Actors don't always get the roles they audition for. Rejection, after all, is part of show business. Still, there's a lucky handful—Liam Hemsworth, Rachel McAdams, and Shia LaBeouf to name a few—that have impressed the powers that be and got another role out of the deal. Ahead, 60 actors who ended up playing a part they didn't initially go for.
Chadwick Boseman
The role: Drax the Destroyer (opens in new tab) in Guardians of the Galaxy
Who *actually* played it: Dave Bautista
The role they played instead: T'Challa in Black Panther
Boseman said that after getting turned down for the role of Drax, the Marvel Studios casting director, Sarah Finn, said she kept him in mind when it came time to cast the Black Panther lead.
Natasha Lyonne
The role: Lorna (opens in new tab) in Orange Is The New Black
Who *actually* played it: Yael Stone
The role they played instead: Nicky
Lyonne initially wanted to audition for Lorna, but she said they wouldn't let her since they had already decided they wanted her to be Nicky. Stone initially auditioned to play Nicky, so the two basically swapped parts.
Sebastian Stan
The role: Captain America (opens in new tab) in Captain America
Who *actually* played it: Chris Evans
The role they played instead: Bucky Barnes
Although Stan originally wanted the title role as Captain America, he said that everything ultimately "worked out" in his favor, and that he felt Barnes was a "much better role" for him.
Stephanie Beatriz
The role: Amy Santiago (opens in new tab) in Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Who *actually* played it: Melissa Fumero
The role they played instead: Rosa Diaz
After reading for Amy Santiago, Beatriz was told to come back and read for the character of Rosa. Beatriaz said she was really nervous about doing the screen test for Amy with Andy Sandburg, and added that she felt like the role of Amy was always supposed to be Fumero's since she felt more comfortable as Rosa.
Chris Colfer
The role: Artie Abrams (opens in new tab) in Glee
Who *actually* played it: Kevin McHale
The role they played instead: Kurt Hummel
McHale originally auditioned for Artie and was turned down. But creator Ryan Murphy liked Colfer so much that he actually invented the character of Kurt specifically for him.
Betty White
The role: Blanche Devereaux (opens in new tab) in Golden Girls
Who *actually* played it: Rue McClanahan
The role they played instead: Rose Nylund
The Golden Girls producers originally wanted White to play Blanche, but then they had second thoughts. They feared Blanche would be too similar to a previous role White had as Sue in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. So, they pulled a switch.
Madelaine Petsch
The role: Betty Cooper (opens in new tab) in Riverdale
Who *actually* played it: Lili Reinhart
The role they played instead: Cheryl Blossom
Petsch went in to read for Betty, but the producers had her in mind for something else. She thinks "they always knew they wanted me for Cheryl."
Darren Criss
The role: Finn Hudson (opens in new tab) in Glee
Who *actually* played it: Cory Monteith
The role they played instead: Blaine Anderson
Criss said he wasn't too disappointed about not landing the role of Finn, and added that it kind of made sense considering he's "not a football guy." He added that it was a "dream come true" to play someone as "complex" as Blaine.
Amanda Seyfried
The role: Regina George (opens in new tab) in Mean Girls
Who *actually* played it: Rachel McAdams
The role they played instead: Karen Smith
Seyfried not only auditioned for the role of Regina, but she almost had it. Director Mark Waters said that she was "brilliant" as Regina, adding, "She played it in a much more ethereal, but still kind of scary way. She was more frightening, but oddly, less intimidating."
Tom Felton
The role: Harry Potter and Ron Weasley (opens in new tab) in Harry Potter
Who *actually* played it: Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint
The role they played instead: Draco Malfoy
Felton auditioned for the title role of Harry and Ron before eventually getting cast as Draco. He has said that he's "grateful" he was cast as Draco because he doesn't think anyone else could have done the job Radcliffe and Grint did.
