20 Actors You Didn't Know Almost Played X-Men

3. Jim Caviziel Was Almost Cyclops

Back before James Marsden was even considered for the eye-shooter, the long-list of actors to play Cyclops read Jim Caviezel, Owen Wilson, Thomas Jane, Johnny Lee Miller, Eric Mabius, Edward Burns, Edward Norton and Jude Law, and ultimately Caviezel was cast.

But the casting wasn't meant to be as Caviezel was forced to drop out (or chose to based on a lack of character depth, depending on which rumour you listen to) thanks to his involvement with ghostly fireman story Frequency. If the lack of depth rumours are right, Caviezel can probably chalk this one up as a victory, since Cyclops was badly screwed by the X-Men sequels when it became clear Wolverine was infinitely cooler.

He'd later be turned down by Bryan Singer to play Superman, because he'd already played Jesus.