0%

6 Major Roles Tom Holland Turned Down or Didn’t Get

January 26, 2025 - Movies

Tom Holland has become a household name, starring in Uncharted, Cherry, and of course, Spider-Man. But for all the roles he managed to bring to life, there were just as many that he either turned down or wasn’t offered (in fact, even his role as Peter Parker almost didn’t happen).

Sometimes, Holland’s recording schedule interfered with a new production, so he’d have to reject the new role. In other cases, another actor proved to be a slightly better fit. While most of these movies went on to achieve great success, it’s still fun to consider how Holland could have brought his unique charm, energy, and sensitivity to the roles.

6

‘Stars Wars: The Force Awakens’ (2015)

Star Wars: Episode VII takes place 30 years after Return of the Jedi and follows Rey (portrayed by Daisy Ridley) and ex-Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) as they try to track down Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill). Unfortunately, the nefarious First Order, led by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), is trying to find Luke first and make him disappear for good. Accompanied by favorites from the previous films, such as Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca, Rey and Finn find themselves fighting for the Resistance as they travel the galaxy to stop the First Order before it’s too late.

A Tough (but Hilarious) Audition

In another universe, fans might have seen Holland taking on Boyega’s role. According to an interview, he auditioned alongside a woman who was playing the role of a droid. He couldn’t stop laughing as she made “Bleep bloop” noises, which ultimately cost him the part. Notably, Holland wasn’t the only actor who had a hard time during the audition.

5

‘Wonka’ (2023)

The musical fantasy Wonka is a prequel to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Timothée Chalamet as the titular character. The movie follows his attempts to become a chocolatier and focuses on his friendship with Noodle, his meeting with the Oompa Loompa Lofty, and his quest to uncover the secret of his mother’s chocolate. Corrupt contracts, competitors, and attempted sabotage are just a few things standing in his way, but Wonka believes in himself and will do whatever it takes to make his dream of a chocolate factory a reality.

Two Sweet Options

Chalamet and Holland were the last two in the running for Wonka. Donald Glover, Ezra Miller, and Ryan Gosling were also also considered. For director Paul King, however, Chalamet was always the number one pick, and he offered the actor the role without auditioning. While it’s unfortunate that Holland didn’t get the opportunity, Chalamet was a pretty sweet choice.

Related


Zendaya Shares Her Honest Thoughts On Her Relationship With Tom Holland Being So Public

Zendaya and Tom Holland could be one of the most successful couples in Hollywood, but not much about their relationship is private.

4

‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013 – 2022)

peaky-blinders-poster.jpg


Peaky Blinders

Release Date

September 12, 2013

Showrunner

Steven Knight



Stream


In the aftermath of WWI, the Peaky Blinders gang, headed by war hero Thomas Shelby, comes to power in Birmingham. Tommy must combat rival gangs and evade Chief Inspector Chester Campbell as he tries to spread the group’s influence. Secrets, politics, and betrayals only put his ambitions further out of reach, but Tommy will stop at nothing in the pursuit of building his empire.

Still a Chance

Though it’s unknown what part he tried out for, Holland revealed that he had auditioned for Peaky Blinders and been turned down. All we know is that, whatever part he tried out for, it was a “big” one. With news of a movie in the works, it’s possible we’ll see Holland join the universe, as series creator Steven Knight has offered the actor a starring role.

3

‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ (2017)

A sequel to the 1995 Jumanji, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle focuses on a video game version of the classic board game. Found by a group of teens over 20 years after the first film, the game traps the characters inside in the form of adult avatars. To return home, they must work with another player, Alex Vreeke, to return the Jaguar’s Eye jewel to a shrine and end Professor Van Pelt’s curse.

Welcomed to (But Turned Down) the Jungle

Holland was cast to play Seaplane McDonough, but the role went to Nick Jonas due to conflicts with Holland’s Spider-Man Homecoming schedule. To be fair, Jonas did a great job in the role, and of course, we wouldn’t have wanted Holland to turn down Spider-Man to take it. Still, in another world, we would have loved to see Holland’s take on the role as well.

Related


Tom Holland Gets More Compliments for Lip-Syncing Rihanna’s “Umbrella” Than for His Movies

Tom Holland said that he’s “so proud” of his performance of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” on Lip Sync Battle.

2

‘November Criminals’ (2017)

01279393_poster_w780.jpg


november criminals

Release Date

November 7, 2017

Runtime

86 minutes

Director

Sacha Gervasi



Stream


When their friend Kevin (Jared Kemp) dies in a shooting, Addison (Ansel Elgort) and Phoebe (Chloë Grace Moretz) are determined to get to the bottom of what

happened. Things quickly grow dangerous when they learn that Kevin was involved with a drug dealer. Still, Addison is determined to find out the truth behind Kevin’s death, even if it means putting his own life in jeopardy.

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

Holland auditioned to play Addison Schacht, and he was devastated when he didn’t get the role. He had hoped it could be a stepping stone for his career. Fortunately, his father helped him to see the rejection in a different light, and Holland came to understand that losing out on a role was an important step all its own.

1

‘1917’ (2019)

The British war film 1917 takes place during WWI. After learning about an ambush from the Germans, the heroic Lance Corporals William Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are ordered to deliver a message to Colonel Mackenzie, calling off his attack. If they don’t get to him in time, 1,600 men, including Blake’s brother, Joseph, will be caught in the surprise attack. However, they don’t have long to reach him, and traversing no man’s land is no small task.

Chaos Walking

Holland was considered for one of the movie’s lead roles, but he had to turn it down in order to do reshoots for Chaos Walking. Unfortunately, Holland’s movie went on to be a box office flop. On the other hand, 1917 proved to be a box office win.


Source link

Play Cover Track Title
Track Authors