20 Actors Who Turned Down Major Movie Roles

There have been plenty of big named actors in talks to play everyone's favourite British spy through the years, from Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Adam West, Christian Bale, Dominic West and Liam Neeson. All of these and more turned down the role, for one reason or another, but it was Hugh Jackman who has most recently revealed he turned down the role.

Asked to replace Pierce Brosnan, Jackman felt as though it wasn't for him. As he put it, the films had become "unbelievable and crazy", and they needed to become "grittier and more real", and he wasn't the man for the job. Plus, he was about to shoot X-2, and felt that being a part of two major franchises would stop him being able to pursue other things.

The role of 007 was given to Daniel Craig, who Jackman praised. The Wolverine actor, meanwhile, hasn't been slowed down by this development, as his role in the X-Men has lead him to become on the most popular and powerful actors working today.

And it's safe to say that Daniel Craig brought the gritty reality to the Bond franchise Jackman was talking about, so that's a bonus.