13 Movie Villains You Didn't Know Almost Played The Hero

5. Sam Rockwell Was Almost Tony Stark Before He Was Justin Hammer

Considering his ability to play charismatic, eccentric and occasionally unlikeable characters in the early years of his career, it was inevitable that he would play a comic book villain at some point. On the back of his performance as Wild Bill Wharton in The Green Mile, you would have been forgiven for expecting a grotesque psychopathic character, but he ultimately starred as the MCU's new take on Justin Hammer.

But even though he worked well as Tony Stark's villainous mirror image (in a film that didn't soar as it should have), Rockwell could have been on the other side of the mirror. When Marvel were wavering on working with Robert Downey Jnr, thanks to his reputation, Rockwell was considered for the role.

Ultimately, Marvel made the smart decision and cast Downey Jnr, but rewrote Justin Hammer to fit Rockwell for the sequel; a role he accepted without even reading the script.