These 19 Actors Were Supposed To Be Hollywood’s Next Big Stars — Until One Bad Movie Changed Everything

ByAtlasnews

Aug 14, 2026 #BuzzFeed Celeb, #Celebrity

Megan Fox is posing near a car outdoors, wearing a casual sleeveless top and jeans

Taylor Lautner and Lily Collins ride a motorcycle on a bridge at night. The man in front is focused, and the woman behind him looks concerned

Elizabeth Berkley in a dramatic pose on stage, wearing a stylish outfit with lace details, gripping a pole, conveying energy and emotion

Alicia Silverstone in a Batgirl costume with a mask and gloves, posing in a fighting position with a forest backdrop

Silverstone later earned a Golden Globe nomination for Miss Match, seven years after Batman & Robin’s release.

C. Thomas Howell and Rae Dawn Chong sitting at a desk, smiling

Faye Dunaway, with classic makeup and a sleek hairstyle, rests her hand on her head, gazing thoughtfully

Dunaway later won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role on Columbo, 13 years after Mommie Dearest.

Halle Berry in a leather Catwoman costume, standing by a chain-link fence

Berry continued receiving major recognition after Catwoman, including Golden Globe nominations in 2006 and 2011 for Their Eyes Were Watching God and Frankie & Alice.

Mike Myers, wearing a traditional outfit and a floral garland, smiling and posing seated on an ornate chair

Geena Davis and others in pirate costumes stand dramatically on a ship's deck, holding a telescope

Davis later won a Golden Globe for Commander in Chief, 11 years after Cutthroat Island.

Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, and Ben Affleck at a formal event, engaged in conversation

Eisenberg recently earned a 2025 Oscar nomination for writing A Real Pain, nine years after Batman v Superman.

Pamela Anderson in a leather outfit poses on a motorcycle, leaning back playfully

Anderson recently earned a 2025 Golden Globe nomination for The Last Showgirl, nearly three decades after Barb Wire.

Chris O'Donell as Robin in a costume suit mid-action in a cityscape

Sofia Coppola, in an elegant, off-shoulder gown, appears serious as she has just been shot in the chest. People in the background seem distressed and duck on the ground

Coppola later won the Oscar for best original screenplay for Lost In Translation, 14 years after The Godfather Part III.

Meg Ryan and a woman relax on a bed; one smiles and sits upright, while the other lies down with her arms up

Two women and Rachael Leigh Cook wearing sparkly, leopard-print outfits with ear accessories, posing together and smiling in front of a glittery background

Brandon Routh in Superman costume stands against a starry sky backdrop, cape flowing behind him

Lori Petty with a punk style, wearing a patched denim vest with pins and dog tags. She has short, light hair and is standing outdoors

Alden Ehrenreich and Chewbacca stand in a dimly lit interior against a table

Ehrenreich recently won a 2026 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his Broadway debut in Becky Shaw, eight years after Solo: A Star Wars Story.