Before Willem Dafoe delivered one of the most iconic villain performances in superhero cinema as the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spider-Man, several major Hollywood stars were offered or considered for the role of Norman Osborn and ultimately passed. These decisions shaped cinematic history and left Dafoe to create a legendary dual performance. Many of these actors later expressed their reasons, while others remained silent on the missed opportunity.

As Nicolas Cage reflected on his career choices at a recent premiere, one missed opportunity stood out from two decades earlier.

In May 2026, Nicolas Cage publicly confirmed for the first time that he turned down the role of Green Goblin in Spider-Man. Speaking to PEOPLE at the New York premiere of Spider-Noir, Cage revealed he had spoken directly with director Sam Raimi about playing Green Goblin in Spider-Man. However, he ultimately passed on the role to star in Adaptation, the critically acclaimed Spike Jonze drama released the same year.

“For me, that was the right choice at the time,” Cage, 62, said to PEOPLE.

Cage has always enjoyed playing both heroes and villains and did not want to be typecast. He later joined the Spider-Man universe as Ben Reilly/Spider-Noir. His decision opened the door for another actor to define the character, and he has expressed no regrets.

While Nicolas Cage chose a different path, fellow acclaimed actor John Malkovich was also approached and gave a very blunt response.

In November 2000, at the London Film Festival, while promoting Shadow of the Vampire, John Malkovich told Empire Online he had passed on the Green Goblin. Malkovich, known for intense dramatic roles, found the commitment unappealing. His rejection narrowed the list for other stars. 

“And there were scheduling difficulties and what they offered wasn’t in any way an inducement for me to do it,” he stated to Empire Online.

He further explained that the project offered “way too much time, not enough money, not enough of anything.”

John Malkovich Reveals the Surprising Reason Why He Declined Marvel Offers Before Securing 'The Fantastic Four' Role

After John Malkovich turned down the offer, Billy Bob Thornton also faced the same intense proposition.

In December 2024, on The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast, Billy Bob Thornton confirmed he was offered the Green Goblin role but turned it down.

“With the Green Goblin, I didn’t feel like getting up at 4 a.m. for five or six hours of makeup,” he explained on the podcast.

He added that he generally avoids such high-profile villain parts because “audiences remember it forever.”

Thornton’s practical reasoning highlighted the heavy physical toll of the character. This same demanding role was also considered by screen legend Robert De Niro.

Robert De Niro was seriously considered and offered the role of Green Goblin, but ultimately passed. Multiple production reports and casting retrospectives, including Fandom, list him among the top contenders during pre-production. De Niro has not given a detailed public quote explaining his decision. He was also later considered for Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2.

De Niro’s decision kept the search alive for other high-profile talents, including comedian Jim Carrey.

Jim Carrey was considered for the Green Goblin early in the casting process. Having already played the Riddler in Batman Forever, studios saw his manic energy as a potential fit. However, there is no well-documented direct quote from Carrey personally confirming or detailing the offer. 

Carrey’s unique style could have brought a completely different energy. Another major star from that era whose name also came up was Mel Gibson.

Mel Gibson was considered for the Green Goblin role in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. His name appears in several contemporary casting roundups. It remains unclear if he received a formal offer, and Gibson has never publicly commented on the role.

At the peak of his stardom, Gibson was a high-profile contender whose non-involvement helped finalize the path to the eventual casting.

Willem Dafoe ultimately delivered a definitive and unforgettable performance as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, bringing terrifying duality to Spider-Man. His portrayal became so influential that Oscar Isaac once recalled advice from Dafoe about choosing roles that leave room for experimentation and personal interpretation, a mindset that later drew him toward Moon Knight. Dafoe’s iconic performance not only elevated the 2002 superhero film but also set the gold standard for live-action Green Goblin portrayals. In the end, Nicholas Cage and these five other actors who passed on playing Green Goblin helped pave the way for Willem Dafoe to create cinematic history in Spider-Man.

'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Reveals First Details of Peter Parker’s Fresh Start With a Tech Savvy Twist

What are your thoughts on these near-miss castings? Who would you have liked to see as the Green Goblin? Let us know in the comments.