Summary

Many worker have been given the chance to star in what would eventually become extremely acclaimed TV serial publication , but choose to decline the offer . For many of these actor , the opportunity came at an inconvenient metre in their career . Some actors , such as Brian Cox , wish to be paid more , and others , such as Katie Holmes or Gillian Anderson , were commit to responsibilities outside of work . From an audience ’s perspective , it appear to be an obvious decision to star in a series such asGame of ThronesorThe Office . However , there was no way to have intercourse just how expectant these series would become follow their premiere .

Similar toactors who turned down major movie roles , the act of choose which roles to take come up with a personal checklistthat varies from one actor to another . The wage , success of a task , and being in accordance with a current cinematography schedule are all things actors must consider before sound out yes to a moving-picture show or video series . Many thespian can look back on their conclusion and , while some regret their choice to turn down the opportunity , others are more than content with where they ended up .

Despite many TV shows bugger off reboots or revivals , the original star often plow down the chance to return because they have moved on from the role .

TV actors did not return

7Macaulay Culkin

Turned Down A Role In The Big Bang Theory

In the audience , Culkin describe the pitch as a bit zany , tell , " The sales pitch was ' okay , these twoastrophysicist nerds and a pretty female child lives with them . Yoinks!'“Culkin said the internet was incredibly persistent , asking him multiple times if he ’d deal star in the situation comedy , to the point that Culkin ’s direction squad was suggest he take it . In the end , his initial disaffirmation was accept by the electronic connection and Culkin expressed slight sorrow , though he ’s mostly sure of his decisiveness , saying , " I ’d have hundreds of one thousand thousand of dollars right now … At the same time , I ’d be bashing my head against the wall . "

6Katie Holmes

Turned Down Buffy The Vampire Slayer Due To School Commitments

Among theactresses who almost play Buffy SummersinBuffy the Vampire Slayer , is Katie Holmes . ForBuffy the Vampire Slayer ’s Godhead , Joss Whedon , Holmes was a top contender for the lead role , butshe decided to turn down the opportunity so that she could finish eminent school . Though it would have been interesting to see Holmes take on the lead role in the television serial publication , Sarah Michelle Gellar portrayed Buffy in a way that now feels irreplaceable . Luckily , consultation would n’t have to wonder for long what Holmes would be like in a lead role as the chance to star inDawson ’s Creekcame shortly after .

Similarly , withDawson ’s Creek , Holmes continue attached to her gamy school activities when the particular date of her auditory sense took post during the time she was starring in her schoolhouse play . Holmes , not wanting to let her school down , initially refuse the probability to audition for the serial . However , the producers ofDawson ’s Creekallowed Holmes to film her audition on videotape and send it to them in Los Angeles , ultimately land her the noted role of Joey Potter .

5Brian Cox

Turned Down Game Of Thrones Due To The Pay

Known best for his role as the impudent Logan Roy inSuccession , Brian Cox was also given the chance to star in another acclaimed HBO series , Game of Thrones . In an excerpt from his memoir , Putting the Rabbit in the Hat , Cox detail being offer the character of Robert Baratheon inGame of Thrones , a fiber that would be played by Mark Addy rather . Cox allow he turned down the fling because the pay did n’t amount to much . year before his memoir , Cox did an interview in which he carry regret over his pick to decline ( viaVodzilla ) .

Well , doltishly , I turned it down in the early days because they did n’t pay enough money [ laughs ] . Now they have more money . And I was silly . I was silly , it was silly , because I ’m a concluded addict now . But I do n’t know what I could play .

However , that common sense of ruefulness look to have softened ashe now feels the shortly - lived time on the serial publication would n’t have been deserving it in the remnant . He mull over on his decision in his memoir ( viaVanity Fair ) , writing , " I would n’t have had any of the benefit of the long - terminal figure effects of a successful series where your wages go right smart up with each passing time of year . " The character , Robert Baratheon , appeared in the series premiere but is kill by a wild boar only a few instalment later in episode seven . Cox would afterward see greater success after leadingSuccessionand earning numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nomination .

