8 Actors Who Actually Manifested Future Roles In Major Movies

Published Oct 11, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Richard Craig is a Senior Author at Screen Rant covering film and TV. Richard has also written extensively about horror and film soundtracks, contributing a chapter to the first major academic collection on the folk horror genre, The Routledge Companion to Folk Horror. Richard is also a performing musician and holds an MA in Music and Sound Art.

Hollywood success stories often sound too perfect to be true. Actors spend years auditioning, networking, and building careers, only for one role to suddenly change everything. Yet occasionally a story emerges that feels even stranger than a typical rise to fame. Sometimes actors publicly identify a dream role years before they get it. Others casually mention a character they'd love to play, only for the opportunity to materialize later.

In a few cases, the evidence is surprisingly specific, with old interviews, social media posts, and photographs documenting their ambitions long before a casting announcement arrives. Whether someone believes in manifestation, positive thinking, or simple determination, these stories are undeniably fascinating. They show actors recognizing opportunities, pursuing long-term goals, and occasionally speaking their dreams into existence.

In some instances, the gap between wish and reality spans only a few years. In others, it takes more than a decade before the right project appears. From future superheroes and Disney princesses to Broadway witches and horror villains, these actors all left behind evidence that they wanted a specific role long before Hollywood gave it to them. Looking back, their comments now seem remarkably prophetic.

Ariana Grande In Wicked (2024)

Image via MovieStillsDB

Few modern casting stories fit the idea of manifestation as perfectly as Ariana Grande becoming Glinda in Wicked. More than a decade before the film adaptation entered production, Grande openly identified the role as one of her biggest career ambitions.

In November 2011, after attending a performance of Wicked, Grande posted a now-famous tweet declaring: "Loved seeing Wicked again... amazing production! Made me realize again how badly I want 2 play Glinda at some point in my life! #DreamRole."

At the time, Grande was primarily known for her Nickelodeon work and had not yet become one of the world's biggest pop stars. There wasn't even an active Wicked movie in development. The tweet simply reflected a genuine aspiration.

Fast-forward 13 years, and Grande not only landed the role but earned widespread acclaim for her performance opposite Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba. The old tweet immediately resurfaced after the casting announcement, becoming one of the clearest examples of a performer publicly documenting a dream role years before achieving it.

Simu Liu In Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)

Before Simu Liu became one of Marvel's newest superheroes, he decided to skip the waiting process and simply ask Marvel for the role himself.

On December 3, 2018, shortly after reports emerged that Marvel Studios was developing a Shang-Chi movie, Liu posted a tweet directed at the company: "OK @Marvel, are we gonna talk or what #ShangChi".

At the time, Liu was best known for Kim's Convenience. There had been no casting announcements and no indication that Marvel was even aware of him. The tweet looked like a joke, but it also reflected a genuine desire to play the character.

Less than a year later, Marvel officially cast Liu as Shang-Chi. The tweet immediately became legendary among MCU fans because of how directly it appeared to predict the future. Liu has since joked that he's sure nobody at Marvel saw his tweet, claiming to have only 27 followers at the time (via Toronto Sun).

Tom Holland In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Years before joining the MCU timeline, Tom Holland already knew exactly which superhero he wanted to play. During a 2013 red-carpet interview, Holland was asked which comic-book character he would choose if given the opportunity.

Holland’s response was Spider-Man. He even joked that he hoped to play the character "in like 10 years" (via Tom Holland Fan).

Just two years later, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures cast Holland as Peter Parker, introducing him in Captain America: Civil War before launching Spider-Man: Homecoming. The role transformed Holland into one of the most recognizable young actors in Hollywood.

It's particularly remarkable because Holland wasn't campaigning for the role or responding to rumors. After being cast, Holland repeatedly described the opportunity as a dream come true. Looking back, that old interview feels like a surprisingly accurate glimpse into the future of the MCU.

