X-Men, released in 2000, predates the superhero craze by a decade. This much-anticipated adaptation of the beloved Marvel Comics gang of mutants features an ensemble cast, most of whom would continue to act in the franchise's 12 additional films, which ranges from X-Men sequels to spin-offs like Deadpool.
While it's impossible to imagine X-Men without Sir Ian McKellan or Hugh Jackman, they weren't 20th Century Fox's first choice. Casting this epic feature was a major endeavor, and quite a few big names in Hollywood were on the roster. While some turned the opportunity down, others were denied the roles they wanted.
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe was at the height of his career as an edgy, rugged action star when X-Men went into production, making him the first choice for Wolverine. Why did the role of this animalistic mutant with retractable claws in each hand go to Hugh Jackman instead?
Crowe turned down the offer out of fear of being typecast and also because he knew next to nothing about the comic book character. Instead, he encouraged his fellow Aussie Jackson to go for it instead.
Jeri Ryan
Jeri Ryan, who is known for playing the Borg Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager, was up for the role of Mystique. This member of Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants is a shape-shifting beauty who can assume the forms and voices of other people and animals.
Ultimately, the role went to another blonde: Rebecca Romijn. Ryan went on to star in other popular television series like Boston Public and the CBS Star Trek revival Picard.
Michael Jackson
Apparently, the King of Pop was a huge fan of the X-Men comics. Michael Jackson reached out to producers multiple times hoping to play the founder of the X-Men, Charles Xavier (aka Professor X).
Despite his status, Jackson was never seriously considered for the role of Xavier, which went to the much older Sir Patrick Stewart. Stewart has continued to play the older Xavier in every subsequent film in the X-Men franchise.
Janet Jackson
Michael wasn't the only Jackson obsessed with the X-Men. His sister Janet also petitioned to play Storm, a black mutant who can control the weather and the atmosphere.
Fellow pop star Mariah Carey also put her name in the hat for the role, which was given to Halle Berry. Berry reprised the role in three additional films; Alexandra Shipp plays a younger Storm in X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
Keanu Reeves
Fresh off the success of The Matrix, Keanu Reeves took off his Neo sunglasses and hoped to put on a pair of Wolverine claws. Reeves was one of many actors considered for the role after Russell Crowe turned into down.
Other contenders include Mel Gibson, Aaron Eckhart, Edward Norton, and Viggo Mortensen. In a recent interview, Reeves expressed his regret over not landing the role, saying, "I always wanted to play Wolverine."
Jim Caviezel
Jim Caviezel was the first actor cast as Cyclops, a mutant who can emit beams of concentrated energy from his eyes. Known for war features like The Rock and The Thin Red Line, Caviezel backed out of X-Men due to scheduling conflicts with the film Frequency.
James Marsden jumped into the role of Cyclops, aka Scott Summers, a role he filled in each subsequent X-Men film. Caviezel went on to play Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's controversial The Passion of the Christ.
Helen Hunt
Before the role of Jean Grey went to Famke Janssen, it was offered to Helen Hunt. Hunt, in high demand after starring in 90s action blockbusters like Twister, said no to the role in X-Men.
Grey, a mutant and medical doctor at X-Mansion, possesses telekinesis and telepathy. Sophie Turner portrays a younger Grey in the X-Men prequel films.
Glenn Danzig
Believe it or not, the singer of the punk rock band The Misfits was under consideration to play Wolverine at one point. Glenn Danzig was personally invited by 20th Century Fox to audition for the role, but he declined the opportunity due to other obligations.
How did this rock musician end up on Fox's radar? It turns out Danzig's height and physique at the time match comic book descriptions of Wolverine to a T.
Natalie Portman
The young mutant Rogue flees Mississippi and finds refuge with Xavier's crew in X-Men. The role was written with Natalie Portman in mind, who turned down the opportunity.
A number of other actors were considered for the role before it went to Anna Paquin: Drew Barrymore, Katie Holmes, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Christina Ricci. Paquin dropped out of the movie Tart to star in the film.
Terence Stamp
"Ah, my brothers, welcome." Terrance Stamp, a British actor known for playing Zod in the Christopher Reeves Superman films, almost played Magneto instead of Sir Ian McKellan.
Stamp isn't the only talented Brit considered for the role: Christopher Lee, who went on to play Saruman in Lord of the Rings, was also in the running. McKellan will now forever be associated with the rogue mutant, who is played by Michael Fassbender in the prequel films.