Cillian Murphy
The role: Batman (opens in new tab) in The Dark Knight
Who *actually* played it: Christian Bale
The role they played instead: Scarecrow
Murphy said he got so far into the audition process for Batman that he was able to try on the iconic Batsuit. But he added that he knew he wasn't going to get the role, saying it was "obvious" that it was going to Bale.
Luke Pasqualino
The role: Tony (opens in new tab) in Skins
Who *actually* played it: Nicholas Hoult
The role they played instead: Freddie
Pasqualino says he was happy that he didn't end up getting cast as Tony. He didn't think he was ready for it. "I think it was right to go to Nick Hoult."
Christopher Mintz-Plasse
The role: Dave Lizewski (opens in new tab) in Kick-Ass
Who *actually* played it: Aaron Taylor-Johnson
The role they played instead: Chris D’Amico/Red Mist
Mintz-Plasse said that he auditioned for the role of Kick-Ass, but the director "hated" everything he did. Instead, he got the role of Red Mist.
Lee Pace
The role: Star-Lord (opens in new tab) in Guardians of the Galaxy
Who *actually* played it: Chris Pratt
The role they played instead: Ronan the Accuser
Back in 2012, Pace did an interview where he said he was auditioning for the role of Star-Lord and was "very excited about it." Pace didn't end up landing the title role, but did end up playing a smaller villain instead.
Charisma Carpenter
The role: Buffy (opens in new tab) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Who *actually* played it: Sarah Michelle Gellar
The role they played instead: Cordelia Chase
Before landing the role of Cordelia, Carpenter wanted to be Buffy. Gellar also wanted to be Cordelia, but Joss Whedon thought she would make a better Buffy, so they swapped.
Jeremy Strong
The role: Roman Roy (opens in new tab) in Succession
Who *actually* played it: Kieran Culkin
The role they played instead: Kendall Roy
Creator and lead writer Jesse Armstrong said that Strong thought he would be good as Roman, but Culkin was "a slam dunk." He added that Strong "is the character" of Kendall.
Colin Donnell
The role: Cole Lockhart (opens in new tab) in The Affair
Who *actually* played it: Joshua Jackson
The role they played instead: Scotty Lockhart
Donnell got close to playing Cole since he had auditioned for him a few times. Series co-creator Sarah Treem said that "he wasn't quite right," but she was such a big fan of him that she wrote the role of Scotty specifically for him.
Mädchen Amick
The role: Lorelai Gilmore (opens in new tab) in Gilmore Girls
Who *actually* played it: Lauren Graham
The role they played instead: Sherry Tinsdale
Amick said that she got really far into the testing process and almost played Lorelai, but then the network felt like she didn't seem old enough to be a mom. She was eventually brought back to play Sherry.
John Krasinski
The role: Dwight Schrute (opens in new tab) in The Office
Who *actually* played it: Rainn Wilson
The role they played instead: Jim Halpert
Krasinski was originally interested in auditioning for the role of Dwight, but he ended up convincing the casting directors to let him read for Jim. He had instant chemistry with Jenna Fischer.
Carice Van Houton
The role: Cersei Lannister (opens in new tab) in Game of Thrones
Who *actually* played it: Lena Headey
The role they played instead: Melisandre
Houton said that she was asked to audition for the part of Cersei, but she couldn't do it because she was shooting something else. She was then offered the role of Melisandre, and said that "Lena couldn't be a better Cersei."
Bella Thorne
The role: Emma Duval (opens in new tab) in Scream: The TV Series (2015-2-16)
Who *actually* played it: Willa Fitzgerald
The role they played instead: Nina Fitzgerald
Thorne turned down the main role because she thought the character, Nina, was more "iconic," adding that she's never died on screen before.
Iwan Rheon
The role: Jon Snow (opens in new tab) in Game of Thrones (2011-2018)
Who *actually* played it: Kit Harington
The role they played instead: Ramsay Bolton/Ramsay Snow
Even though Rheon's role was memorable, it was also one of the most hated characters in Game of Thrones history—and that's saying a lot.