Tom Holland In Uncharted (2022)

Spider-Man isn't the only major franchise role Holland seemingly manifested. The actor's journey to Uncharted began years before the movie entered production.

Holland had repeatedly described the Uncharted series as his favorite video game franchise (via The Wrap). Long before he was cast as Nathan Drake, he was already talking publicly about his admiration for the games and the character. That passion ultimately helped him become one of the driving forces behind Sony's adaptation.

What's even more remarkable is how often Holland has successfully predicted his own future. He has previously discussed wanting to work with Jake Gyllenhaal, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Nolan, all of whom eventually became collaborators. He also famously revealed that Zendaya was one of his earliest celebrity crushes before the pair eventually married.

Ryan Gosling In Ghost Rider (2028)

Ryan Gosling's Ghost Rider casting may be the most literal example of manifestation on this list. Back in 2022, while promoting The Gray Man, Gosling was asked by Jake Hamilton's Jake's Takes which Marvel character he would most like to play. His answer was Ghost Rider.

At the time, the character had not been officially introduced into the MCU, and there were no indications that Marvel Studios was developing a Ghost Rider project. Gosling simply identified the role as the one he wanted most.

Four years later, Marvel Studios surprised Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 by officially announcing Gosling as the MCU's Ghost Rider. The actor acknowledged the moment's significance immediately.

"As you know, this is a character I've wanted to play for a very long time," Gosling told the audience.

Director Shawn Levy later revealed that he and Gosling spent downtime on Star Wars: Starfighter discussing ideas for Ghost Rider before eventually deciding to make the movie together (via Marvel). Sometimes manifestation looks less like magic and more like convincing the right people that your dream project should exist.

Rachel Zegler In Snow White (2025)

Rachel Zegler never publicly campaigned to play Snow White in the way Ariana Grande pursued Glinda, but the evidence suggests that becoming a Disney princess was a childhood dream long before Disney called. Zegler has repeatedly discussed growing up loving Disney films and wanting to be a Disney princess (via Elle).

After she was cast in Snow White, she described the role as a dream come true and spoke about how meaningful it was to play such an iconic character. In response to criticism of her casting, Zegler shared childhood photographs of herself dressed as Snow White (via Los Angeles Times.)

The image immediately resonated because it demonstrated her affinity with the role. She dreamed of becoming a Disney princess, and years later she became one of the most famous Disney princesses of all.

Emma Roberts In Scream 4 (2011)

Emma Roberts provided one of the most entertaining manifestation stories herself. In May 2020, Roberts shared a childhood photograph on Instagram showing herself wearing a Ghostface mask alongside a retro-inspired outfit.

Roberts had just been cast as Jill Roberts in Scream 4, one of the franchise's most memorable killers. She added an inspirational quote below: "Never underestimate your power to manifest your dreams ladies!! Me age 7… #scream4".

Unlike fans drawing connections after the fact, Roberts herself directly linked the childhood photograph to her later role in Wes Craven's slasher sequel. The image also demonstrates how long her connection to horror predates Scream 4. She was already engaging with one of horror's most recognizable icons as a child.

Jim Carrey In Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

The most famous manifestation story in Hollywood history may belong to Jim Carrey. Before becoming one of the biggest comedy stars in the world, Carrey struggled for years as a stand-up comedian and aspiring actor.

During that period, Carrey wrote himself a check for $10 million for "acting services rendered" and dated it for Thanksgiving 1995. He kept the check in his wallet for years.

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As documented in Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, the check represented Carrey's belief that he would eventually achieve major success as an actor. At the time, there was little evidence to support that confidence. He was talented, but he had not yet found the role that would transform his career.

Then, in 1994, Carrey starred in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. All three became major hits, instantly turning him into one of Hollywood's most sought-after comedic performers.

Soon afterward, Carrey was earning far more than the amount he had written on that check. Whether viewed as manifestation or extraordinary self-belief, it remains one of the entertainment industry's most famous success stories.