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Close your eyes for a here and now and imagine a humankind that does n’t have Christian Bale playingBatman … okay , that would credibly count like the weird and crackers ' LX when Adam West was prance about in grey-haired tights … or maybe the adventuresome ' 80s and ' 90s when Michael Keaton , Val Kilmer and George Clooney all took turns at slipping into fateful rubber-base paint bat suit , a few of which sported nipples .
Alright , here ’s a better instance : what about a creation in which Robert Downey Jr is n’t everyone ’s favored take the air can can , Iron Man . A world even crazier than the ' 60s , in which Tom Cruise plays Tony Stark , Sylvester Stallone is Clark Kent , Edward Furlong is Peter Parker and Bill Murray is Bruce Wayne .
It ’s a world where ( hurrying ) bullets can not be dodged , and those not - so - super snatch of molding are a reality - and contribute to even bigger train wrecks than those involving powerful locomotive .
Call it Bizarro World if you need , but each of those castings I just cite almost come to pass . Along with some other famous near - miss , we here atScreen Rantexplore the ( seedy ) spew history of some of today ’s hottest superhero franchises :
Tom Cruise as Iron Man
It ’s obviously strong to sound now , with RDJ slipping so absolutely into the role of Tony Stark , but it belike seemed ridiculous to some back in early 2007 when it was announced that the once down - on - his - luck Robert Downey Jr would be play Marvel ’s suave , ego - made superhero , Iron Man .
specially when - despite a seemingly on - again , off - again human relationship - it was long consider that Tom Cruise would not only eventually star as Stark , but also co - acquire the character ’s first raid onto the big screen . Cruise ’s connexion to anIron Manmovie go bad back to just after the tour of the century , and escalate after Sam Raimi’sSpider - Manhelped inject a new lease on life into the superhero literary genre .
wonder Studios executiveKevin Feige was quotedas saying in 2004 :
" There have been give-and-take ( with Cruise ) over the last several years and there are a number of factors involved . All we know is that we ’re put all the composition in shoes and then we ’ll bump the best Tony Stark that we can get . "
ApparentlyCruise finally lost interestin being apart ofIron Mandue to the script at the clip . It is not known whether it was the draft that centered around Stark ’s father , Howard , turning out to be the villain of the piece . Said Cruise :
“ I do n’t know . It just … they came to me at a sure point and … when I do something , I wanna do it decent . If I send to something , it has to be done in a way that I know it ’s gon na be something special . And as it was lining up , it just did n’t feel to me like it was gon na work . "
Once Marvel settled on a theatre director in Jon Favreau- and a nice playscript - Favreau overlooked such doer as Clive Owen and Sam Rockwell for the lead purpose , submit that Downey Jr could make Stark " a likable asshole . " And RDJ deport . Cruise , on the other paw , may have made Stark just an asshole . Sorry Tom .
Continue to Batman …
Bill Murray as Batman
It is consider folklore , but back when it was a big pot : Michael Keaton being roll as Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’sBatmancaused suchoutrage among comic book fans , that 50,000 protest letters were sent to Warner Bros. The studio may have gotten 100,000 if Bill Murray had fill the role , as was a strong opening for some time . It was all a symptom of the mix in - up mid-’80s , about the time when someone thought it would be a serious idea to have Richard Pryor play a super - villain ( inSuperman III ) .
The MurrayBatmanwas belong to be like in elan to the campy Adam West TV show of the ' 60s , but the task was eventually met with a large " Kapow ! " and Warner Bros. made the right pick in hiring Tim Burton , refreshed from the surprisal success ofPee - Wee ’s Big AdventureandBeetlejuice , who lease the film in a altogether different counseling - towards corner - bureau gold .
Every piece and his dog was order to be in the track for the role of Burton ’s Billionaire with the chiropteran fetish - most notably Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin - but Keaton won out , and gain over the devotee with his non-white and disturbed portrayal of the victimize vigilante . Murray himself was glowing in his praiseof Keaton .
“ I would have been a fine Batman . You know , there have been a number of Batmen . I like them … I thought Mike Keaton did a great caper as Batman . It ’s plain … it ’s a heavy part . "
Jake Gyllenhaal as Batman
talk of glum and disturbed , Jake Gyllenhaal had play just that as the title character in cult - hitDonnie Darko . He was looking for an upgrade when he try for the pillage part of Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’sBatmanreboot , Batman Begins . He was say to be writer David S. Goyer ’s first choice before blind - examination .
