biggest mistakes of his career.  

Role:  Harrison Ford in Star Wars:  Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Burt Reynolds once admitted that his biggest regret was passing up the role of Han Solo.  Reynolds once said:  "I think that has to be the biggest mistake of my career.  I blame the agent.  It was not all down to me."

Role:  Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II (1974)

Jack Nicholson declined the role of Don Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) trilogy.  Years later he explained why he turned down the role:  "I knew the film was going to be a great film, but at that time I believed Indians should play roles written for Indians and Italians should do the same."

Role:  Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006)

Hugh Jackman declined to be considered for taking the part of 007 around the time of the first X-Men (2000).  Later, the actor said he turned down the role out of fear he would get typecast and that it would limit his opportunities in the future.

Role:  Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire (1996)

Director Cameron Crowe has admitted he worte the sports drama with Tom Hanks in mind.  Hanks couldn't take the role as he was busy directing a film. 

Role:  Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct (1992)

Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the offer to star at Catherine Tramell because she found the bare-all scenes too daunting.

Role:  Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (1990)

Meg Ryan declined an offer for the role.  The actress has said that she thinks the movie is degrading towards women and she wasn't the only one who thought so. 

Role:  Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Johnny Depp had to decline the role because of scheduling conflict with other projects.

Sometimes actors make the decision to turn down a huge role, only to regret it later.  Other times, things simply don't go their way.  Even the very best can still botch an audition.