Every performer has hit a roadblock at some point in their career. There are many popular actors who bombed auditions for iconic roles and cringed as they recalled the stories later on. Spare a thought for someone like Nicholas Hoult who read for both Batman and Superman but didn't get either gig -- he ended up as Lex Luthor, though, so don't bring out the tissues for him just yet.

As fans, it's fun to look back at these casting stories, wondering what might have been had these performers secured coveted parts. Sure, some might have rocked the roles, while others would not have been right fits at all. No shade intended, but sometimes life happens for a very good reason. It's okay, because none of the actors mentioned below saw their careers end after bad auditions. Quite the opposite, really, as they all went on to achieve success in their craft.