Gyllenhaal was one of the terminal eight actors to try out for the part , the others being Canadian Joshua Jackson , fellow Americans Eion Bailey and Billy Crudup , along with European role player Cillian Murphy , Henry Cavill , Hugh Dancy and Christian Bale , who Nolan pushed for and become , despite the actor being a literal - life story stick figure after appearing inThe Machinist .
While Bale got the spoils , Murphy strike Nolan so much he cast him as Dr Jonathan Crane , aka The Scarecrow . The closest that runner - up Gyllenhaal got to being involved in aBatmanmovie was experience his sister Maggie star inThe Dark Knight . Jake Gyllenhaal was seemingly in talk to play DA Harvey ' Two - font ' Dent in that continuation , but was again overlooked , this time for Aaron Eckhart - gratefully .
While he has senesce in the year since strain out forBatman Begins , and has pack on considerable muscle for the upcomingThe Prince of Persia , back then Jake Gyllenhaal was sure as shooting more suited to a Peter Parker / Spider - Man - type superhero . Of of course , he just missed out there too after Tobey Maguire was capable to regain from a back accidental injury just before filmingSpider - humans 2 .
Speaking of Spider - Man …
Scott Leva as Spider-Man
Long before Tobey Maguire became a family name by bet the locality ’s friendlySpider - Manin three pic , Scott Leva was the man most likely to don the web and mask . " Scott who ? " you necessitate .
Leva was a professional stuntman - still is - and was the front - runner to play the vane - slinger when the increasinglycash - flog Cannon Filmswas desperately attempt to develop aSpider - Manmovie in the previous ' 80 . Leva had even appear inpromotional photos for Cannon , wearing the Spidey causa .
ASpider - Manmovie had been in ontogenesis for a number of year , first with Tobe Hooper ( The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ) and then Joseph Zito ( Invasion USA ) in the conductor ’s chair , before on-going budget cuts by Cannon intend on-going slashes to the script . Zito , who Cannon had replaced Hooper with , ultimately dropped out because of the film ’s garish and cheaper handling . Albert Pyun ( The Sword and the Sorcerer ) replaced him .
Leva apparently read all drafts of the script , including the former one by Ted Newsom and John Brancato , which was an origin tarradiddle with Otto Octavius initially a wise man to Peter Parker who becomes Spider - Man ’s foe Doc Ock after a ' cyclotron accident ' transforms both characters . Leva toldStarlogin 2002 :
“ It ( the script ) was honest but it needed a little oeuvre . Unfortunately , with every subsequent rescript by other writers , it went from good to speculative to horrific . "
While shank - which also produced the massive flopSuperman IV : The Quest for Peace- eventually gave up trying to get itsSpider - Manmovie made ( and eventually buy the farm out of business in 1993 ) Pyun went on to make one of the worst superhero movies of all - time , Captain America(1990 ) , which starred Matt Salinger .
More Spider - Man cat choices …
Edward Furlong as Spider-Man
you could give thanks fiscal issues for refuse us the chance to see Eddie Furlong in the red and dreary spandex in the mid-90s - not to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger as Doctor Octopus . GettingSpider - Manto the cock-a-hoop - screen became even more of a mat vane after the crash of Cannon . The rights ended up at Carolco Pictures , at the legacy of James Cameron , who want to write and direct a big blockbuster .
Carolco producedTerminator 2 : Judgment Day , and then project to cooperate with Cameron again onSpider - Man . Cameron ’s initial reworking of an existing script again featured mischievous - nemesis Doc Ock as the opponent . Having make for frequently together , Schwarzenegger was Cameron ’s first option for the villain , and Furlong ( the original John Connor ) was powerfully considered for the hero .
Cameron also wrote a more adult ‘ scriptment ’ , with Electro and Sandman replace Doc Ock . Cameron ’s bid to makeSpider - Manis boast in theRebecca Keegan rule book , The Futurist : The Life and Films of James Cameron .
In 1996 , Carolco followed Cannon into that big studio apartment heaven in the sky and left theSpider - Manmovie in ontogenesis Scheol . The company ’s flop proved the deathknell for Cameron ’s imaginativeness for the entanglement - slinger , though portion of his script did make it to Sam Raimi ’s adaption almost a decennium later .
Cameron managed to jump ship and makeTitanic . Schwarzenegger and Furlong did n’t fare so well . While Arnie had the dubitable honor of play Mr Freeze ( inBatman and Robin ) , Eddie simply went cold and his career faded . Though he will be seen alongside Seth Rogen in the upcomingThe Green Hornet .
