Some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces almost never landed the roles that made them famous. Chris Hemsworth nearly lost Thor to his younger brother. Hugh Jackman was rejected for being too tall. Henry Cavill missed the call offering him Superman because he was playing a video game. Millie Bobby Brown almost quit acting entirely before Stranger Things came along. These are the turning points that changed everything, along with newer stories from Inde Navarrette and John Krasinski that show how close some of Hollywood’s biggest breaks came to never happening.
Chris Hemsworth Almost Lost Thor to His Brother Liam
Chris Hemsworth first auditioned for Thor with director Kenneth Branagh and thought he had done well. Months passed without any response. During that silence, his younger brother Liam Hemsworth auditioned and made it to the final five candidates for the role.
Chris later admitted that Liam’s progress lit a fire under him. “Maybe I had a little more sort of motivation that my little brother got a look in and I hadn’t,” he told W Magazine. The producers eventually told Liam he was great but a bit young. Chris’s manager then reminded them that Chris existed, and he was called back for another audition.
The second audition took place in a hotel room in Vancouver. Chris’s mother read Anthony Hopkins’ lines as Odin while he performed. “She must have nailed it because it got me back in the room,” Chris recalled. That second attempt landed him the role that launched a decade-long Marvel journey.
Hugh Jackman Was Rejected for Being Too Tall as Wolverine
Hugh Jackman is now inseparable from Wolverine, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that Jackman was initially rejected for the part in X-Men (2000). The main reason? He was too tall. Wolverine in the comics is a short character, often called “Lil’ Fireplugs,” while Jackman stands at 6 feet 3 inches—roughly 28 centimeters taller than the comic version.
Dougray Scott was cast as Wolverine first. However, Scott had to drop out because filming for Mission: Impossible 2 ran over schedule, and Tom Cruise wanted him committed to that project. With Scott unavailable, the door opened for Jackman to take over the role just weeks into production.
Jackman went on to play Wolverine in nine films across two decades, becoming one of the most recognizable superhero actors in the world.
Henry Cavill Missed the Superman Call While Playing World of Warcraft
Before becoming the Man of Steel, Henry Cavill was on the shortlist for several major roles. He was considered for Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which went to Robert Pattinson. He also tested for James Bond in Casino Royale, but Daniel Craig landed the part. An earlier Superman project called Superman: Flyby had Cavill attached, but that film never happened.
When Zack Snyder finally called to offer him the role in Man of Steel, Cavill almost missed the moment. He was deep into a session of World of Warcraft and let the call go to voicemail. “I look down and it’s Zack Snyder calling, so I dive for the phone, and I missed the call from Zack,” Cavill said during an interview with Conan O’Brien. He called back moments later, and the rest became DC history.
Millie Bobby Brown Almost Quit Acting Before Stranger Things
Millie Bobby Brown faced rejection after rejection as a young actor. She auditioned for Game of Thrones for the role of Lyanna Mormont, which ultimately went to Bella Ramsey. That rejection hit hard. “I was very disheartened by the rejection, which is something that I tell everyone,” Brown told The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. “This industry is full of rejection 24/7.”
Just before she considered walking away, Brown auditioned for a Netflix project called Montauk. Two months later, the team asked for a Skype call. “I Skyped with them, and the rest is history,” she said. Montauk was later renamed Stranger Things, and Brown’s portrayal of Eleven turned her into a global star.
Brown has since led films like Enola Holmes, Damsel, and The Electric State, and she launched her own beauty brand, Florence by Mills. Stranger Things concluded with its final season, where Eleven made a sacrificial choice in the Upside Down that left fans divided.
Jennifer Lawrence Was Spotted on a New York Street
Jennifer Lawrence was 14 years old on a spring break trip in New York City when a talent scout named Daniel approached her and her mother in Union Square. She was watching street dancing when he asked to take her photograph.
The photo ended up in an unexpected place. Joe Jonas later wore that same picture on a T-shirt at a concert. “How did Joe Jonas get it?” Lawrence wondered during an appearance on Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Even then, Lawrence knew she wanted to act. She told the scout she would only sign with an agency that would also let her pursue acting. That decision led to roles in X-Men: First Class, The Hunger Games, and Silver Linings Playbook, which won her an Oscar.
Inde Navarrette Walked Dogs Before Obsession and Marvel
Inde Navarrette spent about a year and a half without landing another acting role after her time on Superman & Lois. To pay rent, she walked dogs and streamed video games, including Call of Duty and Halo. “I was walking dogs, I was streaming, doing everything I could,” she told Complex.
Her breakout came with the horror film Obsession, where she played Nikki. The film became a massive success, earning over $500 million at the box office and putting Navarrette on Hollywood’s radar. At D23 in August 2026, Marvel Studios announced she would play Rogue in the upcoming X-Men reboot, joining a cast that includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister, and Christopher Abbott as Professor X. The film is scheduled for release on May 5, 2028.
Related:
John Krasinski Almost Quit Acting Three Weeks Before The Office
John Krasinski had a two-and-a-half-year window from his mother to make acting work. When that time ran out, he called her to say he was done and wanted to come home. His mother told him to wait until the end of the year. “Just wait it out,” she said. Three weeks later, he landed the role of Jim Halpert on The Office.
Krasinski has often joked that he owes his mother a cut of his earnings. He has said he gives her 10 percent as a thank-you for that advice.
Also Read: Thor Was Always More Powerful Than Shown in MCU Films: 5 Moments That Prove It
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more untold stories from Hollywood’s biggest names and the roles that almost went to someone else.
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