Landing a role in a major franchise can set an actor up for life. Sometimes, however, creative differences, scheduling conflicts, or other facts lead to them exiting a role earlier than planned.

Here are 14 actors who quit or were fired from major franchises (and why):

1.Neve Campbellplayed Sidney Prescott in fiveScreammovies. However, she declined to return forScream VI. In 2022, she toldDeadline, “As a woman, I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes toScream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.”

So, the filmfocusedon newer characters instead, but they left the door open for Sidney to return — and she’sreportedlyreturning forScream 7.

2.Robert Duvall played Tom Hagen inThe GodfatherandThe Godfather II, but he declined the third film over a salary dispute. In 2004, he toldCNN, “I said I would work easily if they paid [Al] Pacino twice what they paid me, that’s fine. But not three or four times, which is what they did.”

Tom Hagen was killed off-screen before the start of the movie, and he was replaced by the new character B.J. Harrison, played by George Hamilton.

3.Megan Foxplayed Mikaela Banes in the first twoTransformersmovies. She was supposed to appear inTransformers: Dark of the Moon, but in 2009, she toldWonderlandthat directorMichael Baywas “a nightmare to work for” and compared him to a dictator. Michael toldGQthat executive producerSteven Spielbergreportedly told him to, “Fire her right now,” but Steven toldEntertainment Weekly, “That’s not true. That didn’t happen.”

Her character was replaced with Carly Spencer, who was played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Here’s a side-by-side:

5.Kathleen Cauley originated the role of Lavender Brown inHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.At the time, Lavender was a minor, non-speaking role.

Then, inHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Jennifer Smith took over the part, which was still a background character

However, when she became a larger role and a love interest for Ron Weasley inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, she wasrecastwith Jessie Cave, who stayed in the role for the rest of the series.

Here they are side-by-side.

6.Hugo Weaving signed a three-picture deal with Marvel, but he only played Johann Schmidt/Red Skull inCaptain America: The First Avenger. He was asked to reprise the role inAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame, but theyreportedlywanted to pay him less than hisCaptain Americasalary for both movies combined.

InAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame, Red Skullreturnedthrough a mixture of stand-ins and CGI. Ross Marquand provided his voice.

7.Richard Dreyfussreportedlyturned down an offer to reprise his role as Hooper inJaws 2because Steven Spielberg wasn’t returning as director.

8.Terrence Howard — who had a three-picture deal with Marvel — played Rhodey/War Machine inIron Man. However, during sequel negotiations, he was only offered 12.5% of the salary he’d initially been promised. So, hereportedlyrefused to return to the role over the pay dispute.

Don Cheadle took over the role inIron Man 2and all subsequent Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.

9.Josh Dallas played Fandral inThor. However, he had toleavethe role before the sequel because of his commitment toOnce Upon a Time.

Zachary Levi replaced him in the sequels.

10.Keanu Reeves played Jack Travern inSpeed, but heturned downthe sequel because he “didn’t respond to the script.”

So,Speed 2: Cruise Controlintroduced Jason Patric as Officer Alex Shaw in his place.

11.InAvengers: Endgame, Emma Fuhrmann had a brief appearance as an aged-up version of Cassie Lang.

However, she was replaced by Kathryn Newton inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Emmadidn’t knowabout the recasting until it was announced at Disney’s Investor Day in 2020.

12.In the first threeHalloweentownmovies, Kimberly J. Brown starred as Marnie Piper.

However, inReturn to Halloweentown, she was replaced by Sara Paxton. Disney had spoken to Kimberly about the possibility of returning for the fourth movie, but, for reasons unknown to her, theydecidedto go in a different direction.

13.Damion Poitier alreadyhada small role (Man #1) inThe Avengerswhen the director decided to film an extra scene featuring Thanos. Since the role hadn’t been cast yet, Damion stepped in.

His appearance as Thanos was uncredited, and the role was recast to Josh Brolin inGuardians of the Galaxyand the subsequent MCU movies that Thanos appeared in.

14.And finally, Edward Norton played Bruce Banner inThe Incredible Hulk(2008). Initially, Marvelwas onboardwith his plans for aThe Dark Knight-esque duology, but “as it turned out, that wasn’t what they wanted.”

Mark Ruffalo has been in the role sinceThe Avengers.

Neve Campbell, in casual clothing, looks shocked while talking on a phone in a dramatic scene from the movie "Scream."

Neve Campbell holds a phone to her ear while standing outdoors, looking concerned. Her attire is casual

Robert Duvall in a suit, standing behind a chair, from a scene in "The Godfather."

George Hamilton, donning a fedora and trench coat, stands in an urban setting, holding luggage

Megan Fox in a movie scene, with messy hair and a serious expression, wearing a casual outfit

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in an intense action scene with a car crash and explosions in the background

Crispin Glover in a scene from "Back to the Future," wearing a light jacket over a plaid shirt, with a retro hairstyle

Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Weissman in a scene, Jeffrey suspended upside down

Lavender puts on earmuffs in the Herbology class

Closeup of Lavender Brown

Closeup of Jessie Cave

Red Skull from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, dressed in his dark menacing attire, glares intently. This character is significant in the Avengers movies

Red Skull from the Marvel Cinematic Universe stands in a dark, eerie environment wearing a hooded cloak

Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper holding scuba gear in a scene from the film Jaws. He is smiling and wearing glasses, a hat, and a denim jacket

Terrence Howard

Don Cheadle

Fandral in futuristic armor stands in a formal setting with a crowd watching

Fandral in detailed armor

Keanu Reeves stands alert next to Sandra Bullock, who is driving a bus, in a scene from the movie "Speed."

Sandra Bullock and Jason Patric, wearing scuba gear, share an intense moment on a boat with the ocean in the background. Scene from a movie

Emma Fuhrmann

Kathryn Newton

Kimberly J. Brown

Sara Paxton

Edward Norton in a factory, standing among rows of bottled florescent liquid in a scene from the movie "The Incredible Hulk."

Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, in a scene from a movie, inside what looks like a futuristic facility