Rachel McAdams to Jason Momoa: Hollywood stars who turned down Marvel roles—and regret it

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is one of the most successful franchises in film history, transforming comic book characters into pop culture icons and turning actors into household names. But what if some of the MCU's most iconic roles had been played by different stars?

Over the years, several major actors were offered roles in Marvel films but chose to pass on the opportunity—some due to scheduling conflicts, others due to creative preferences. In hindsight, many of them have expressed regret. Here’s a closer look at seven actors who declined Marvel roles and later reflected on those decisions.

Fresh off the success of Mean Girls and The Notebook, Rachel McAdams stepped back from Hollywood to take a break from the spotlight. During that time, she turned down numerous high-profile roles—including Miranda Priestly’s assistant in The Devil Wears Prada, Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, and Pepper Potts in Iron Man (2008). In a candid interview with Bustle, McAdams acknowledged some regrets: There are certainly things like, ‘I wish I’d done that.’” She elaborated on her emotional state during that period, explaining that although she felt fortunate, she also needed to prioritize her mental health: It wasn’t quite jiving with my personality and what I needed to stay sane... It’s taken years to understand what I intuitively was doing.” Eventually, McAdams did join the MCU as Dr. Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange (2016) and reprised her role in the sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

Emily Blunt was one of Marvel’s top choices for Black Widow in Iron Man 2 and Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. However, she had to decline both roles due to her contractual obligation to star in Gulliver’s Travels. Speaking to Howard Stern, Blunt said, It was a bit of a heartbreaker for me… I take such pride in the decisions that I make.” She also clarified that she isn’t opposed to joining the MCU in the future but hasn’t yet found the right role: It's not that I'm loath to put on a catsuit. It's just that I haven’t found something that really speaks to me.” Despite missing out on the MCU, Blunt was gracious in hindsight. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, she praised Scarlett Johansson: Come on, the best girl got it. She’s amazing.”

Before Anthony Hopkins brought gravitas and complexity to the role of Odin, Marvel reportedly approached Braveheart star Mel Gibson for the part. In an interview with The Guardian, Gibson confirmed, Yeah, a long time ago, to play Thor’s dad. But I didn’t do it.” Though he didn’t elaborate further, Gibson’s decision led to Hopkins becoming one of the most memorable parental figures in the MCU.

Before Chris Hemsworth became synonymous with the God of Thunder, Marvel reportedly considered Daniel Craig for the role of Thor. However, Craig declined the offer, choosing instead to focus on his ongoing role as James Bond. Interestingly, Elizabeth Olsen later revealed that Craig was nearly cast as Balder the Brave—another Asgardian—in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though the character was eventually written out.

In 2013, Jessica Chastain was offered the role of Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3. The part eventually went to Rebecca Hall after Chastain had to bow out due to a packed schedule. She explained in a Facebook post (via ScreenRant): My schedule is jam-packed… I hope to do a Marvel film in the future.” Chastain was also considered for the role of Hope van Dyne in Ant-Man during the early stages of development under Edgar Wright. However, she once again passed on the opportunity.

Before landing the role of Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe, Jason Momoa was offered the part of Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. Speaking to Zap2it (via IGN), Momoa explained why he said no: I’ve done so many things where I don’t say much and I’m covered in makeup. I want to show a little more range.”He went on to praise Dave Bautista’s portrayal, calling him "perfect" for the role.