10 Movie Roles Originally Intended For Other Actors

When fans first heard the news that a sequel to Blade Runner was in development, the first thing people questioned was the casting. Was Harrison Ford going to return, or was the film going in another direction? Fortunately, Ford came back for more replicant-hunting action, but another casting issue arose shortly before the film's release.

The antagonist in the film, Niander Wallace, was portrayed by Jared Leto, a man who has certainly made a name for himself as an incredibly talented actor, but he wasn't director Denis Villeneuve's first choice. In an interview with Metro, the director described who he originally envisioned for part:

“Our first thought [for the character] had been David Bowie, who had influenced Blade Runner in many ways. When we learned the sad news [of Bowie’s death], we looked around for someone like that.”

While many people remember David Bowie as one of the greatest musical performers of the 20th Century, he was no stranger to acting. Throughout his life, Bowie performed in dozens of roles, most notably, he starred as Gareth in Labryinth. With his skills as an actor, he would have been ideal in the role of Wallace, and while Leto is no slouch in the acting department, it would have been great to see Bowie in the part. Sadly, he passed away in 2016.