Summary
- There are many reasons a performer will end up having to turn down a role.
- Some performers are forced to back out of roles due to scheduling
- Other times, personal concerns an actor has will lead them to decline a role
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a seemingly ever-expanding franchise, with numerous films, shows, and other media attempting to continue what is supposed to be, in essence, a single story. As its notoriety and budget expand, several noteworthy stars are caught in the franchise's orbit.
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Nonetheless, in the vast film industry, not every star will align, even with Marvel's seemingly endless resources. Finances are one of many reasons that actors could find themselves turning down a role in the MCU. Here are some noteworthy actors who, for various reasons, have yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite being approached for a role in it.
7 Jason Momoa
Role: Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy
- Noteworthy Roles: Khal Drogo (Game of Thrones), Arthur Curry (Aquaman, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Justice League), Duncan Idaho (Dune: Part One)
Before gaining greater recognition as Aquaman, Jason Momoa was a fixture on television. He appeared in shows such as Game of Thrones and movies such as Conan the Barbarian, even playing the titular character in the latter. However, he was offered the opportunity to debut as a big-screen superhero several years earlier than Aquaman (2018), when presented with the chance to play Drax the Destroyer.
However, this was a chance he ultimately turned down, believing it to be too pigeonholing. Momoa's physique and charisma make him a natural fit for various characters in the general brutish archetype, but he made comments clarifying that he wished to branch out. Momoa specifically identified Ronon Dex from Stargate Atlantis as a similar character he had played before. Momoa also wanted time to work on his directorial debut, Road to Paloma (2014), which he also starred in. Ultimately, the role of Drax went to Dave Bautista, a casting Momoa was supportive of.
6 Amanda Seyfried
Role: Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy
- Notable Roles: Cosette (Les Miserables), Karen Smith (Mean Girls), Sophie (Mamma Mia!)
Amanda Seyfried is an actress known for her roles in iconic films such as Mean Girls (2003) and Mamma Mia (2008). She also starred in the cult classic Jennifer's Body (2009), which featured a brief appearance from Chris Pratt, who would go on to play Star Lord. Seyfried was offered the role of Gamora, an interesting idea considering she is not commonly associated with action films or characters all that similar to Gamora.
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That said, Seyfried's refusal of the role seemingly had nothing to do with playing against type. Contributing factors that made her decide against the role had to do with how much make-up the character required, and concerns about the commercial viability of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), believing it would negatively affect her career if it bombed. Gamora was instead played by Zoe Saldaña, who previously starred in Avatar (2009). Saldaña joked that she was excited to play someone green, after having been blue in the aforementioned film. Guardians of the Galaxy, of course, went on to be a box office smash hit, as did its two sequels.
5 David Cross
Role: Tobias Funke in Avengers: Infinity War
- Notable Roles: Tobias Funke (Arrested Development), Crane (Kung Fu Panda), David (Mr. Show With Bob and David), Ian Hawke (Alvin and the Chipmunks)
Not every declined role has to be particularly major. Sometimes, scheduling makes it so that even performers who are sought for simple cameos happen to fall by the wayside. David Cross' inability to appear in Infinity War was one such instance. Cross is a largely comedic actor, who is best known for his role as Tobias Funke in the acclaimed comedy series Arrested Development.
The Russo Brothers wanted Cross not to play a Marvel character, but instead to briefly reprise his role from Arrested Development, which the pair previously directed episodes of. Cross was to appear as Tobias Funke in The Collector's Museum. Cross mentions that the director brothers made an effort to contact him, but the time-sensitive nature of the request prevented him from ultimately appearing in their film, as he was involved in directing a show in a separate country, and was sent the request while Infinity War was being filmed.