Jessica Capshaw
The role: Nurse Rose and Dr. Sadie Harris (opens in new tab) in Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present)
Who *actually* played it: Lauren Stamile (as Nurse Rose), Melissa George (as Sadie Harris)
The role they played instead: Dr. Arizona Robbins
Capshaw auditioned for multiple roles in Shonda Rhimes' hit TV series Grey's Anatomy before finally landing the role as Dr. Arizona Robbins.
Heath Ledger
The role: Bruce Wayne (opens in new tab) in The Dark Knight (2008)
Who *actually* played it: Christian Bale
The role they played instead: The Joker
Ledger ended up winning a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as the Joker.
Lindsay Lohan
The role: Regina George in Mean Girls (2004)
Who *actually* played it: Rachel McAdams
The role they played instead: Caddy Heron
Can you imagine this Mean Girls changeup? Originally the producers wanted Lohan to play Regina George (opens in new tab). However, after Freaky Friday came out and Lohan's popularity skyrocketed, they were worried the audience wouldn't like her as the villain.
Rachel McAdams
The role: Cady Heron (opens in new tab) in Mean Girls (2004)
Who *actually* played it: Lindsay Lohan
The role they played instead: Regina George
Director Mark Waters told Vulture (opens in new tab) he thought McAdams was "too old" for the part of Cady, but found her age helped her play the intimidating Regina George opposite the younger Lindsay Lohan.
The role: Peeta Mellark (opens in new tab) in The Hunger Games (2012)
Who *actually* played it: Josh Hutcherson
The role they played instead: Gale Hawthorne
In 2011, Hemsworth told MTV (opens in new tab) he was interested in playing Peeta, but we think the casting directors got this one right.
Alexander Ludwig
The role: Peeta Mellark (opens in new tab) in The Hunger Games (2012)
Who *actually* played it: Josh Hutcherson
The role they played instead: Cato, a tribute
Clearly, Peeta was a coveted role in Hollywood. The Vikings actor also wanted the part.
Sandra Oh
The role: Miranda Bailey (opens in new tab) in Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present)
Who *actually* played it: Chandra Wilson
The role they played instead: Christina Yang
Oh revealed at PaleyFest LA in 2006 (opens in new tab) that she saw the part of Christina Yang and was much more drawn to it, so she "asked for what she wanted" and we'd say it worked out for her.
Isaiah Washington
The role: Derek Shepherd in Grey's Anatomy (2005-present)
Who *actually* played it: Patrick Dempsey
The role they played instead: Preston Burke
Even though Washington didn't get the role of Derek Shepherd, creator Shonda Rhimes reportedly liked his audition so much that she cast him as Preston Burke when the original actor dropped out.
Rainn Wilson
The role: Michael Scott (opens in new tab) in The Office (2005-2013)
Who *actually* played it: Steve Carrell
The role they played instead: Dwight Schrute
Wilson was the first person (opens in new tab) to audition for the role of Michael Scott. But he's a better Dwight if you ask us.
Samm Levine
The role: Sam Weir (opens in new tab) in Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
Who *actually* played it: John Francis Daley
The role they played instead: Neal Schweiber
Apparently, Levine did a self-proclaimed "crappy" impression (opens in new tab) of William Shatner for his audition. The results? He was cast as a geek with dreams of becoming a comedian instead.
Courteney Cox
The role: Rachel Green (opens in new tab) in Friends (1994-2004)
Who *actually* played it: Jennifer Aniston
The role they played instead: Monica Geller
Producers wanted Cox to play Rachel, but Cox said she wanted to play Monica. And that was that.
Eddie Redmayne
The role: Tom Riddle (opens in new tab) in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Who *actually* played it: Christian Coulson
The role they played instead: Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Redmayne told Empire (opens in new tab) he auditioned for the part of Tom Riddle while in college, but "properly failed and didn't get a callback." Years later his dream of being in a Harry Potter movie came true.
