It’s not uncommon for things to fall through, even late in a project. Actors sometimes have to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, significant changes to the script, or issues with the director or other cast members. Whatever the reason, they ultimately decide to move on.
Sometimes a departure from a franchise is temporary – Neve Campbell leaving and then returning to the Scream series is a good example. But usually, when an actor leaves a franchise, it’s for good. Here are some actors who were involved with, committed to, or strongly expected to be in a franchise, but ultimately decided to move on.
8) Sylvester Stallone — Beverly Hills Cop
It’s surprising, but Eddie Murphy wasn’t the first actor considered for the role of Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop. That honor actually belonged to Sylvester Stallone, who was initially set to play a character named Axel Cobretti instead.
Stallone joined the project and significantly altered it, removing all the humor and unexpectedly killing off the popular character Billy Rosewood midway through the story. Ultimately, Stallone left the film just two weeks before production began, partly because co-producer Don Simpson disagreed with the new direction. Interestingly, the changes Stallone did make later formed the basis for Cobra, a movie that, while entertaining, was generally quite grim and raised some difficult themes.
Stream Beverly Hills Cop on Paramount+.
7) Dougray Scott — X-Men
I always thought the story behind the first X-Men casting was fascinating, much like what happened with Beverly Hills Cop. It turned out the second choice for the role was absolutely the right one! The first actor they wanted, Dougray Scott, didn’t leave the project because he wanted to, unlike Sylvester Stallone in that other situation. It was a tough break for him, but ultimately, things worked out perfectly.
Essentially, Scott was pushed to leave his role as Wolverine due to clashes with the filming schedule of Mission: Impossible 2, where he was playing the villain, and injuries from a motorcycle accident. Reports also suggest Tom Cruise played a part in his departure. Just three weeks after filming started, Hugh Jackman stepped in to take over, and the rest is well-known history. Alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Ryan Reynolds, Jackman is arguably as famous for his comic book movie role as anyone.
Stream X-Men on Disney+.
6) Michael Keaton — Batman Forever
Although Michael Keaton wasn’t in Batman Forever, he was asked to reprise his role as Batman. However, with Tim Burton no longer directing and the new film taking a much lighter, more comical approach, Keaton decided to decline.
Val Kilmer did a great job as Batman, but the movie he starred in felt very different from the darker, more gothic world Tim Burton had created. This was despite Burton remaining a producer on the film. Recently, fans were excited when Michael Keaton was announced to reprise his role as Batman for new DC movies. However, The Flash, one of those projects, wasn’t a success, and the other, Batgirl, was completed but never released.
Stream Batman Forever on HBO Max.
5) Charlie Hunnam — Fifty Shades of Grey
Initially, Charlie Hunnam from Sons of Anarchy and Dakota Johnson (Madame Web) were chosen to play Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. Both actors had agreed to the roles, but ultimately, only Dakota Johnson remained in the cast. Jamie Dornan later replaced Charlie Hunnam.
Charlie Hunnam ultimately left the Fifty Shades project due to a grueling schedule that nearly caused a breakdown. He prioritized his commitments to Sons of Anarchy and Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak. Fortunately, Jamie Dornan took over and had great on-screen chemistry with Dakota Johnson. Hunnam continued to excel on Anarchy, made a strong appearance in Crimson Peak, and importantly, took care of his well-being.
4) Peter Weller — RoboCop 3
Many consider RoboCop 3 to be the weakest film in the series, even compared to the remake. While not the biggest flaw, replacing Peter Weller was a definite misstep. Robert John Burke is a talented actor, but Weller truly was RoboCop, and changing him would have been like replacing the voice of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi.
I always wondered why Robert Weller didn’t come back for RoboCop 3, and it turns out he was already committed to Naked Lunch – that project really took priority for him. Honestly, it almost worked out for the best! He didn’t even love wearing the RoboCop suit, and after two movies, it was really taking a toll on his body. It makes total sense why he passed on the third one. And honestly, after reading the script for RoboCop 3, I can’t imagine anyone, even Weller, being able to save that movie. It’s one of those ideas that was probably better left on the drawing board.
Stream RoboCop 3 on fuboTV.
3) Robert Duvall — The Godfather Part III
While The Godfather Part III is significantly better than RoboCop 3, both movies suffer from feeling unnecessary – like they were made just to finish a series. The Godfather Part III was also noticeably weaker without Robert Duvall, who played Tom Hagen, a key advisor to the Corleone family who was considered a true member of the family.
As The Godfather Part III quickly reveals, Tom Hagen, a key character in the first two films, wasn’t included because of a salary dispute. Robert Duvall, who played Hagen, requested a payment closer to Al Pacino’s, explaining in a 2004 interview with 60 Minutes that he was fine with a double salary, but not three or four times his own. While Hagen wasn’t as central to the story as Michael Corleone, it’s understandable why Duvall felt he deserved comparable pay, considering his star power was on par with Pacino’s in 1990.
2) Terrence Howard — Iron Man 2
It’s well-known now that Terrence Howard asked for a salary equal to Robert Downey Jr.’s when negotiating his return for Iron Man 2. The studio understandably questioned this request.
Howard felt his character, War Machine, deserved a similar level of focus as Iron Man in the movies. However, that wasn’t the plan. The role was eventually re-cast with the talented Don Cheadle, who has more than proven himself and is now deserving of leading his own Marvel project.
Stream Iron Man 2 on Disney+.
1) Sean Connery — The James Bond Franchise
Following his fifth film as James Bond, You Only Live Twice, Sean Connery had grown tired of the role. When he announced his retirement early in the production of that film, producers began looking for a replacement, eventually choosing model George Lazenby. Connery did return for Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again, but primarily because he was offered a substantial amount of money.
I always found it fascinating how George Lazenby walked away from Bond after just one film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It really left them scrambling! Apparently, Harry Saltzman, one of the producers, had always envisioned Roger Moore as the next Bond after Connery, though Roger himself has said he wasn’t actually considered until they started planning Live and Let Die.
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2026-01-21 02:11