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Funke still does make a brief appearance in the film, in the coated blue paint he wore in the Arrested Development episode "The One Where Michael Leaves", but the character is played by an extra rather than Cross. Ironically, Cross has technically appeared in a Marvel franchise outside the cinematic universe, appearing in both Men in Black (1997) and its sequel Men in Black 2 (2002), both of which are based on The Men in Black, by Lowell Cunningham, a comic miniseries Marvel currently owns.
4 Miriam Margoyles
An Undisclosed Role in Agatha All Along
- Notable Roles: Professor Sprout (Harry Potter)
Miriam Margoyles is a British-Australian actress best known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter franchise. She has also appeared in films such as Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1969) and The Age of Innocence (1993). Her impressive career notably continues to the present day with a role in the latest season of Doctor Who. She was also recently offered a chance to appear in Agatha All Along, the new Marvel series that debuted last month.
Margoyles gave a variety of reasons as to why she refused to appear in the show. Her aforementioned role as Professor Sprout made her disenchanted with other possible roles in "shows about witches," and she claimed she did not want to film in Atlanta for four months. In The Wrap, Margoyles also said she would do the role for "a million pounds" but rejected it after only being offered half that amount. The established actress candidly admitted it was "about [her] own greed rather than anything else." As the offered role is not publicly known, it is unclear as to how it would have factored into Agatha All Along.
3 Daniel Craig
Thor Odinson in Thor
- Notable Roles: James Bond (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, No Time To Die), Benoit Blanc (Knives Out), XXXX (Layer Cake), Connor Rooney (Road to Perdition)
Daniel Craig is best known for playing 007 himself in the most recent incarnation of the James Bond franchise. He also starred in other films such as Logan Lucky (2017) and his most recent franchise prospect, Knives Out (2019). In addition to a variety of spy gadgets, Craig also had the opportunity to add the thunder god's hammer to his arsenal.
It is not quite clear why the English actor turned down the role, but he joked that playing both Thor and Bond would result in a "power trip." While it is not clear how much the plans for Thor later down the line in the Marvel Cinematic Universe affected Craig's decision (or if he was even aware of them), it is quite possible that between the two major franchise characters, Craig may not have been able to pursue other roles.
2 Emily Blunt
Black Widow in Iron Man 2
- Notable Roles: Evelyn Abbott (A Quiet Place), Rita (Edge of Tomorrow), Emily (The Devil Wears Prada)
Emily Blunt has been a name that continually pops up in discussions about a potential performer for many Marvel heroines. Although the exact veracity of her being considered for certain roles is unclear, there are at least two she confirmed she was offered, but declined. The first role was Black Widow, who became a fixture of the Marvel Cinematic Universe following Iron Man 2. This was due to a contractual obligation with Fox, which pushed her attentions towards Gulliver's Travels (2010), a film she did not want to do. The role of Black Widow went to Scarlett Johansson.
It was also reported that Blunt ultimately chose not to audition for Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Her partner, John Krasinski, was notably considered for the role of the titular Captain, leading some to think that the decision was motivated by him not landing the role. However, this is purely speculation, and the reason appears to be more broadly attributed to scheduling conflicts.
1 Ayo Edibiri
Mel in Thunderbolts
- Notable Roles: Sydney Adamu (The Bear), Harriett Tubman (Clone High), Missy (Big Mouth), Envy (Inside Out 2)
Ayo Edibiri was a comedian and writer, whose acting career gained major attention with the role of Sydney Adamu in The Bear. As her career flourished further, she landed roles in high-profile films such as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (both 2023), and Inside Out 2 (2024). Edibiri was tentatively scheduled to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the role of Mel, the assistant to Allegra De Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfuss), in Thunderbolts.
The 2023 Hollywood labor disputes ended up changing the scheduling of when the film would be shot. This created scheduling conflicts which led the rising star to be one of a few to back out of the film, now projected for release in 2025. Seeing as there is currently a lot of interest in her, it is understandable that even a major franchise role would be one Edibiri would be able to turn down. In her place, Australian actress Geraldine Viswanathan was cast in the role of Mel.
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