Bethany Joy Lenz
The role: Brooke Davis (opens in new tab) in One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
Who *actually* played it: Sophia Bush
The role they played instead: Haley James Scott
Lenz was a better fit for the girl-next-door character, which she had to dye her blonde hair brown (opens in new tab) for.
Ed Westwick
The role: Nate Archibald (opens in new tab) in Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Who *actually* played it: Chace Crawford
The role they played instead: Chuck Bass
Creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage encouraged Westwick to read for Chuck Bass after not landing the part of Nate Archibald.
Sara Paxton
The role: Lizzie McGuire (opens in new tab) in Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004)
Who *actually* played it: Hilary Duff
The role they played instead: Holly
The role of Holly was a guest appearance in which Paxton played a former class president of Lizzie's.
Hank Azaria
The role: Joey Tribbiani (opens in new tab) in Friends (1994-2004)
Who *actually* played it: Matt LeBlanc
The role they played instead: David, the "science guy"
Azaria's guest role was reoccurring over the ten seasons, and he played one of Phoebe's love interests.
Jon Favreau
The role: Chandler Bing (opens in new tab) in Friends (1994-2004)
Who *actually* played it: Matthew Perry
The role they played instead: Pete Becker, the "ultimate fighting champion guy"
Favreau's role was also a love interest on the show, this time for Monica, and was reoccurring throughout the third season.
Ashley Greene
The role: Bella Swan in Twilight (2008)
Who *actually* played it: Kristen Stewart
The role they played instead: Alice Cullen
"I originally auditioned for Bella, and so I read the first book and kind of fell in love with it," she told MTV (opens in new tab)in an interview. "I went in and auditioned and actually they called me back in and said, 'No, you're not right for Bella,' so I was bummed, and then they brought me back for Alice."
Miley Cyrus
The role: Lilly Truscott (opens in new tab) in Hannah Montana (2006-2011)
Who *actually* played it: Emily Osborne
The role they played instead: Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart
Sorry, but we can't imagine anyone other than Cyrus playing Hannah Montana. Apparently, Disney agreed.
Natalie Dormer
The role: Unknown (opens in new tab) in Game of Thrones (2011-present)
Who *actually* played it: TBD
The role they played instead: Margaery Tyrell
Dormer revealed that she auditioned for a different female role in Game of Thrones, but won't reveal who. She was initially hesitant to accept her current role as Margaery because the character was so similar to one she previously played in The Tudors.
Ashley Tisdale
The role: London Tipton (opens in new tab) in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (2005-2008)
Who *actually* played it: Brenda Song
The role they played instead: Maddie Fitzpatrick
Producers thought Tisdale was a better fit for Maddie Fitzpatrick, but the actress still got the chance to play a bratty role on Disney in High School Musical as Sharpay Evans.
Norman Reedus
The role: Merle Dixon (opens in new tab) in The Walking Dead (2010-present)
Who *actually* played it: Michael Rooker
The role they played instead: Daryl Dixon
The character, Daryl Dixon, didn't exist until Reedus auditioned. Producers were so impressed with him that they created the now-beloved character specifically for him.
Paul Wesley
The role: Damon Salvatore (opens in new tab) in The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
Who *actually* played it: Ian Somerhalder
The role they played instead: Stefan Salvatore
Zach Roerig (who played Matt Donovan) and Michael Trevino (who played Tyler Lockwood) also auditioned for the role of Stefan Salvatore.
Lucy Hale
The role: Hanna Marin (opens in new tab) in Pretty Little Liars (2010-present)
Who *actually* played it: Ashley Benson
The role they played instead: Aria Montgomery
Show creator Marlene King thought Hale was a better fit for Aria, but let the actress audition for both parts before she ultimately ended up agreeing with King (opens in new tab).
James Franco
The role: Peter Parker (opens in new tab), AKA Spider-Man in Spider-Man (2002)
Who *actually* played it: Tobey Maguire
The role they played instead: Harry Osborn
Franco was apparently bummed he didn't land the lead role, but playing Harry still put the actor on the map in a big way.
