Scarlett Johansson's Biggest Movie Rejections That Became Blockbusters

Scarlett Johansson has built an impressive career with standout performances in Lucy, Fly Me to the Moon, and her iconic portrayal of Black Widow throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Currently holding the title of highest-grossing actor with her films earning over $16 billion worldwide, she's undeniably one of Hollywood's most successful performers.

Despite her remarkable achievements, Johansson's path to stardom wasn't without setbacks. Several major roles that could have shaped her career differently ended up going to other actresses, sometimes for surprising reasons. Here's a look at seven significant films that got away from the acclaimed star.

Early Career Disappointments

When Johansson was just 11 years old, she auditioned for the role of Judy Shepherd in the 1995 adventure film Jumanji. Despite delivering what appeared to be a confident audition, the part ultimately went to Kirsten Dunst. During a later appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Johansson admitted her feelings about the loss had evolved over time: "Yeah, I saw 'Jumanji', but I liked it. I liked 'Jumanji'...No, I wasn't bitter enough then. Now I'm bitter about it."

Years later, Dunst would beat out Johansson for another role - Claire Colburn in the 2005 romantic drama Elizabethtown opposite Orlando Bloom. While the film wasn't particularly successful critically or commercially, it marked another instance where these two actresses competed for the same part.

Musical Theater Dreams Derailed

One of Johansson's most disappointing losses came when she auditioned for the role of Fantine in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables. Unfortunately, she was battling laryngitis during her audition, which may have affected her performance. The role eventually went to Anne Hathaway, who delivered an Oscar-winning performance.

Reflecting on the experience, Johansson told Broadway Buzz that she "sang her little heart out" despite being ill. She later praised Hathaway's work, saying "There's no possible way I ever could have topped that...It was perfect and I think fateful and meant to be." The film went on to earn multiple Academy Award nominations and became one of the most celebrated musicals of recent years.

Director's Vision Conflicts

David Fincher's 2011 thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo presented another missed opportunity for Johansson. She auditioned for the lead role of Lisbeth Salander, but Fincher ultimately chose Rooney Mara instead. In a 2011 Vogue interview, the director made some controversial comments about his casting decision, suggesting that Johansson's screen presence might have been distracting for the character.

Similarly, Johansson came close to landing the role of Evey Hammond in V for Vendetta, but Natalie Portman ultimately secured the part. That same year, however, Johansson did land a role in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige, proving that one door closing often leads to another opening.

Space Dreams and Career Doubts

Perhaps the most challenging rejection for Johansson came when she lost the lead role in Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity to Sandra Bullock. She described the unusual audition process to Entertainment Tonight: "I had to be in like the full, whole space suit thing, and sort of pretend I was kind of like floating in space."

This particular loss hit Johansson especially hard, coming after she had also been turned down for Iron Man 2. She told Variety: "I felt really frustrated and hopeless. Like, 'Am I doing the right job?' The work I was being offered felt deeply unfulfilling. I think I was offered every Marilyn Monroe script ever. I was like, 'Is this the end of the road creatively?'" Fortunately, she would soon land the role of Black Widow, which became one of her most defining characters.

Even as a child, disappointment followed Johansson when she auditioned for The Parent Trap but lost the dual role of the twins to Lindsay Lohan. When asked by Howard Stern if she had seen the finished film, she admitted: "No, I don't think so. I started to get bitter at that point. It was hard for me."