Leonardo DiCaprio as Spider-Man
MGM got its hands on theSpider - Manrights from Carolco , but follow much legal wheeling and dealings , traded them to Sony Pictures in 1999 for the James Bond rights . peradventure MGM think it was a poisoned goblet ?
Sony mystify to work right away on makingSpider - Manvia Columbia Pictures , using Cameron ’s script treatment , but not the theatre director himself . The party also want to get its hands on the genius of Cameron ’s record - smashingTitanic , Leonardo DiCaprio , for the prize part of Peter Parker . Freddie Prinze Jr and Jude Law were also believed to beearly contenders .
In the end , only Cameron ’s idea for ‘ organic vane - shooters ’ survived the many revision by David Koepp and then Scott Rosenberg , and DiCaprio ’s body of work remains bereft of a superhero purpose . ego - confess " Spider - Mannut " Sam Raimi was hired to steer , and Scott Speedman , Jay Rodan and James Franco were among those who test for the lead story .
Raimi at last begin his man Tobey Maguire , despite the studio apartment ’s initial reluctance to cast him because of his lowly stature . peradventure they had reservation about the actor after watchingWonderboysand seeing him in bed with another succeeding superhero , Robert Downey Jr ?
The sleep , as they say , is account - and , despite a chanceful third entering , Raimi and Maguire’sSpider - Mantrilogy is the most successful superhero dealership in account ( so far ) . Tell me again , why are they planning a reboot ?
Continue to the X - Men Franchise …
Dougray Scott as Wolverine
Not far behind theSpider - Manfranchise isX - Men , which really pave the way for the superhero genre in the twenty-first century afterBatman and Robinripped it to shred at the ending of the 20th . However , wouldX - Menhave been such a succeeder without Hugh Jackman anchoring the role of Logan , akaWolverine ?
Dougray Scott , the Scottish actor , was actually hired to play the Canadian wildman with the super - sideburns when director Bryan Singer was get together his mutant squad forX - Menin 1999 . Scott was ultimately force to pull out just as they began filming , due to programing conflicts withMission : Impossible II .
In stepped the multi - talented Jackman , who grabbed the cinema by the nape of the neck and got himself a Hollywood vocation , including his own spin - off flick , X - Men Origins : Wolverine .
Jackman talked about hire over from Scott during a 2003 audience :
" I have spoken to him , I did n’t quite have the gut to say thank you , I kind of apologized more to him … he read ' Ah , that ’s Hollywood , these things materialize ' . "
Legend has it that before Scott and Jackman were cast , Gary Sinise , Russell Crowe , Viggo Mortensen , Aaron Eckhart and even Jean - Claude van Damme were also considered for the role of Wolverine , while Fox Studios reportedly require Keanu Reeves ( shows what they know ) .
Jim Caviezel as Cyclops
While Patrick Stewart was understandably the only worker considered for the part of wheelchair - bound Professor Xavier in Bryan Singer’sX - Men , the early competitor for the role of Scott Summers ( aka Cyclops ) were said to be Thomas Jane , Johnny Lee Miller , Eric Mabius , Owen Wilson , Edward Burns , Edward Norton and Jude Law , with Jim Caviezel really make headway out .
However , much like Dougray Scott , Caviezel was force to drop out due to a prior engagement -Frequencywith Dennis Quaid . The role of Cyclops then go to James Marsden , and with it , political program place so Marsden would n’t look so unretentive in comparison to the likes of Hugh Jackman ( Wolverine ) and Tyler Mane ( Sabretooth ) .
Caviezel believably did n’t escape much - and may have been the one who skirt the slug - considering that Scott Summers / Cyclops ’ involution in theX - Menseries diminished more and more with each film , though his lack of cover - time inX - Men : The Last Standwas the result of Marsden ’s own decision to switch amusing book camp - from the Marvel universe to DC – to play Lois Lane ’s fiancee inSuperman Returns .
Ironically Caviezel would finally play a ‘ superhero ’ of another variety - Jesus in Mel Gibson’sThe Passion of the Christ , which in turn led to director Bryan Singer to unfit him from the race to play the Man of Steel inSuperman Returns . plainly Singer did n’t want Jesus playingSuperman .
Caviezel said as much ina late consultation :
" I first sawSupermanwith Christopher Reeve and I just think that he go down the measure there . The first one , the ( Richard ) Donner film , was awful . But ( Caviezel ’s intimacy in Singer ’s newSuperman ) just never come to be … I intend that by playing Jesus made them stay away from that , as there was too much attending drawn to it . "
utter of Superman …
Nicolas Cage as Superman
Supermantook a prospicient metre to make his ‘ counter ’ after the shambolicSuperman tetrad : The Quest for Peace . A ten before Christopher Reeve - lookalike Brandon Routh became the Man of Steel for Bryan Singer ’s sentimental second coming , Superman Returns , Nicolas Cage was set to slip into the red undies - or dark ones - for Tim Burton .
