37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Depending on who you talk to, some people view fame as the best goal you can have in your life. And we’re not saying it’s not a good goal — it is, as long as it doesn’t overpower everything else in life.

Additionally, the thing with fame is that it’s very volatile — sometimes even a smaller thing can ruin years of work leading up to it. Alternatively, you might not be able to achieve it, no matter how hard you work. Just take a look at the celebs on today’s list — one second, they seemed like they were gonna rule the entertainment industry, and the next, it seemed that no one really heard about them anymore.

More info: Reddit

#1

So far, Sydney Sweeney.

NoWingedHussarsToday replied:
IDK, she seems to be doing well. Euphoria, the White Lotus S1, couple of movies…… I guess time will tell how her being MAGA will affect here……..

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Strange_Shadows-45, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

#2

Cara Delevigne.

She was in multiple movies throughout the second half of the 2010’s but I don’t think she caught on.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: PineDude128, Vogue

#3

Shia Labeouf. I was so glad when they stopped putting him in lead roles, finally.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Old-Pin-7839, REAL ONES with Jon Bernthal

#4

Chris Pratt. He’s one of those people you like more the less you know about him. As he got more famous we all just kept finding out lamer things about him and now.. I feel like I just heard him defending some wild RFK jr takes.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: very-dumb, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

#5

Jaden Smith.

KaTheEdgy replied:
I mean, it’s not like Hollywood tried to make him into an A-Lister. Will’s the one who pushed it, Jaden did not seem to care that much about acting.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: akerasi, Adult Swim

#6

Nickelodeon tired to turn Victoria Justice into the next big star. However her music & acting career flopped while her costar, Ariana Grande career’s took off.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Jakeymdog, Mythical Kitchen

#7

I feel like Glen Powell was pushed pretty hard 2023-2024. I don’t dislike him but idk if that’s gonna pan out the way the Hollywood machine wanted.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Brave_Garlic_9542, Bon Appétit

#8

Scott Eastwood and Cara Delavigne.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Drunkicho, Team Coco

#9

I feel like this is happening with Taron Egerton. I love him so I hope he becomes A-List.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: RyFromTheChi, Late Night with Seth Meyers

#10

Chris Klein

They tried so hard.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: DistributionNo6824, ABC News

#11

Dylan O’Brien. It’s too bad because I think he’s done a great job in everything. Just saw Caddo Lake the other day and it was the first thing I’ve seen him in awhile. Another great performance. Not sure why he didn’t really keep getting roles.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: OrlandoMB, BuzzFeed Celeb

#12

Katherine Heigl.

mermaidpaint replied:
When they say you don’t bite the hand that feeds you, when Shonda Rhimes writes you a cancer storyline and rearranges shooting schedules to accommodate your film career, you don’t complain that you were forced to work long hours on the schedule that was created so you could take time away from set to make a movie. And you don’t make it known that you didn’t submit yourself for an Emmy nomination because Grey’s Anatomy didn’t give you Emmy worthy material.

She’s said that she would be willing to return to GA but Shonda has said “Yeah, we’re good,.”

Image source: BrazilianButtCheeks

#13

Ruby Rose.

phantom_avenger replied:
I always felt like her character in Orange is the New Black was supposed to have a major role, following Season 3 but they scrapped those plans for her once they realized that Ruby Rose is very difficult to work with.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Mayhem370z, BuzzFeed Celeb

#14

Hollywood keeps trying to make Priyanka Chopra happen.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: 44035, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

#15

Gal Gadot for me. She’s attractive, but cannot act to save her life. I also am scratching my head that Disney casted her as the Evil Queen in the Snow White remake. Like “this is the person who’s supposed to be jealous of Snow White’s beauty? Really?”.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: JackintheBoxman, First We Feast

#16

Taylor Lautner.

GenericRedditor0405 replied:
I wish Taylor Lautner and his wife, Taylor Lautner, the best all the same

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Valuable-Trick-6711, Unplanned Podcast CLIPS

#17

There was a push to make Justin Long the next comedy lead. He’s fine as a side character but not fit for leading roles.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Teacherforlife21, The Drew Barrymore Show

#18

Not necessarily Hollywood specific, but I think Emily Ratajkowski has always tried to make herself happen.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Ilovethe90sforreal, Late Night with Seth Meyers

#19

Jeremy Renner. Was groomed to take over Mission Impossible and Jason Bourne franchises, couldn’t quite cut it.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: ohhellopia, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

#20

Aaron Paul.

