Scarlett Johansson is an A-list Hollywood star known for being Marvel’s Black Widow. However, that’s of course not her only acting credit. Johansson was already an established actress by the time the Marvel Studios’ offer fell on her lap. She had already done films like The Prestige and Lost in Translation before.
After becoming a global star as Black Widow she did more acclaimed projects like Jojo Rabbit, Marriage Story, and Her. However, she has also been rejected from plenty of films that later went on to become box-office successes. One such film was the Robin Williams-led Jumanji film.
Scarlett Johansson Was A Contender For Jumanji
Kirsten Dunst on the sets of Jumanji
Jumanji (1995) starring Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst in lead roles grossed $263 million on a $65 million budget. Williams played Alan Parrish while Dunst played Judy Shepherd. However, Kirsten Dunst wasn’t the only child actor who was considered for her role. Scarlett Johansson also auditioned for the character at only 11 years old. A YouTube video of the audition was once doing the rounds of the internet. Nowadays, the Jumanji franchise has been rebooted and is led by Dwayne Johnson.
Scarlett Johansson
But this isn’t the only movie role that she lost to Dunst. Johansson ultimately lost the role of Claire in Elizabethtown (2005) to the Spider-Man actress even though she was one of the finalists for it. However, not getting the role was probably a blessing in disguise for her. The movie grossed a mere $52 million on a $45 million budget, received largely negative reviews, and thanks to it, the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ phrase was coined.
However, not getting the Jumanji movie must have stung Johansson a little. After all, she had to wait more for her big break. That came when she was cast in The Horse Whisperer, and since then she didn’t have to look back anymore. Today she’s a respected actress who gets projects green-lit with just her name alone. However, this isn’t the only movie role that she didn’t get. The actress was also once in contention to play Lois Lane as well.
Scarlett Johansson Was Going To Be DC’s Lois Lane
Kate Bosworth and Brandon Routh in Superman Returns
Before Scarlett Johansson became Marvel’s Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow she was going to be DC’s Lois Lane in Superman Returns (2005). When the movie was in the early stages of production with the script written by J.J. Abrams and directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol or McG, the actress was being considered for the role of the intrepid reporter.
However, later on, writers and directors of the movie changed multiple times before Bryan Singer finally came on board to direct Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth as Superman and his love interest, Lois Lane. The film grossed $391 million against the humongous reported budget of more than $200 million. In this instance, Johansson lucked out by not pursuing the role any further. Also, if she had got the role, she would probably have not become Black Widow and gone on to enjoy global stardom as part of the MCU’s core group of Avengers.
Jumanji and Superman Returns are both available on Amazon Prime Video.
