16 Iconic Film Roles That Almost Went to Someone Else

An old Entertainment Tonight clip featuring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams doing press for The Notebook resurfaced online today. In the interview, Gosling confessed that he actually did a screen test with Britney Spears before McAdams ultimately won the part. “I hadn’t seen her really since she was about 12,” the actor said about his former fellow Mouseketeer. “She’s really good, actually.”

While it’s nearly impossible to imagine Spears kissing Gosling during a South Carolina rainstorm, there are several instances in Hollywood history where similarly iconic roles almost went to someone else. Sarah Jessica Parker may be synonymous with Carrie Bradshaw, but the lead role of Sex and the City was actually offered to another actress before Parker. Ditto with Forrest Gump and Elle Woods. Here, a look at some of the other close casting calls in Hollywood.