It’s not uncommon for projects to fall through, and even late in the process, actors sometimes have to withdraw. This could be due to scheduling conflicts with other jobs, significant changes to the script, or concerns about who they’ll be working with – perhaps a director or co-star creates an undesirable work environment. Whatever the reason, they ultimately decide to leave the project.
Sometimes a departure from a franchise is temporary – like Neve Campbell leaving and then returning to the Scream series. But usually, when an actor leaves a franchise, it’s for good. Here are some examples of actors who were involved with, confirmed for, or strongly expected to join a franchise, but ultimately decided to move on.
8) Sylvester Stallone — Beverly Hills Cop
It’s surprising, but Eddie Murphy wasn’t the first choice to play Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop. Sylvester Stallone was originally cast, though his version of the character was named Axel Cobretti.
Stallone joined the project and significantly altered it, removing all the humor and unexpectedly killing off the popular character Billy Rosewood mid-story. Ultimately, Stallone left the film just two weeks before production began, partly because co-producer Don Simpson disagreed with the changes he was making. Ironically, the elements Stallone introduced later formed the basis for Cobra, a movie that, while entertaining, was generally quite grim and dealt with difficult themes.
Stream Beverly Hills Cop on Paramount+.
7) Dougray Scott — X-Men
Similar to Beverly Hills Cop, the first actor chosen for X-Men was ultimately replaced with someone much better. In this situation, Dougray Scott was the initial pick, but unlike Sylvester Stallone, he didn’t leave the project entirely by choice.
Essentially, Scott was pressured 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. Reportedly, even Tom Cruise played a part in his departure. Just three weeks after filming started, Hugh Jackman was brought in as his replacement, and the rest is well-known history. Alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Ryan Reynolds, Jackman is arguably as famous for playing Wolverine as any actor is for their comic book character.
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 movie taking a much lighter, more comedic approach, Keaton decided to decline the offer.
Val Kilmer did a great job taking on the role of Batman, but the movie he starred in felt very different from the dark, gothic world Tim Burton had created. This was despite Burton still being involved as a producer. Recently, fans were excited when Michael Keaton was set to reprise his role as Batman in new DC films. Unfortunately, The Flash, one of those movies, didn’t perform well, 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 (known later for Madame Web) were chosen to play Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. Both actors had agreed to the roles, but ultimately, only Dakota Johnson remained. Charlie Hunnam was later replaced by Jamie Dornan.
Charlie Hunnam ultimately left the Fifty Shades project because he was overwhelmed with scheduling demands, even saying it almost caused a breakdown. He prioritized his work on Sons of Anarchy and Crimson Peak instead. Fortunately, Jamie Dornan took over the role and had great on-screen chemistry with Dakota Johnson. Hunnam continued to excel on Sons of Anarchy, made a solid appearance in Crimson Peak, and was able to focus on 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 a major flaw, replacing Peter Weller was a noticeable issue. Robert John Burke is a talented actor, but Weller truly was RoboCop – it felt like a strange decision, similar to recasting Darth Vader’s voice for Return of the Jedi.
There were several reasons why Robert John Burke didn’t reprise his role in RoboCop 3. He was already committed to filming Naked Lunch, which took precedence. Ironically, this turned out to be a good thing, as Burke wasn’t a fan of the RoboCop suit itself. After wearing the heavy suit for two films, it had begun to take a physical toll on him. It’s understandable why he declined the role, especially considering how poor the RoboCop 3 script was – it’s hard to imagine anyone could have improved it. Ultimately, it was a sequel best left unmade.
Stream RoboCop 3 on fuboTV.
3) Robert Duvall — The Godfather Part III
While The Godfather Part III is far superior to RoboCop 3, both films suffer from feeling unnecessary – like endings to stories that didn’t really need concluding. The Godfather Part III was also noticeably missing Robert Duvall, who played the crucial role of Tom Hagen, a trusted advisor to the Corleone family who was considered a true part of the family.
As The Godfather Part III quickly reveals, Tom Hagen, a key character in the first two films, wasn’t present because of a salary dispute. Robert Duvall, who played Hagen, requested a pay raise that would be closer to Al Pacino’s, but the studio wouldn’t meet his request. In a 2004 interview with 60 Minutes, Duvall explained that while a reasonable pay difference was acceptable, the gap between his salary and Pacino’s had become too large. While Hagen wasn’t as central to the story as Michael Corleone, Duvall’s frustration is understandable, considering he and Pacino were equally prominent stars 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 recast with Don Cheadle, who has proven himself a fantastic actor and truly earned the opportunity to lead an MCU 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 at the start of filming Live Twice, producers searched for a replacement and eventually chose model George Lazenby. Connery did return for Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again, but mainly because he was offered a substantial amount of money.
George Lazenby also left the James Bond franchise after appearing in just one film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Afterward, the role went to Roger Moore, who had long been producer Harry Saltzman’s preferred replacement for Sean Connery. However, Moore has said he wasn’t actually contacted about playing Bond until the making of Live and Let Die.
https://comicbook.com/movies/list/every-sean-connery-james-bond-movie-ranked/embed/#
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2026-01-21 06:11