Not everyone is a fan of superhero movies, in fact, some auteur directors have bashed these big-budget superhero movies for taking away the spotlight from the real art of cinema. DC and Marvel are two of the biggest franchises in the world that produce many movies and TV series every year, but not every actor is interested in being a part of it.
Many actors turn down roles in these franchises hoping for better opportunities, however, only some get it. These 5 popular stars turned down major roles in DC movies and yet, they managed to become one of the best stars in Hollywood. Some may call it luck, but these stars certainly don’t lack talent.
1) Leonardo DiCaprio – Robin
Without a doubt, actor Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the best actors in the world right now and he has managed to establish himself as a talented star without starring in a single superhero movie. Over the years, the actor has been approached for various superhero movie roles, with the most notable one being the role of Robin in Batman Forever (1995). Despite losing this opportunity, DiCaprio became a worldwide sensation thanks to 1997’s Titanic.
2) Kristen Stewart – Lois Lane
Actress Amy Adams played the role of Lois Lane in director Zack Snyder’s 2013 movie Man of Steel. The director once revealed that there “was a big, giant search for Lois” and Snyder himself interviewed various Hollywood actresses, including Kristen Stewart. Unfortunately, Stewart was not interested in the role primarily because she wrapped up the Twilight franchise at the time and was looking for something else. Thanks to her iconic performances in independent features, Stewart became one of the most influential actresses of this generation.
3) Will Smith – Superman
Actor Will Smith has played many roles throughout his career but how insane it would be to see his iteration of Superman. This almost happened as Smith was offered the role of Superman in 2006’s Superman Returns but the deal never took off. Many years later, Smith eventually joined the DC franchise as Floyd Lawton / Deadshot in 2016’s Suicide Squad. This wasn’t Smith’s first time playing a superhuman as the actor played a superhero in 2008’s Hancock.
4) Jon Hamm – Green Lantern
Actor Jon Hamm is well-known for his work in many Hollywood movies like Stolen (2010), Million Dollar Arm (2014), Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016), Beirut (2018), and Confess, Fletch (2022). With his distinctive style, the actor has managed to establish himself as a versatile star. With so much popularity, it is highly unlikely that the actor regrets DC’s offer. Hamm was approached for the role of Hal Jordan / Green Lantern in 2011’s Green Lantern before Ryan Reynolds, however, the actor wasn’t interested in acting in a superhero movie.
5) Jude Law – Superman
Many actors were shortlisted for the role of Superman in 2006’s Superman Returns, including Jude Law. The actor felt that he was not fit for the role because he was an Englishman so the role went to Brandon Routh. Law got many more opportunities to showcase his talent and also earned a nomination for two Academy Awards. With a remarkable filmography, Law definitely proved that he didn’t need to play Superman to gain popularity.