As shortly as Warner Bros. finally took full control of the right toSupermanmovies in 1993 , the studio apartment project a grand ‘ re - conceiving’,Batman - style . Kevin Smith ( Clerks , Dogma ) was among a figure of screenwriter hired by heavyweight producer Jon Peters to prove and takeSupermanto never - before - seen heights ( from a theatrical perspective ) .
Smith ’s unique take , titledSuperman sprightliness - which featured Supes wearing a pitch-black ' terminator ' suit of clothes and combat the menacing sexual union of Brainiac and Day of Judgement - in the end lured Tim Burton to take aim and Cage to asterisk – though Smith allegedly wanted his old mate , Ben Affleck .
Burton finally had Wesley Strick ( who compose theA Nightmare on Elm Streetremake ) re - compose Smith ’s work - much to Smith ’s chargrin - with Superman now confronted by a unknown Brainiac - Lex Luthor amalgamation called Lexiac ; however the studio apartment scrapped that script , and then another one by Dan Gilroy , before eventually scrap the full flailing undertaking to focalize onWild , Wild West . Judging bythis 2000 interview , Burton was the one bequeath devil , and rightly so .
" … I opine , and this is only my vox populi of course , that it was n’t filmed because it was expire to be an expensive motion-picture show , and they were a little sensible because they were get a lot of bad pressure that they had screwed up the Batman enfranchisement … If they ’d just allowed us to make the film , I think that we could have done something interesting . They made a selection . They had this , Superman , and Wild , Wild West , and they opted for that and canned this one . It ’s frustrative . I wish to be positive , but I really feel that I waste a yr of my liveliness . That ’s a terrible tactual sensation . "
Cage was like a St. Brigid left at the Lord’s table : all dressed up ( during a costume fitting ) with nowhere to fly , and hale to fulfill a goal of play a superhero by becoming Bel - mark Marvel spicy - headGhost Riderin 2007 . Burton , on the other helping hand , has steered readable of the genre he helped mold withBatmanin 1989 , descend on a life history film Johnny Depp in bad make-up and crazy wigs .
More Superman near - misses …
Will Smith as Superman
Producer Jon Peters had wanted a black - suitedSuperman- and giant wanderer - when Kevin Smith was drop a line the handwriting for the turn over reboot in 1997 . Peters also romance with the possible action of a Shirley Temple - skinned Clark Kent a couple of twelvemonth later while still render to getSuperman- anySuperman- off the background , going as far as set about Will Smith about the role .
Apparently directorBryan Singer also sought Smithout more recently before makingSuperman payoff . In the last , Will Smith was never going to woo such a controversial , albeit very interesting , move .
" The last Superman I got provide , the book came , and I was like , ' There is no path I ’m playing Superman ! ' Because I had already done Jim West ( Wild , Wild West ) and you ca n’t be mess up up bloodless peoples ' heroes in Hollywood . You mess up up white peoples ' paladin in Hollywood , you ’ll never work in this township again ! "
Ironically , Smith also turned down the role of Neo inThe Matrixso he could appear in the commercial flopWild , Wild West . Smith eventually run on to play Superman an boozer with superhero capacity in the underwhelmingHancock .
Josh Hartnett as Superman
WithSupermanstruggling to take off andBatmanbeaten to a pulp critically after the disastrousBatman and Robin , Warner Bros. look at induce a two - for - the - Leontyne Price - of - oneBatman vs Supermanblockbuster in the other ' Naughties . '
McG ( Charlie ’s Angels , Terminator Salvation ) , and then Wolfgang Petersen ( The Perfect Storm , Troy ) were attach to direct an Andrew Kevin Walker book that let in Clark Kent being dependable humanity at Bruce Wayne ’s wedding , before the two go toe - to - toe over their differing time value .
The studio had manifestly wanted rising star Josh Hartnett for the Man of Steel - andChristian Bale as the Caped Crusader- but really up the ante to get their ( Super)man when the intact ‘ versus ’ concept was scrapped and attention turned to a screenplay by J.J. Abrams calledSuperman : Flyby , an lineage story with a controversial departure that also deals with Superman ’s end , a ‘ Kryptonian heaven , ' and Supes ' subsequent Christ’s Resurrection .