Brian Cox in X2, Succession, and Churchill

Though advantageously known for his role as Logan Roy on Succession , Brian Cox is a skilled thespian who has made his Deutsche Mark across film and television .

4Oliver Hudson

Turned Down The Role Of Jack Pearson In This Is Us

Milo Ventimiglia is the actor be intimate for playing the part of Jack Pearson inThis Is Us . However , Oliver Hudson was incredibly close to take on on the function instead . Hudson , comfortably know for his roles in series such asRules of EngagementandThe Cleaning Lady , did an audience on theLadyGang podcastin whichhe revealed how his auditory sense for the role of Jack give out welland could have resulted in the part being his .

3Dana Delany

Turned Down Roles In Sex And The City And Desperate Housewives

Sometimes actors turn down opportunities to avoid typecasting or to expand the content within their filmography . Dana Delany opt to make this sort of decision when she was offered the lead role ofCarrie Bradshaw inSex and the City(viaToday ) . The series creator , Darren Star , offered Delany the role , butshe felt the title alone was too similar to late work she ’d done . In an interview with theL.A. Times , Delany tell , " I just said to Darren , ' I can not do a show with " sex " in the title of respect . ' People will lynch me if I do one more thing about sex . "

During this time , Delany starred in films such asExit to EdenandLive Nude Girls , which both picture contained sexual themes . The latter also happens to starSex and the Cityactress Kim Cattrall , who portrayed Samantha Jones . Delany also initially turned down a theatrical role inDesperate Housewivesas well . Delany was first propose the role of Bree Van de Kamp , butshe feel it was too similar to a reference she had recently play . However , Delany would eventually joinDesperate Housewives , but instead as Katherine Mayfair .

2Gillian Anderson

Turned Down Game Of Thrones Role To Spend Time With Her Family

Just like Brian Cox and many other notable actors , Gillian Anderson was give the chance to star inGame of Thrones , though she ’s never confirmed which character she almost play . Ranked highly as one ofthe most knock-down characters inGame of Thrones , many think the role of Cersei Lannister , who eventually was portrayed by Lena Headey , was almost Anderson ’s . In an audience with theDaily Mailin 2013 , Anderson briefly discussed turning downGame of Thrones , saying her daughter could n’t believe Anderson would refuse such an chance , tell , " My 18 - twelvemonth - old can not consider that I would turn down Game of Thrones or Downton - things she loves to watch . "

finally , Anderson ’s selection was due to her desire to spend more sentence with her family . Anderson did n’t feel as though the chance rationalize being away from home for an extended period , and she further explained that work out with a theater director like Martin Scorsese would be the only way to get her away from home for that long . Though Anderson missed out on the acclaim received by Headey for the role , she still found a lot of success in serial publication such asThe X - FilesandThe Crown .

1Paul Giamatti

Turned Down The Chance To Play Michael Scott To Focus On Films

Before being give to Steve Carell , manyother actors were up for the part of Michael Scott , including recent Academy Award campaigner , Paul Giamatti . Though he was asked to audition , Giamatti passed on the offer , choose to prioritise his photographic film career instead . During this clock time , Giamatti had just received lots of acclaim for his part as Miles Raymond in the 2004 filmSidewaysandhis success in the film industry would only continue to increase as he followed up with a role in the filmCinderella Man , take in Giamatti his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor .

Eventually , Giamatti would make the conversion into lead television roles with the HBO miniseriesJohn Adams , portraying the titulary fibre and winning both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the role . While Giamatti ’s commitment to film during the early 2000s paid off , audiences will always be left wondering what the memorable fictitious character of Michael Scott could have look like if Giamatti , or the other actors up for the role , had led the serial rather . Other role player consider alongside Giamatti include Phillip Seymour Hoffman , Jon Favreau , and Bob Odenkirk .

Star Wars Stormtrooper

Custom image of Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers next to Brian Cox in Succession.

Custom Image by Sam MacLennan