By Megan Riedlinger
8:20am PDT, Aug 8, 2017
Can you imagine your favorite films with different stars playing the lead roles? Recasting is common in Hollywood, but you might be surprised by how often it really happens — even with big-name stars. Take, for instance, new movie "The Glass Castle," starring Brie Larson, which hits theaters on Aug. 11, 2017. Which Hollywood heavyweight was originally cast in Brie's role? Keep reading to find out — and learn about even more surprising recasts!
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After seeing what we've seen, we can't picture any other star stepping into Christian Grey's shoes, but when producers were first casting the original "Fifty Shades of Grey" film, another name was at the top of the list…
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Charlie Hunnam! The hunky "Sons of Anarchy" star signed on to play Christian in "Fifty Shades of Grey" in August 2013, only to quit two months later. At the time, he cited scheduling conflicts and later admitted, "It was just a s— situation. I was really, really, sorry to do it. It was one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations."
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was not only a great action flick but the stuff of tabloid legend. It was on that flick that Brad Pitt met his future wife (and future ex-wife), Angelina Jolie. But what if someone else had played that role opposite Brad?
It could have been Nicole Kidman! The actress was originally cast in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" opposite Johnny Depp before casting shakeups resulted in both Brangelina and the iconic film we know today.
Christian Bale turned in an iconic performance as Patrick Bateman in 2000's "American Psycho." But which Academy Award winning star had the role first?
Alison Scott was brought to life by Katherine Heigl in 2007's "Knocked Up." But another famous face, who later ended up winning an Oscar, was originally signed on to the funny film.
Anne Hathaway was originally cast as Alison in "Knocked Up." In 2007, the star told Marie Claire she turned down the role because a certain intimate body part would be shown during the childbirth scene and even though she herself wouldn't be required to be nude for it, "I didn't believe that it was necessary to the story," she explained.
Michael J. Fox brought one of cinema's most iconic roles to life when he played Marty McFly in 1985's "Back to the Future." But another actor played Marty first before the role was recast…
Though Michael J. Fox was the first actor cast as Marty, scheduling conflicts made it seem as if he wouldn't be able to take on the role. That's where Eric Stoltz stepped in: He shot the film for four weeks before execs decided it just wasn't working and they opted to go back to their original choice, Michael J. Fox.
Renee Zellweger earned an Oscar nomination for her work alongside Richard Gere in 2002's "Chicago," but there was actually another actress who was originally eyed for the role. Who was it? Find out next!
It was Charlize Theron! The superstar opened up to Howard Stern in July 2017 about losing the role of Roxie Hart in "Chicago" to Renee Zellweger, explaining, "There was another director attached and he brought me on. And then that director got fired and this new director got brought on and he didn't want to make the movie with me." Ouch!
Indiana Jones is Harrison Ford. Could there have ever been another Indiana leading the successful film franchise?! Well, studio execs and George Lucas thought so. Check out who they had tapped to play Indy first!
Tom Selleck! He was offered the role of Indiana Jones in the original film but was already starring on TV's wildly successful "Magnum P.I." and the studio wouldn't allow him to do both… despite George Lucas really fighting for him.
