He Almost Starred As Professor X in X-Men
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The cast of the 2000 film X-Men almost turned out differently, as stars kept showing up for one role or the other. Basketballer Shaquille O’Neal wanted the role of Bishop, and both Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey wanted to play Storm. The producers wanted Angela Bassett cast as Storm, but her agents wanted more money than they were offered. Rachael Leigh Cook was also considered for Rogue, but her agents also wanted more money.
Terence Stamp and Michael Jackson both wanted the role of Professor X. Neither got the role, which ultimately went to Patrick Stewart. Viggo Mortensen also wanted to be Wolverine but lost the role to Dougray Scott. In a twist of circumstances, Dougray never got to play Wolverine, and the part finally went to Hugh Jackman.
Dougray Scott was still on the set of Mission: Impossible 2 at the time Bryan Singer started shooting X-Men. Tom Cruise kept postponing Dougray’s arrival until Singer felt something was amiss and sent someone to Australia to find out what was really happening. It was revealed that Dougray had been injured in a motorcycle accident on the set of MI2 and would not be available for casting anytime soon. Hugh Jackman was called in to replace the injured actor.
