When the records of the beginning planning stages of Breaking Bad were released following the show's conclusion, Broderick and Cusack were on the list of prospective actors, but Cusack never even got offered the position. Both Cusack and Broderick were given the script, and they felt like if they liked the characters and the script, the role would be theirs without hesitation. They were wrong.
Walking Dead casting directors Sherry Thomas and Sharon Bialy pitched Bryan Cranston the role after he auditioned for the lead of an Aaron Sorkin play, The Farnsworth Invention, which the pair were also casting.
Tom Cruise, Footloose
After Tom Cruise danced pantless in Risky Business, the producers of Footloose wanted to include him in their film no matter what. But, Cruise ended up declining the role to be in All the Right Moves, which ended up not even making 1/4 of what Footloose made in the box office.
The role of Ren ended up getting tossed at Kevin Bacon. Rob Lowe reportedly auditioned for the role three times, but he got injured after the third and had to give up on his conquest.
Cher, The Addams Family
Although Angelica Huston got most of her Hollywood cred from playing Morticia Addams in the film adaptation of The Addams Family, Cher could have very well played that role. Cher was the director's first choice, and she could have also taken the role of the Grand High Witch in 1989's The Witches, but Angelica Huston scooped that one up as well.