Star Misses: 10 Career-Changing Roles That Weren't

Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Starring … Tom Selleck
Selleck was offered the part of Indiana Jones in Steven Spielberg's 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, but was reportedly too busy filming his TV show Magnum P.I. to accept. The part of the swashbuckling archaeologist went to Harrison Ford instead.

Knocked Up, Starring … Anne Hathaway
The star of The Devil Wears Prada was originally cast as Knocked Up's Alison Scott, a successful entertainment reporter whose one-night stand with a slacker leads to a surprise pregnancy, but Hathaway dropped out for "creative reasons." The actress later told the press: "I turned down another movie because it was going to show a vagina--not mine, but somebody else's. And I didn't believe that it was actually necessary to the story." The raunchy flick proved a smash hit at the box office, and the part made Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl a big-screen star.

The Godfather, Starring … Ernest Borgnine
While it's hard to imagine anyone other than Marlon Brando playing the "Don" of the Corleone family, Brando wasn't the original choice. Academy Award-winner Ernest Borgnine was an earlier candidate for the now legendary role.

Pretty Woman, Starring … Molly Ringwald
The Breakfast Club star was originally offered the starring role as Pretty Woman's endearing prostitute, but reportedly turned it down. That proved good news for Julia Roberts, who snagged the famous role instead. The part of Vivian not only earned Roberts an Oscar nomination, but also a career on the A-list.

Family Ties, Starring … Matthew Broderick
Though Michael J. Fox eventually landed the role of Alex P. Keaton on the 1980s sitcom, it was Broderick that the studio and network initially wanted. The Ferris Bueller's Day Off star and husband to Sarah Jessica Parker passed on the role, leaving Fox to score the now iconic part as the young conservative.

American Beauty, Starring … Chevy Chase
Funnyman Chevy Chase was reportedly considered for the role of depressed suburban dad Lester Burnham before Kevin Spacey finally landed the Academy Award-winning part. According to published reports, actor Jeff Daniels was also considered for the memorable role.

The Graduate, Starring … Robert Redford
Redford was originally considered for the part of Benjamin Braddock, but was reportedly rejected because director Mike Nichols didn't believe the hunky actor could convincingly play an underdog. Apparently Dustin Hoffman could--and did.

Brokeback Mountain, Starring … Mark Wahlberg
Before Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger scored the now legendary roles in the acclaimed "gay cowboy" flick, Mark Wahlberg tells the press he and actor Joaquin Phoenix were considered for the roles. They reportedly passed because they were "a little creeped out" by the sex scenes. In the end, the landmark film scored Heath Ledger an Oscar nod and generated $80 million--as well as accolades--at the box office.

Desperate Housewives, Starring … Calista Flockhart
Before ABC's Brothers and Sisters came along, the Ally McBeal star was considered for the role of ditzy divorcι Susan Mayer on the Walt Disney Co.-owned network's hit show Desperate Housewives. When Flockhart and others passed on the role, Teri Hatcher scored the part--a casting decision that not only revitalized her acting career but also catapulted her to the A-list.

Casablanca, Starring … George Raft
Raft had been the studio's first choice for the role of Casablanca star Rick Blaine. But when the then-popular leading man wasn't available for the film, the relatively minor player Humphrey Bogart was reluctantly offered the now iconic role. Casablanca fans couldn't imagine anyone else uttering the famous words: "Here's lookin' at you, kid."