10 Actors Who Must Regret Turning Down 2015’s Biggest Movies

8. Guy Pearce - Black Mass

The Role: Billy Bulger, the corrupt Boston senator and brother of notorious gangster James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp), ultimately played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Pearce was initially cast as Billy but due to "undisclosed reasons", dropped out of the part before shooting began. Why They Regret Turning It Down: Because, in addition to not exactly having a jam-packed slate of big movies on the way, he was so, so much better-suited for the part than Cumberbatch, whose unconvincing accent resulted in an underwhelming portrayal of the character. Pearce has a proven track record with flawless American accents and looks awesome in a suit, so what's not to like? Sure, it's not the largest or most prestigious of roles, but it would've thrown him headlong into an impressive ensemble earning awards buzz and, most importantly, had him finally work opposite Johnny Depp, which given his sublime performance here, would no doubt have been its own reward. Would It Have Worked?: Absolutely. Pearce would've slotted effortlessly into the part and been a much better fit than the unexpectedly awkward Cumberbatch.