He was good as Jessie in BB- everything else has been meh.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Beautiful_Golf6508, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

#21

Anthony Mackie.

I love everything he’s been in but I get the feeling he hasn’t quite slotted into a decent film role yet.

Image source: Maurice_Foot

#22

Kit Harrington and really a lot of the GOT cast.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Kogyochi, WIRED

#23

I dont think you ever outshine C. Thomas Howell, who was going to be the huge star after The Outsiders movie.

You might have heard of the other minor actors staring in the film, Matt Dillon,Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, oh and Tom Cruise.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: phead, American Film Institute

#24

I was part of the team that tried to make Noah Centineo an A-lister industry plant. It failed miserably and I thought it was funny.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: metal_elk, Men’s Health

#25

Ben Platt

His father was the producer of the Dear Evan Hansen movie adaptation, and gave Ben the lead role again just so his role of Evan could be “immortalized”, despite Ben being 27 playing a teenager. The movie was pretty badly received. They also put him in an episode of the Will and Grace reboot where he was supposed to be a “hot young twink” that Will started dating, but like…..no.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: MJ9426, Jake Shane

#26

Surprised no one said Chris O’Donnell.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: solarganome, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

#27

Alex Pettyfer.

Cold_Investment6223 replied:
I knew someone who worked on a project with him (this is over a decade ago) and said while he was particularly nice to them, they noticed him treat other coworkers not so… nicely and it made them uncomfortable.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Chessh2036, OxfordUnion

#28

One I don’t understand why it didn’t take is Ben Foster.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Teacherforlife21, Jake’s Takes

#29

Charlie Hunnam

Armie Hammer.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Itsjustmenobiggie, Jimmy Kimmel Live

#30

Jonathan Majors. Granted he didn’t help.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Neurodrill, Tamron Hall Show

#31

Ansel Elgort (who? exactly.).

IndustryPast3336 replied:
Ansel Elgort was being pushed so hard that he somehow swindled his way into being Tony in West Side Story while having the worst singing voice in the entire cast and the only one who is noticably autotuned.

Image source: YayMehNay

#32

They are still trying to make Pete Davidson happen.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Acid_Couch, Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM

#33

Josh Hartnett was everywhere for a couple years. What happened there?

*Edit: He didn’t want it? That’s easy respect right there.*.

Image source: The_Mr_Wilson

#34

Blake Lively.

Affectionate-Tea8509 replied:
Blake post-Gossip Girl really had several opportunities but she gave priority to Ryan (who still focused on his own career lol) and their family so she just does things she wants to do every once in a while.

Image source: MrsPeg

#35

Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

afdc92 replied:
Got a lot of talent but his substance use issues really did him in.

37 Stars Who Were Cast As Leads Again And Again—But Never Became Leading Actors

Image source: Justme-Jules, BUILD Series

#36

Not sure how much I’d classed them as celebs but Daisy Ridley & John Boyega.

If you look at the archive discussion thread of The Force Awakens, you’ll see them described as 2 of the biggest stars to rise in the years ahead.

Image source: Beautiful_Golf6508

#37

Colin Farrell was being set up as an action star for a while, and I love the man’s acting, but he never quite had the “Tom Cruise” thing and is much better now as a brilliant character actor. (I know he also had substance use issues, but that wasn’t the main problem.) They were trying to do the same thing with Jeremy Renner. (Same issue — he’s a good actor, he just doesn’t fully connect to audiences.) Then Will Smith’s son was put in everything for a while. On the female side, I remember various “It Girls” being lined up over the years (e.g. Gretchen Mol, Michelle Monaghan) and I liked most of them just fine, but they never became huge.

I think real movie star quality is pretty elusive and not everyone connects with the audience that way; it’s not even that they are bad actors — it’s that big stars need to be relatable and at the same time larger than life, and not everyone does that well.

Right now, I think Paul Mescal is in that position: he is an absolutely lovely actor, but he’s not a Gladiator II type actor, and they keep trying to make it happen, and I just don’t see it.

Image source: Formal-Register-1557

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