With the success of their own universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has become a hotbed of opportunities and attractions for actors. However, not everyone feels inclined to join the superhero film genre. Even recently, renowned actor Leonardo DiCaprio has publicly advised young star Timothée Chalamet to steer clear of such films. Historical records also show that several prominent names have chosen to decline or have been unable to participate in Marvel Studios’ projects.
Tom Cruise – Iron Man
Before acquiring the rights to bring Iron Man to the big screen, Marvel Studios had considered Tom Cruise for the lead role. However, by 2005, after various negotiations regarding the rights, Cruise no longer had the same enthusiasm for the project due to multiple factors. The actor is known for wanting creative control over the films he participates in, while Marvel Studios was not able to offer him such freedom. Ultimately, Cruise decided to withdraw, and Marvel found its Iron Man in Robert Downey Jr.
Prior to the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in mid-2022, rumors circulated about Tom Cruise potentially portraying Superior Iron Man, an alternate version of the character. There were even reports that Marvel had considered this idea, but it could not be realized due to scheduling conflicts involving Tom Cruise.
Dougray Scott – Wolverine
It is currently hard to imagine anyone else embodying the character of Wolverine quite like Hugh Jackman. However, initially, Dougray Scott was the first choice for the role. Unfortunately, during the filming of Mission: Impossible 2, Scott suffered a serious leg injury, forcing him to back out of Marvel’s superhero project. Additionally, the actor revealed that Tom Cruise had prevented him from working on both films simultaneously, allowing him to focus on Mission: Impossible.
Matt Damon – Daredevil
Before the MCU was established, Marvel had released a few films that weren’t particularly memorable. Unfortunately, one of those was Daredevil, starring Ben Affleck. However, the lead role was originally intended for Matt Damon, a long-time fan of Marvel’s superhero stories.
However, when Marvel approached him, Damon decided to decline due to dissatisfaction with the direction taken by director Mark Steven Johnson. Instead, he recommended his close friend Ben Affleck for the role. The actor stated, “The film was quite good, even if Ben was not particularly proud of it. If director Chris Nolan were to contact me and say he wanted to create a project for Daredevil, I would definitely be interested.”
Jason Momoa – Drax The Destroyer
With his tall, muscular build and unique comedic style, Jason Momoa was once eyed for the role of Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy. The actor mentioned that he did not want to be confined to roles that lean heavily on humor. Previously, Momoa had portrayed more serious characters in Stargate, Game of Thrones, and Conan the Barbarian.
In an interview with Zap2it, Jason Momoa shared, “I think I was considered for the role of Drax. Dave Bautista was perfect for that role. But for me, the character Drax was not appealing because I had already played too many roles like that: not saying much and always in a tank top. I had turned down many action projects to showcase a different side of myself in the film Road to Paloma so that viewers could see another facet of me.”
Emily Blunt – Black Widow
At the time Marvel was searching for an actress to portray Natasha Romanoff in the blockbuster Iron Man 2 (2009), Emily Blunt was rising in Hollywood and was being considered to become the MCU’s Black Widow. However, after several months of negotiations, the actress had to withdraw despite her desire to take on the role.
After shining in The Devil Wears Prada, Blunt had signed a contract with Fox prior to the decision, which forced her to take on another project. That project was Gulliver’s Travels, a film that she was not particularly enthusiastic about. Emily Blunt later had another chance with Marvel when she was offered the role of Peggy Carter. Recently, the actress received an offer to play the Invisible Woman in the upcoming blockbuster Fantastic Four from the MCU.
Josh Hartnett – Spider-Man
After appearing in major hits such as Black Hawk Down and Pearl Harbor, Josh Hartnett became a sought-after actor in Hollywood. While navigating his career, Hartnett received many offers to star in superhero films, particularly for roles like Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man.
The actor revealed that he initially turned down the role of Superman and ultimately passed on both Batman and Spider-Man after much deliberation. Sharing with Details magazine, Hartnett stated, “I understand these roles could define my career. And I don’t want to be pigeonholed into one character for the rest of my career. When I was just 22 years old, I understood the potential pitfalls of such roles.”
Matthew McConaughey – Ego The Living Planet
Matthew McConaughey was once considered for the role of Ego the Living Planet, the father of Star-Lord, before taking on the role of Randall Flagg in The Dark Tower. The actor openly expressed his admiration for Guardians of the Galaxy, but preferred to be involved in a different film series from the outset. Based on interviews, it seems McConaughey believed he could contribute significantly to many future installments of The Dark Tower. However, the failure of that project ultimately “squashed” his hopes.
Joaquin Phoenix – Doctor Strange
Before deciding to enter the superhero realm with the blockbuster Joker (2019), Joaquin Phoenix was approached twice by Marvel for roles as Bruce Banner/Hulk and notably as Doctor Strange. At that time, Phoenix was considered the hottest candidate to portray the Sorcerer Supreme of the MCU. The actor even reached out to Marvel Studios, but ultimately the two sides could not come to an agreement.
Sharing with Little White Lies, Joaquin Phoenix stated, “I think Marvel has produced many entertaining and fun films. I have nothing against them, it’s just that I don’t want to be part of a trend that’s too predominant in the film industry. It’s not that I’m arrogant, and sometimes I enjoy watching their movies because they’re pushing the industry in a certain direction. How can I say no to something that’s so popular? I think after all, every story deserves to be told, and anyone should feel free to make their own decisions.”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Star Lord
Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the first name Marvel Studios had in mind for the role of Peter Quill in the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). However, the actor turned down the opportunity to join the project due to his commitment to Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. Given the success of the first Sin City film, his decision was not unexpected. This also allowed him to work with talented director Robert Rodriguez and writer Frank Miller.
Recently, there have been reports that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in talks with Marvel regarding a potential role in the future, especially as this studio has announced numerous new projects in the upcoming three years. However, as of now, neither side has made any official confirmations.
Jessica Chastain – The Wasp/Maya Hansen/Christine Palmer
Initially, Jessica Chastain was approached for the role of Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3. However, she declined due to scheduling conflicts. Years later, she had another chance to work with the MCU when she briefly appeared as Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange. Chastain expressed a desire to portray a superhero instead of just a minor supporting role.
However, when the opportunity to play Hope van Dyne/The Wasp arose, she turned down the role for reasons that remain unclear. In 2019, Chastain finally joined the superhero genre, but unfortunately, she only had a minor role as Vuk in the critically panned X-Men: Dark Phoenix. As for The Wasp, she has since appeared in four Marvel projects, including the recent blockbuster Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, which was released in mid-February. This could very well be one of the biggest events in Jessica Chastain’s career.
