You Would Never Guess Some of the Stars Considered For A Star Is Born

Think Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper were always in talks to costar in A Star Is Born? Think again! This remake has been in discussion since 2002, and several stars were once in consideration to play fading star Jackson and rising starlet Ally. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are a match made in Hollywood heaven, so it's hard to imagine some of these other A-listers were once contenders (and some of them even cast before dropping out of the project!). From Tom Cruise, to Jennifer Lopez, to Beyoncé, here are 10 of the stars who could have graced the big screen instead.

Will Smith
Getty | Frazer Harrison

Will Smith

Back in 2002, Smith first mentioned his interest in headlining and starring in the A Star Is Born remake to TV Guide Online, saying that filmmaker Joel Schumacher would be directing. A few months later, Schumacher confirmed his involvement with the potential remake to MTV, but the project never came to fruition.

Alicia Keys
Getty | Jamie McCarthy

Alicia Keys

Among the names considered by Smith and Schumacher for a potential costar, Keys was one of two major contenders. Her manager Jeff Robinson confirmed that Keys was approached about the role, but she turned down the role, with Robinson asserting that her first major film role should be more challenging.

Jennifer Lopez
Getty | John Sciulli

Jennifer Lopez

The other costar considered by Smith and Schumacher was Lopez. With Lopez, Smith hoped to set the remake in the world of Latin music to make the movie different from the previous versions, and though Lopez was said to love the concept, her name disappeared once the Smith-Schumacher collaboration fizzled.

Beyoncé
Getty | Jon Kopaloff

Beyoncé

Director Nick Cassavetes began discussing the remake with Warner Bros. in 2010, and Deadline reported that Beyoncé might be cast as a possible costar for Will Smith. By 2011, Cassavetes was out and Clint Eastwood was announced as the new project director, with Beyoncé still cast as the rising starlet. The Eastwood-Knowles remake reportedly supposed to start filming in February of 2012, but Beyoncé's first pregnancy delayed the project. After several more delays, during which it was debated who would play the male lead, Beyoncé finally turned down the project in 2016 after Warner Bros. failed to meet her asking price.

Russell Crowe
Getty | Elisabetta A. Villa

Russell Crowe

Before Eastwood took over the remake, Cassavetes approached Crowe about starring opposite Beyoncé, and though he seemed to be interested in the project, his name disappeared once Eastwood was at the helm.

Leo DiCaprio
Getty | Michael Loccisano

Leo DiCaprio

Eastwood was rumored to have approached DiCaprio with the hope of casting him opposite Beyoncé, but DiCaprio must not have smelled any Oscar potential, because nothing was mentioned after this initial conversation.

Christian Bale
Getty | Gary Gershoff

Christian Bale

After the Dark Knight trilogy concluded, Bale considered a few different script options for his next project, including A Star Is Born, but it was never reported that Bale ever seriously considered the role.

Tom Cruise
Getty | Jamie McCarthy

Tom Cruise

After his starring role in Rock of Ages, Eastwood considered Cruise for his male lead, knowing that he had the vocals to take on the role, and once again, Eastwood's attempt to find his male star failed.

Johnny Depp
Getty | Jeff Spicer

Johnny Depp

Though it's unclear when he it happened, Depp was reportedly also approached by Eastwood for the role before Bradley Cooper finally took over directing duties, as well as the male lead.

Esperanza Spalding
Getty | Walter McBride

Esperanza Spalding

While Beyoncé was still in talks about potentially taking on the remake, Eastwood also considered jazz artist and Berklee grad Spalding for the role.