The rugged Hartnett , viewed as the next big thing , was allegedly offered $ 100 million to seem in a planned trilogy , but that was believed to be the sticking point . common defendant Jude Law was also in negotiation . Brett Ratner , who was sign to address , say in 2003 :
" No star wants to sign that , but as much as I ’ve told Jude and Josh my visual sensation for the movie , I ’ve warned them of the consequences of being Superman . They ’ll survive this character for 10 years because I ’m telling one narrative over three movies and design to direct all three if the first is as successful as everyone suspect . "
Even MORE Superman near misses …
Ashton Kutcher as Superman
While Warner Bros. tried to push forrader with Abrams and Ratner’sSuperman , a cavalcade of well - known actors untried , magniloquent and dark - hirsute , put their hand up for the lead role . Among them were Brendan Fraser , David Boreanaz and Ashton Kutcher , who all audition .
bruit to be the front - runner after a " very , very upright " covert - test , Kutcher eventually ‘ punk’d ’ Ratner and producer when he decided to drop himself from the race , after being spook by the alleged ‘ Supermancurse . '
" … I think there ’s a bit of a oath behind that character – the thing that have happened to people . Also , I think once you ’ve act that purpose then you ’re just forever experience asSuperman . It ’s kind of hard to act other thing . I have a flock of other quality I ’d rather play . "
Ratner shortly dropped out of the undertaking too , leaving McG to leap out back on board and pick up theSupermanslack . Still using Abrams ’ wandflower - cross hand , McG expect to spue an unsung as the Man of Steel , and shot test footage with video stars Jason Behr ( Roswell ) , Henry Cavill ( The Tudors ) and Jared Padalecki ( Supernatural ) .
In the end , McG was spook himself - not by the dreaded curse but by the flight to Australia , where Warner Bros. want , and finally receive , its newSupermanfilm shot . Bryan Singer braved the travel , and with him came an decent player to fill the big ruby bang , Brandon Routh .
Sylvester Stallone as Superman
While Brandon Routh was a desirable replacement , Christopher Reeve was THE perfect Clark Kent / Superman , with manufacturer Ilya Salkind fortunately taking the strange player route in edict to cast his lead in hisSuperman : The Movie .
manoeuvre by Richard Donner , Supermanwas the first big - budget , big - concealment superhero moving picture and attracted some big figure . The biggest - Warren Beatty , Robert Redford and Burt Reynolds - were say to have rap back offers to asterisk asSupermanearly on in development ; but uprise stars were knocking down Salkind ’s room access to audition . They included Arnold Schwarzenegger , Nick Nolte and Sylvester Stallone , who threw his hat into the doughnut after the success ofRocky .
Stallone plainly lobbied hard for the part and could ’ve been Superman - until he experience a big right hook from Marlon Brando , who had already been sign to star as Jor - El , the father of Kal - El / Clark Kent / Superman . Brando did n’t want the Itallion Stallion act as his Logos .
Salkind - the serviceman who first gaveSupermancinematic life and at long last ended it withSuperman IIIandIV -said just last month at the Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con that it would have been " a little bit difficult to opine " Stallone in the role :
“ After meeting a lot of role player , such as Jon Voight - we even met Neil Diamond , do n’t require me why - I cognise in my heart of hearts it had to be an unidentified . ”
Thank god his heart of meat was name the decision - the humans would be a much sad shoes if it had never have a go at it Reeves as the Man of Steel .
Continue to the latest superhero movie near miss …
John Krasinski as Captain America
It was only recently that John Krasinski was the surprisal favorite to take the most sought - after superhero role sinceSupermanReturns- that of Steve Rogers inThe First Avenger : Captain America .
Apparently the part " was his to fall back " after impress producers during two screen - tests , and Krasinski sat beforehand of Channing Tatum , Ryan Phillippe , Mike Vogel and Garrett Hedlund . Chris Evans , of course , finally leap over all of them ( without even auditioning ) to claim the last of Marvel ’s ' Big Four ' and also hold his spot inThe Avengers .
Evans has had few detractors since he deliver the goods the coveted role of Rogers , and with sound grounds . He has that rare ability to in earnest move and also buff up full-grown - time , Captain America - mode .
interlock Krasinski in as the Cap would have been an adventurous move , given his comedy background - most notably star as Jim inThe Office -but so was casting Michael Keaton asBatmanand Robert Downey Jr asIron Man . Krasinski has a really sympathetic quality , and also just happen to support six - pes - three . But could he have played the ultimate military tough guy ?
Like many before him , Krasinski is left to wonder what might have been …
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