Second Choice Oscar Winners: Men Quiz

Answer: Ben Kingsley

Now it is almost unimaginable that anybody other than Ben Kingsley could have played Mohandas Gandhi. Kingsley's family even came from the same part of India as Gandhi.

But over the course of the almost 20 years it took him to finally complete "Gandhi" (1982), Sir Richard Attenborough had a variety of ideas for the leading role. He offered the role to both Tom Courtney and John Hurt. Both brilliant actors, but not Indian. Alec Guinness and Anthony Hopkins were also considered for the role, and Dustin Hoffman expressed interest in playing Gandhi.

Answer: Michael Douglas

"Greed is Good. Greed Works." Michael Douglas perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 1980s as inside trader Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street." But he was not director Oliver Stone's first choice.

James Woods was offered the part of Gekko, but turned it down to do "Cop" (1988). Other films which could have starred Woods include "Batman" (1990), "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), where Quentin Tarantino wanted him for Mr. Orange, and "Star Wars" (1977). Woods auditioned for Han Solo.

Other actors who took a pass on Gordon Gekko include Warren Beatty, Richard Gere and Jack Nicholson. In Jack's case, he was busy with "Witches of Eastwick" (1987) and "Ironweed" (1987).

Answer: Anthony Hopkins

"I ate his liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti." Given the genius of Sir Anthony Hopkins' performance as Hannibal Lecter, it is hard to imagine someone else as the deranged doctor. But he was far from the first choice.

Sean Connery was director Jonathan Demme's first choice to play Lecter, but the actor turned it down because he considered the role "disgusting". Gene Hackman had actually bought the rights to the book and considered starring in the film in the 1980s. An incredible range of actors were considered to play Lecter, including Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Christopher Lloyd and Patrick Stewart.

Answer: Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks won his first Academy Award as Andrew Beckett, an attorney with AIDS who was fired by his law firm. But he wasn't the first choice.

Christopher Reeve was offered the role of Beckett, but turned it down claiming the film was depressing. Other actors to be offered the role include Daniel Day Lewis, Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton.

Among other films which could have starred Reeve: "American Gigolo" (1980) whose lead went to Richard Gere; both roles in "Bonfires of the Vanities" (1990), a wise choice by Reeve, and "Romancing the Stone" (1984) where the lead went to Michael Douglas.

Answer: Tom Hanks

"Life is Like a Box of Chocolates." Hard to imagine someone other than Tom Hanks saying that, but director Robert Zemeckis' first choice was John Travolta. He turned down the role to do "Pulp Fiction" (1994), a film which did revitalize his career and get him an Academy Award nomination. Travolta did state he regrets turning down Gump.

Among the other actors considered for Gump were Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. Chevy turned down the role because he didn't like the script. Chase also turned down the role of Lester Burnham in "American Beauty" (1998); Kevin Spacey won for his performance.

Answer: Russell Crowe

"Are You Not Entertained?" Russell Crowe gave a brilliant performance as general turned slave turned gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius. But he was not Ridley Scott's first choice; he offered the role to Mel Gibson. Gibson turned it down, saying he was too old for the part; he was 43 during the principal filming; Crowe was 36.

Other notable roles that Mel Gibson turned down include "Batman" (1990), which went to Michael Keaton, "Misery" (1990) which went to James Caan; Jack Stanton in "Primary Colors" (1998), which went to John Travolta, and both James Bond ("Goldeneye") and Wolverine in the "X-Men" franchise.

Russell Crowe was considered for the part of Wolverine, which eventually went to Hugh Jackman. Crowe also bowed out of "Australia" (2008) to Jackman's benefit.

The producers of "Chopper" (2000) wanted Crowe for their film, but ultimately they went with Eric Bana when Crowe declined.

Answer: Denzel Washington

"King Kong ain't got nothing on me!" Denzel Washington plays the ultimate dirty cop in "Training Day." But it could have been otherwise.

At one point during the production, Samuel L Jackson was going to play Alonzo. Bruce Willis was offered the part but turned it down. Gary Sinise and Tom Sizemore were also considered for the role of Alonzo.

Other might have been Bruce Willis films include "Ghost" (1990), which starred his then wife Demi Moore; "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" (2003) and "Speed" (1994). Denzel Washington can also thank Willis for passing on "Man on Fire" (2004).

Answer: Colin Firth

Colin Firth gives a marvelous performance as King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, who suffered from a stuttering problem. But Firth was not the first actor to be considered for the role.

The screenplay was actually written with Paul Bettany in mind. The role was offered to Hugh Grant and he turned it down. Robert Downey, Jr and Ralph Fiennes were also considered for the role of the king.

Answer: Casey Affleck

Casey Affleck, brother of Ben, gives a riveting performance as Lee Chandler, a loner who suddenly becomes the guardian of his late brother's son. He owes the role to his brother's friend Matt Damon, who had originally planned to star and direct the film. Actor John Krasinki came up with the original idea and pitched it to Damon. Lucas Hedges played Patrick, the nephew of Lee, in the film.

Damon was prepared to star in the film until other commitments made him unavailable, and he asked Affleck to take the role.

Other movies that might have starred Damon include "The Majestic" (2001), a role that went to Jim Carrey; "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), where Gus van Sant went with Heath Ledger; and "Training Day" (2001), which finally starred Ethan Hawke.

Answer: Rami Malek

Rami Malek became Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2018), for which he won an Academy Award. But it didn't start out that way. Sasha Baron Cohen of "Borat" fame was originally playing Mercury.

Things fell apart for Cohen when Brian May and Roger Taylor, Mercury's band mates in Queen, objected to the script and wanted to make major changes. Since they controlled the rights to the band's music, they had director Bryan Singer where they wanted him. May objected to Cohen and he was replaced with Malik.