Sam Heughan on ‘Game of Thrones’? 10 Actors Who Almost Starred on Different Shows

Jessica Napoli October 2, 2018

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#BlogHer18 Creators Summit — Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Tiffani Thiessen

**Known as:** Kelly Kapowski on *Saved by the Bell*

**Almost cast as:** Rachel on *Friends*

Calvin Klein Collection - Arrivals - September 2018 - New York Fashion Week — Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Katherine Langford

**Known as:** Hannah on *13 Reasons Why*

**Almost cast as:** Betty in *Riverdale*

Starz Hosts — Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Sam Heughan

**Known as:** Jamie Fraser on *Outlander*

**Almost cast as:** King Renly in *Game of Thrones*

Louis Vuitton : Front Row - Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2018/2019 — Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Emma Stone

**Known as:** Academy Award-winning movie actress

**Almost cast as:** Claire Bennet in *Heroes*

Premiere Of Fox Searchlight Pictures' — JB Lacroix/ Getty Images

Rob Lowe

**Known as:** Dr. Ethan Willis in *Code Black*

**Almost cast as:** McDreamy a.k.a. Derek Shepherd in *Grey’s Anatomy*

2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Arrivals — Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Connie Britton

**Known as:** Rayna Jaymes on *Nashville*

**Almost cast as:** Olivia Pope in *Scandal*

Showtime Golden Globe Nominees Celebration - Red Carpet — Tara Ziemba/Getty Images

Paul Giamatti

**Known as:** US Attorney Chuck Rhoades Jr. on *Billions*

**Almost cast as:** Michael Scott in *The Office*

Paramount Network Launch Party - Arrivals — Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

Selma Blair

**Known as:** Kris Jenner in *American Crime Story*

**Almost cast as:** Joey Potter in *Dawson’s Creek*

2017 PaleyLive LA Summer Season - Premiere Screening And Conversation For Showtime's — Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Matt LeBlanc

**Known as:** Joey Tribbiani in *Friends*

**Almost cast as:** Phil Dunphy in *Modern Family*

Araya Diaz/Getty Images

Alexandra Daddario

**Known as:** Rachel in *Parenthood*

**Almost cast as:** Jessica Jones in *Jessica Jones*

2016 Toronto International Film Festival - TIFF/InStyle/HFPA Party - Arrivals — Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Thomas Jane

**Known as:** Ray Drecker in *Hung*

**Almost cast as:** Rick Grimes in *The Walking Dead* and Don Draper in *Mad Men*

Seen Around - February 2018 - New York Fashion Week: The Shows - Day 5 — Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Katie Holmes

**Known as:** Joey Potter in *Dawson’s Creek*

**Almost cast as:** Buffy in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*

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It’s no secret in Hollywood that auditions are tough, and casting a new TV show can take months, because finding that perfect actor for a role is a time-consuming process.

In fact, Tinseltown is a very small world, and many actors wind up reading for the same part. So, have you ever wondered what your favorite TV show would look like with an entirely different cast? Would The Office be the same with Paul Giamatti as Michael Scott, or Scandal with Connie Britton as Olivia Pope? Not likely.

TV Pilots 2018: All the Potential Shows, Pickups & Series Orders

We’ve rounded up some very successful actors who’ve become recognizable as certain characters, but who were almost cast in various other high-profile roles.

Click through the gallery above to find out who didn’t make the cut!