Jensen Ackles
The role: Sam Winchester (opens in new tab) in Supernatural (2005-present)
Who *actually* played it: Jared Padalecki
The role they played instead: Dean Winchester
Rumor has it that Ackles had the role of Sam, that is, until Padalecki auditioned.
Tom Hiddleston
The role: Thor (opens in new tab) in Thor (2008)
Who *actually* played it: Chris Hemsworth
The role they played instead: Loki
This is just another case of an actor landing a supporting role after impressing producers while auditioning for the lead in a superhero movie.
Sasha Pieterse
The role: Hanna Marin in Pretty Little Liars (2010-present)
Who *actually* played it: Ashley Benson
The role they played instead: Alison DiLaurentis
"I never really auditioned for Alison. It was just, 'We really like you for this instead.' I'm so happy I ended up being Alison," Sasha said in an interview (opens in new tab).
Shia LaBeouf
The role: Neal Schweiber (opens in new tab) in Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
Who *actually* played it: Samm Levine
The role they played instead: Herbert
This was before LaBeouf landed Even Stevens on the Disney Channel, which ultimately led to a successful career, so we think it all worked out.
Chelsea Peretti
The role: Detective Rosa Diaz (opens in new tab) in Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Who *actually* played it: Stephanie Beatriz
The role they played instead: Gina Linetti
Co-creators Michael Schur and Dan Goor wrote the role of Gina Linetti for Peretti.
Liza Weil
The role: Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls (opens in new tab)
Who *actually* played it: Alexis Bledel
The role they played instead: Paris Geller
The show's creator enjoyed Liza Weil's audition for Rory, but didn't see her playing the character. Instead, she created the part of Rory's overachieving prep school rival/friend, Paris Geller, for the actress.
Sonequa Martin-Green
The role: Michonne (opens in new tab) on The Walking Dead
Who *actually* played it: Danai Gurira
The role they played instead: Sasha Williams
And this is another case of a character being created for an actor after an impressive audition. Seriously, not a bad outcome.
Janel Parrish
The role: Spencer Hastings (opens in new tab) on Pretty Little Liars
Who *actually* played it: Troian Bellisario
The role they played instead: Mona Vanderwaal
Parrish was called back to audition for Mona after missing out on Spencer, but told Just Jared Jr (opens in new tab) she's happy with how it worked out: "I fell in love with playing Mona."
Laura Prepon
The role: Piper Chapman (opens in new tab) on Orange is the New Black
Who *actually* played it: Taylor Schilling
The role they played instead: Alex Vause
The showrunners didn't think Prepon had enough of a girl-next-door vibe to convincingly portray a person viewers would be afraid for in prison, so they molded the role of Alex for her instead.
Erin Sanders
The role: Nicole Bristow on Zoey 101
Who *actually* played it: Alexa Nikolas
The role they played instead: Quinn Pensky
Sanders landed the role of Zoey's other roommate instead, the quirky and brainy Quinn.
Olivia Wilde
The role: Marissa Cooper on The O.C.
Who *actually* played it: Mischa Barton
The role they played instead: Alex Kelly
The show's creator, Joshua Schwartz, revealed that he was between Mischa Barton and Olivia Wilde for the show's leading role. Ultimately, they decided Wilde was too tough and confident to portray the damsel in distress character, so they brought her back as the bisexual love interest of both Seth Cohen and Marissa Cooper.
Rowan Blanchard
The role: Maya Hart on Girl Meets World
Who *actually* played it: Sabrina Carpenter
The role they played instead: Riley Matthews, the daughter of Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence.
Interestingly, Blanchard's costar, Sabrina Carpenter, originally auditioned for her role (opens in new tab) as Riley Matthews—but producers switched the actresses around.
Jason Dohring
The role: Duncan Kane on Veronica Mars
Who *actually* played it: Teddy Dunn
The role they played instead: Logan Echolls
Fun fact: Teddy Dunn originally auditioned for Logan Echolls. So, this was another case of actors swapping parts.