Scarlett Johansson has delivered everything from soulful indie gems to blockbuster hits, yet the path to her stardom wasn’t carved without detours. Right from her teenage days in North and The Horse Whisperer, the actress faced constant setbacks, something she openly admitted when she told Parade:
Since a very young age, I’ve been rejected constantly.
And still, there were moments when Johansson herself turned away from roles that could’ve reshaped her filmography. Let’s dive into the six films Johansson rejected and the stories behind those crossroads.
5 Elizabethtown (2005)
Elizabethtown | Credit: Paramount Pictures
Scarlett Johansson was in early conversations for the role of Claire Colburn, the whimsical heroine who helps Orlando Bloom’s Drew rediscover purpose. Cameron Crowe initially considered Johansson for the part, and she even confirmed years later (per Vulture), “I read for Elizabethtown.”
Ultimately, the role went to Kirsten Dunst, whose buoyant and breezy acting rhythm matched the director’s vision a little more closely. However, whether Johansson passed on the role because of a conflict in her schedule or ultimately lost the part to Dunst remains a point of contention.
Whether she declined or simply wasn’t chosen in the final round, this was one of those almost-there moments that nudged her career down a different trail. The film later developed a cult following, led by Bloom and Dunst’s offbeat chemistry.
4 Superman Returns (2006)
Superman Returns (2006) | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Before the movie became Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, the project lived several previous lives under McG and writer J.J. Abrams. During those early stages, Johansson was under consideration to play Lois Lane, the sharp, fearless journalist who has anchored Superman’s mythology for generations.
Reports at the time noted her as a frontrunner before schedules, scripts, directors, and studio directions shifted. The part eventually went to Kate Bosworth.
DetailInfoRotten Tomatoes (Critics)72% Tomatometer Rotten TomatoesBox Office (USA)$391.1 millionDirectorBryan SingerStarringBrandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Frank Langella
Ironically, missing out on Lois Lane cleared Johansson’s path for Marvel’s Black Widow, a turn of events that reshaped superhero cinema.
3 My Week With Marilyn (2011)
My Week With Marilyn | Credit: BBC Films
Johansson was the studio’s first choice to play Marilyn Monroe opposite Michelle Williams’ eventual award-winning performance. But the actress had no appetite for embodying the iconic star. She explained to USA Today (via Digital Spy):
There’s a lot there to explore, and I like to watch other people do it, but I have no interest. It’s lovely to be compared to somebody as sort of effervescent and charming and fragile and I think kind of an underrated actor, really… you know, beautiful and everything. But it’s never been one for me.
DetailInfoRotten Tomatoes (Critics)82% Tomatometer Rotten TomatoesBox Office (Approx.)$35 million DirectorSimon CurtisStarringMichelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh
Williams went on to earn an Oscar nomination for the role, and the film’s reverent depiction of Monroe’s emotional world became one of its biggest talking points.
2. Mission Impossible III (2006)
Mission Impossible III | Credit: Paramount Pictures
Johansson was originally cast as Lindsay Farris, the promising trainee introduced in the third installment. She rehearsed extensively with Tom Cruise, developed a warm rapport with him, and was gearing up for a significant action role. But contractual issues forced her to step away. As she told Cosmopolitan:
We had contractual differences. It’s a shame, because I rehearsed with Tom Cruise for a long time and I loved working with him. He’s a sweetheart. I went to one of the Scientology centers with him.
I’ve worked with a lot of Scientologists, so I know a bit about it. [Tom] is really enthusiastic about it, and when you’re working with someone, you want to see what makes them tick.
DetailInfoRotten Tomatoes (Critics)73% Tomatometer Rotten TomatoesBox Office + Worldwide$398.5MDirectorJ.J. Abrams StarringTom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Michelle Monaghan
When she walked out, the film was reshaped, Keri Russell filled the role, and fans who anticipated Johansson’s collaboration with Cruise were left disappointed.
1 The Great Gatsby (2013)
Leonardo Di Caprio in The Great Gatsby | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling reimagining of The Great Gatsby nearly had Johansson as Daisy Buchanan opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. She reportedly had to decline due to scheduling conflicts with We Bought a Zoo, where she starred with Matt Damon.
DetailInfoRotten Tomatoes (Critics)48% Tomatometer Rotten TomatoesWorldwide Box Office$353.6MDirectorBaz LuhrmannStarringLeonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire
The Luhrmann film went on to earn $353 million worldwide, and Daisy’s emotional contradictions could’ve offered Johansson a fascinating canvas. Considering her musical abilities and the film’s lavish soundtrack, she might’ve even contributed vocally. Timing, as always, is the heartbreaker here.
Scarlett Johansson in a still from Black Widow | Credits: Marvel Studios
Talking of her current projects, Johansson has been busier than ever. She recently stepped behind the camera for the first time to direct Eleanor the Great, led by the phenomenal June Squibb and set for a Fall 2025 release. She’s also appearing in James Gray’s Paper Tiger as Esther Graff, slated for release probably next year.
And she isn’t slowing down. Johansson is lined up to star in Mike Flanagan’s new Exorcist film, with whispers already circling about her potential involvement in The Batman Part II. Scarlett Johansson’s journey proves that even the most celebrated performers don’t glide through Hollywood untouched by rejection or tough choices.
And honestly, looking at these missed roles, it’s clear she built a career shaped not by luck but by instincts sharper than a butcher’s knife. Would Johansson have made a brilliant Daisy? Absolutely. Could she have redefined Lois Lane? Probably. But would we trade Black Widow or Under the Skin for any of these? Not a chance!
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