‘It went against my instincts’: You'll never believe which stars turned down roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts some of the biggest and most exciting names in Hollywood. Actors like Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh and Gwyneth Paltrow to name just a few. But you'll be shocked to discover which stars TURNED DOWN roles in the MCU! Read on to find out who...

Matthew McConaughey was offered the role of the villain in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’, but decided to turn it down to star with Idris Elba in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower' instead, During a chat with Playboy the ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ star explained his reasons for doing so, saying: "I like it, but what I saw was, 'It's successful, and now we've got room to make a colourful part for another big-name actor'. I'd feel like an amendment."

Oscar winner Russell Crowe turned down the role of Wolverine for a very specific reason. In an appearance on radio show ‘Fitzy & Nova’, he said he wanted to avoid similarities between the ‘X-Men’ character and his ‘Gladiator' alter ego Maximus Decimus Meridius. He said: “If you remember, Maximus has a wolf at the centre of his cuirass, and he has a wolf as his companion. So I said no, because I didn't want to be 'wolfy', like 'Mr Wolf’."

When attending the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, the ‘Passion of the Christ’ star surprised fans by revealing he turned down a major Marvel role. He said: “[I was approached] a long time ago to play Thor’s dad. But I didn’t do it." The role of Odin in the 2011 MCU movie eventually went to as Sir Anthony Hopkins, whilst Chris Hemsworth was cast as his titular son.

The actor - who is best known for playing ‘Mad Men’s’ Don Draper - revealed in a 2014 interview with Radio Times magazine that he has turned down several roles, including some top secret superhero ones. Explaining his reason for giving the MCU the chop, Hamm said: "For me to sign on now to do a superhero movie would mean I would be working until I am 50 as that particular superhero."

American actress Olivia Munn was offered the role of Vanessa in ‘Deadpool’, the love interest of Ryan Reynolds’ titular anti-hero. Instead, Munn, 41, took on the part of psychic mutant Psylocke in 'X-Men: Apocalypse', because she didn't just want to be "eye candy". She told American Way magazine: "I thought Psylocke was always one of the most lethal characters and I said, ‘Yes [I’ll take the role], as long as you’re not using her to be the eye candy. She has really powerful abilities.’ And they said, ‘Yes, that’s an important part’.”

In an interview ‘Doctor Strange’ screenwriter C. Robert Cargill, revealed that ‘Molly’s Game’ star Jessica Chastain was considered for the rule of surgeon Christine Palmer in the MCU film. But Chastain was more interested in playing a superhero rather than different type of character. The ultimately went to Rachel McAdams. Cargill spilled: "She’s like, ‘Hey, look, this project sounds awesome, and I would love to do it. But I’m only going to get one shot at being in a Marvel film and becoming a Marvel character, and I trained in ballet, and I really want to wear a cape.'"

You now can't imagine anyone else as Black Widow other than Scarlett Johansson. But 'Mary Poppins' star Emily Blunt was actually the first actress considered for the Avenger superspy character. Sadly, her busy schedule due to her commitment on the film ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, made Blunt turn down the offer. Lamenting the scheduling issue, she said: "It was a bit of a heartbreaker for me."

Jason Momoa is now a major part of the DC Extended Universe as Aquaman. However, he was offered the chance to play Drax in James Gunn's ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, but he passed on it over worries about being typecast. He revealed: “I want my children to see their father happy. It’s not that it’s not a good role. It just wasn’t the right thing. I was on ‘Stargate: Atlantis’ for four years playing a similar character. I’ve been there and done that." Former WWE Superstar Dave Bautista went on to make the role his own.

Believe it or not, Matt Damon was offered the role of Daredevil’s Matt Murdock, but turned down the offer. In an interview with the New York Daily News, he said that, although being a huge ‘Daredevil’ fan, he decided to reject the opportunity. He spilled: "I chickened out. I hadn't seen the director (Mark Steven Johnson's) work and I didn't know. So I just said ‘no’." Matt's best friend Ben Affleck ended up playing the blind superhero.

One of the fan-favorite characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is, undoubtedly, Stephen Strange. Did you know that Joaquin Phoenix could have portrayed him the mystical hero? Speaking to Collider, Phoenix revealed he turned down the offer as he believed being involved with such a big franchise would too much media attention. He said: "There were too many requirements that went against my instincts for character." Benedict Cumberbatch ended up playing Doctor Strange, whilst Phoenix won a Best Actor Oscar for his powerful origins story of DC villain Joker in Todd Phillips' 2019 R-rated movie of the same name.