When casting Peter Quill in 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' Marvel had, according to reports, narrowed the field to eight actors. Chris Pratt, who actually got the job, wasn't one of them! Here are some other famous casting near misses.

Emily Blunt in 'Iron Man 2' (2010)

Anyone who's seen 'Edge of Tomorrow' could buy Blunt as the butt-kicking Natasha Romanoff. But she had scheduling conflicts with the Jack Black vehicle 'Gulliver's Travels' (2010), so the part went to Scarlett Johansson.

John Travolta in 'Forrest Gump' (1994)

It sounds crazy, but Tom Hanks' most famous role was first offered to Travolta, who later regretted turning it down. (In 1994, when 'Forrest Gump' was released, Travolta starred in 'Pulp Fiction.' A fair trade.)

Gwyneth Paltrow in 'Titanic' (1997)

James Cameron must have had Jane Austen heroines on the brain when casting his Rose. Paltrow, who starred in 'Emma,' said no to the part; Kate Winslet, Oscar nominated for 'Sense and Sensibility,' won it after lobbying Cameron daily.

Nicole Kidman in 'The Reader' (2008)

One actress's loss is, again, Kate Winslet's gain. Kidman was supposed to reteam with 'The Hours' director Stephen Daldry as the German with a dark past, but became pregnant and had to drop out. Winslet won the Oscar for her work.

Dougray Scott in 'X-Men' (2000)

Hugh Jackman was a nobody before winning the part of Wolverine, which defined his career. Scott was supposed to play the mutant; however, he couldn't free himself from 'Mission: Impossible II,' which was behind schedule.

Stuart Townsend in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (2001)

The Irish actor, cast as Aragorn, was fired the day before filming, reportedly because he looked too young – though we wonder why it took so long for Peter Jackson to notice. In any case, the more grizzled Viggo Mortensen took his place.

Ryan Gosling in 'The Lovely Bones' (2009)

Peter Jackson let go of another star at the start of production: Gosling showed up chubby and bearded (as seen in this 2007 red carpet photo), which wasn't how Jackson saw the character. Mark Wahlberg replaced him at the last minute.

Anne Hathaway in 'Knocked Up' (2007)

Hathaway said no because she was uncomfortable with Judd Apatow's plan to show a graphic childbirth scene (which ultimately wasn't used). Katherine Heigl got the part; Hathaway's career got the last laugh.

Eric Stoltz in 'Back to the Future' (1985)

This is perhaps the best-known incident of an actor being replaced late in the game. Stoltz had already shot at least four weeks of scenes as Marty McFly before the filmmakers concluded he just wasn't funny. Enter Michael J. Fox.

Buddy Ebsen in 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

Like Stoltz, the future 'Beverly Hillbillies' star shot several scenes as the Tin Man before severe allergies to the aluminum dust in his makeup forced his departure. These photos are from his costume test, without makeup.

George Clooney in 'Thelma & Louise' (1991)

Clooney and Brad Pitt are best buds now, but in 1991, they were rival unknowns vying for the breakout role of the hunky J.D. Pitt was cast; Clooney would have to wait three more years before 'ER' made him famous.

Kurt Russell in 'Star Wars' (1977)

Al Pacino was originally offered the part of Han Solo, but said later that he didn't understand the script. Meanwhile, former Disney star Kurt Russell's Han Solo auditions are out on the Internet for all the world to see.

Tom Selleck in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)

After his iconic turn as Han Solo, it seems insane that Harrison Ford was not the first choice for Indiana Jones. Indeed, that honor was Tom Selleck's, who bailed only because he couldn't break his "Magnum, P.I." commitments.

John Cusack in 'The Breakfast Club' (1985)

Cusack fought hard for the role of the rebellious John Bender, which ultimately went to Judd Nelson. The latter has had a healthy career, but will still be primarily remembered for this one role. Cusack lucked out in the long run.

Doris Day in 'The Graduate' (1967)

The squeaky-clean blonde was asked to play middle-aged seductress Mrs. Robinson (and Robert Redford was once considered for the role that went to Dustin Hoffman). The part, Day later wrote, "offended my sense of values."

Robin Williams in 'The Shining' (1980)

"Heeere's Mork!" Even we have trouble believing this one, but Williams was supposedly in the running to play psychotic Jack Torrance until Stanley Kubrick deemed him "too crazy" and cast Jack Nicholson instead.