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

4. Christian Bale - Steve Jobs

The Role: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, a part that eventually went to Michael Fassbender. Bale was originally hand-picked by David Fincher to play Jobs when he signed on as director, though when Danny Boyle replaced Fincher, Bale was switched out for Leonardo DiCaprio. When Leo bailed, Bale was once again picked, though turned it down as he felt that he wasn't right for the part. Why They Regret Turning It Down: Fassbender is earning rave reviews for the role and will likely score a Best Actor Oscar nomination, but even he felt that Bale was "perfect" for the part. He said, "I thought to myself: Christian Bale is perfect, why isn't he doing it?...I actually called him up and told him that myself." Though Bale has been keeping himself busy working with Terrence Malick and Adam McKay, it's not quite on the same level as a Danny Boyle prestige pic written by Aaron Sorkin, and the fact that Bale simply felt himself wrong for the part rather than scheduling getting in the way is just baffling. Would It Have Worked?: Unquestionably. Bale looks a hell of a lot more like Jobs than Fassbender ever could, and there's little doubt he'd also be courting his first Best Actor nomination right now if he took the part.