12 Actors You Won't Believe Almost Played Iconic Comic Book Characters

Adrien Brody looked set for the career of a superstar after his performance in The Pianist, but it never really materialised. Instead, some poor role choices and a disastrous and unscripted Jamaican accent on Saturday Night Live left him a perennial B-lister, despite his clear talent.

However, he’s twice been turned away from one of the biggest roles in comic book movies, though if he’d gotten them he may have clawed his way back to the top. In both 2008 and 2016, Brody campaigned hard for the opportunity to play the Joker.

In 2008, director Christopher Nolan always liked Heath Ledger for the role, which proved an inspired choice. Ledger won an Oscar in that role despite the Academy frowning upon superhero flicks, and his turn is widely regarded as the best in comic book movie history.

2016 though is a different story. No, the film’s edit didn’t help Jared Leto’s Joker one iota, but his crime boss gangster take on the character was none too popular anyway. It might have been fascinating to see Brody’s interpretation of the character in Suicide Squad, but alas not.