10 Actors Who Were Almost Fired From Famous Roles

1. Johnny Depp Was Almost Fired From Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl Because Disney Didn't "Understand" His Performance

Pirates Of The Caribbean wouldn't have been anywhere as successful a franchise as it is today if Johnny Depp hadn't pulled his Captain Jack Sparrow schtick, and yet there was a time during the making of the first flick, Curse Of The Black Pearl, when the actor was almost fired - all because the studio didn't understand what he was trying to achieve or what he was attempting to do with the character.

Depp famously based his performance on Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones, playing Sparrow as a relentlessly intoxicated and flamboyant dandy - not your typical idea of a "pirate," that's for sure. Many of the Disney executives took offence to what they assumed to be a "gay" performance, and believed him to be ruining the film.

Depp has stated that he came "as close to getting fired as anyone could be," and - according to the actor - he even suggested that the studio do so (on the condition that they paid him what was owed). Ultimately Disney stuck with Depp, but remained cautious until the film's release, worried about how audiences would receive him.

Oh, the benefits of hindsight... the guy ended up making them billions of dollars!

What other famous actors were almost fired from iconic roles? Share any we missed down in the comments.