Site Reveals Actors Who Might Have Starred In Blockbuster Films

Remember Tupac Shakur's famous role in "Forrest Gump"?

And wasn't Nicolas Cage just great in "Superman Returns"?

Or maybe you enjoyed Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones in those "Raiders of the Lost Ark" movies.

Think we got it wrong? It turns out Hollywood almost did.

That's the premise of a website called Notstarring.com, a collection of actors who either auditioned for, were considered for or were turned down for some of the silver screen's most famous movies.

The site has put together the 'almost rans' for some of 2006's biggest flicks. It cites the famous example of Cage taking on the Man of Steel in the film about the comeback of the superhero as one that would have completely changed the tone of the movie.

Robert De Niro was supposed to star in "The Departed". But when he departed, the role went to Martin Sheen.  

You probably remember all those stories about the search for the new James Bond. Among those pondered for the part: Orlando Bloom, Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and Colin Farrell. The winner: Daniel Craig (top left).

Farrell made it to the big screen version of "Miami Vice" but Tom Cruise didn't.

Pierce Brosnan or Russell Crowe might have tried to solve the "Da Vinci Code." But Tom Hanks came up with the solution.

Josh Holloway, the sexy star of "Lost", was reportedly up for a role in the "X-Men: The Last Stand", but producers decided not to put his character into the movie.

Kate Beckinsale "Click"-ed with Adam Sandler in the comedy, but Gilmore Girl's Lauren Graham and Drew Barrymore didn't.

Steve Martin returned in the less than praised remake of "The Pink Panther" and Kevin Kline, Mike Myers and Kevin Spacey are likely grateful they didn't get the role.

And Matt Damon stars in the new flick "The Good Shepherd" but the site insists it was Leonardo DiCaprio who was supposed to have the lead.

And for the record, Notstarring.com insists Tupac was supposed to be Bubba in "Forrest Gump",  Selleck was due for the part that went to Harrison Ford in "Raiders" and Will Smith was a new Neo in "The Matrix" until Keanu Reeves arrived.

The site couches a lot of its facts in disclaimers, noting "this type of trivia is prone to rumour and gossip. We try hard to corroborate entries, but we do not guarantee the accuracy of any content."

But it's still fun to contemplate what might have been and it shows just how important a star is to the way a film eventually plays out.

Which brings us to what may be the most outrageous "what-if" in Hollywood history. It centres on "The Terminator", the 1984 classic that made Arnold Schwarzenegger a household name.

It turns out producers had originally considered O.J. Simpson for the part of the cyborg. But they went another way.

The reason? They were worried no one would take him seriously as a killer.

To see the 2006 list, click here.

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