50 Actors Who Nearly Played Iconic Roles

Danny DeVito could have been... Sallah (Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

The Part: Raiders ’ boisterous Egyptian excavator was originally conceived for Danny DeVito. So now you know…

How They Would’ve Played It: We’d like to think DeVito would have performed his usual fast-talking shtick with a comedy Egyptian accent, but the character would probably have been recast as an American.

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: John Rhys-Davies is an excellent comic foil, and we’re not sure DeVito’s OTT persona would really have fit the bill.

Josh Hartnett could have been... Loki (Thor)

The Part: In the run-up to Thor ’s release, Josh Hartnett was repeatedly linked to the role of the Thunder God’s mischievous brother, with Kenneth Branagh reportedly having seen the actor on numerous occasions.

How They Would’ve Played It: According to MTV interviews with Hartnett, he was apparently looking to bring a little of Heath Ledger’s Joker to the party.

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: Because Tom Hiddleston is great in the role, lurching from comedy quippage to genuine menace at the flick of a switch.

Al Pacino could have been... Han Solo (Star Wars)

The Part: Shouty old Al was one of the frontrunners for the seminal space cowboy, eventually played with deadpan panache by Harrison Ford.

How They Would’ve Played It: Very loudly indeed. Chewie would have come in for a right old ear-bashing.

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: Al’s not quite laid-back enough to pull of Han’s laissez-faire attitude. Although he’d definitely have shot first.

Nic Cage could have been... The Green Goblin (Spider-Man)

The Part: Sam Raimi initially offered the role of Spider-Man ’s Power Rangers-esque villain to cackling loon supreme, Nic Cage.

How They Would’ve Played It: Willem Dafoe was cranking it up to eleven, so imagine what Cage would have been like!

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: It probably would have been too much for the younger members of the audience…

Harrison Ford could have been... Dr. Alan Grant (Jurassic Park)

The Part: The dino-obsessed palaeontologist who’s forced to put his studies into practice when Jurassic Park goes wild.

How They Would’ve Played It: “Raptors… why’d it have to be raptors?”

Why We’re Glad They Didn’t Get It: Because Sam Neill proves himself handy in a crisis without ever becoming a full-blown action hero. Ford would have fashioned a whip from somewhere at the first sign of trouble.

Leonardo DiCaprio could have been... Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)

The Part: Bret Easton Ellis’ consummate psychopath, equally as enamoured with Huey Lewis records as he is hacking up young women.

How They Would’ve Played It: We can’t quite envisage Leo as such a villainous character… maybe it would have been something akin to his turn in Django Unchained .

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: While DiCaprio took a while to grow into the undoubtedly fine actor he is today, Christian Bale was ready to go, and played the part with pleasingly delirious abandon.

Nic Cage could have been... Superman (Superman Returns)

The Part: The Man Of Steel, as imagined by Tim Burton when he was set to direct an adaptation back in the ‘90s.

How They Would’ve Played It: We can only imagine the bug-eyed breakdown that would have ensued should Superman have ever gotten too close to some Kryptonite.

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: As intriguing as it might sound, this would surely have been Metropolis’s Batman & Robin moment.

Ashton Kutcher could have been... Superman (Superman Returns)

The Part: Supes again, this time when Brett Ratner was at the helm. Others considered included David Boreanaz and Brendan Fraser…

How They Would’ve Played It: We’re imagining a Smallville-esque take on the franchise, with Kutcher playing a young Clark Kent as a high-school jock.

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: Because he’d have been even worse than Cage. Fortunately, Kutcher ruled himself out, stating, “I think once you’ve played that role then you’re just forever known as Superman. I have a lot of other characters I’d rather play.” How’s that working out for you, pal?

Tim Roth could have been... Professor Snape (Harry Potter)

The Part: The embittered potions master at Hogwarts, a role Roth passed up in favour of Tim Burton’s Planet Of The Apes . Oh dear.

How They Would’ve Played It: Roth can certainly do snivelling villainy, although whether he could capture Snape’s haughty sneer is up for debate.

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: Because Alan Rickman is the best thing about the entire franchise. “Turn to page three hundred and ninety four!”

Kevin Costner could have been... Bill (Kill Bill)

The Part: Costner turned down QT’s latest offer of career resuscitation by passing on the chance to play the titular villain in Kill Bill .

How They Would’ve Played It: With seeming benevolence, but a wealth of malice hiding behind those twinkling eyes. Tarantino clearly fancies Costner as a villain, having tried to get him for Django Unchained , but once again, Costner dropped out.

Why We're Glad They Didn't Get It: Because the role offered David Carradine the perfect swansong to a storied kung-fu career.