When Hollywood Hits The Recast Button
Getting fired from a movie is disappointing enough. Getting fired after you've already filmed your scenes? That's a whole different Hollywood nightmare. Some actors were dismissed over creative differences, while others lost their roles because of production problems, health concerns, or unexpected controversies. A few weren't technically fired at all, but their performances were still replaced after filming or voice recording began.
Theater Company of Boston, Wikimedia Commons
Eric Stoltz — Back To The Future
Eric Stoltz originally played Marty McFly in Back to the Future. Six weeks into production, director Robert Zemeckis decided his performance wasn't delivering the comedy the movie needed. Michael J Fox replaced him, forcing extensive reshoots.
Melora Hardin — Back To The Future
Stoltz wasn't the only casualty. Melora Hardin had played Jennifer Parker opposite him, but producers reconsidered after casting Michael J Fox. Concerned about their height difference, they replaced Hardin with Claudia Wells, leaving the young actress heartbroken.
Photo from www.lukeford.net, Wikimedia Commons
Marilyn Monroe — Something's Got To Give
Marilyn Monroe was fired from Something's Got to Give in June 1962 after repeated absences disrupted production. Although the studio subsequently arranged for her return, she died before filming resumed. The unfinished movie was eventually remade as Move Over, Darling.
Studio publicity still, Wikimedia Commons
Judy Garland — Valley Of The Dolls
Judy Garland had already filmed scenes as Broadway star Helen Lawson in Valley of the Dolls. According to costar Barbara Parkins, Garland was dismissed after production difficulties. Susan Hayward inherited the role, leaving Garland's completed footage unused.
Eric Carpenter (1909-1976) for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer., Wikimedia Commons
Joan Crawford — Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Joan Crawford managed just four days of filming alongside Bette Davis before illness claims and production disputes brought everything to a halt. Crawford withdrew, and insurers insisted on a replacement. Olivia de Havilland eventually stepped into the role.
George Hurrell, Wikimedia Commons
Buddy Ebsen — The Wizard Of Oz
Buddy Ebsen originally portrayed the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, the aluminum makeup caused a serious reaction that hospitalized him. Production continued without him, and Jack Haley inherited the part after filming had begun.
Michael Keaton — The Purple Rose Of Cairo
Michael Keaton began filming Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo, but his performance ultimately didn't fit the director's vision. Allen reportedly considered him too contemporary for the period setting. Jeff Daniels replaced Keaton, requiring scenes to be reshot.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Harvey Keitel — Apocalypse Now
Harvey Keitel was Francis Ford Coppola's original Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now. After several weeks of filming in the Philippines, Coppola decided the casting wasn't working. Martin Sheen replaced Keitel, becoming central to the finished Vietnam War drama.
Jennifer Jason Leigh — Eyes Wide Shut
Jennifer Jason Leigh filmed a scene opposite Tom Cruise for Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. Kubrick later wanted to rebuild the set and reshoot the sequence. Leigh couldn't return, so Marie Richardson took over her role.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Lori Petty — Demolition Man
Lori Petty was originally cast opposite Sylvester Stallone in Demolition Man. Just three days into shooting, she was replaced by Sandra Bullock. The sudden change became one of the production's early complications, although Bullock ultimately kept the part.
Dennis Hopper — The Truman Show
Dennis Hopper was supposed to play Christof, the mysterious creator of Jim Carrey's televised world in The Truman Show. Hopper later confirmed that he was fired after just one day of shooting. Ed Harris took over the role.
James Remar — Aliens
James Remar originally portrayed Corporal Hicks in James Cameron's Aliens. He was dismissed after a drug-related arrest during production, and Michael Biehn replaced him. Interestingly, a small amount of Remar's original footage remained in the finished movie.
Jean-Claude Van Damme — Predator
Before becoming an action superstar, Jean-Claude Van Damme was cast as the alien creature in Predator. After beginning work in an uncomfortable original costume, he clashed with production expectations. Kevin Peter Hall eventually replaced him.
U.S. Air Force photo/Robbin Cresswell, Wikimedia Commons
Kel O'Neill — There Will Be Blood
Kel O'Neill spent several weeks playing Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood before Paul Thomas Anderson fired him. O'Neill later rejected rumors blaming Daniel Day-Lewis, instead acknowledging difficulties connecting with the director. Paul Dano inherited the role.
Mariska Hargitay — Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Before Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay filmed scenes as Dulcea in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. After returning home during a production break, she learned she had been dismissed. Gabrielle Fitzpatrick completed the role.
Joella Marano, Wikimedia Commons
Kevin Spacey — All The Money In The World
Kevin Spacey had already completed his performance as J Paul Getty in All the Money in the World. Following misconduct allegations, Ridley Scott removed him and reshot his scenes with Christopher Plummer shortly before release.
Maryland GovPics, Wikimedia Commons
Chris D'Elia — Army Of The Dead
Chris D'Elia had completed filming Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead when misconduct allegations emerged. The production replaced him with Tig Notaro, using additional filming and digital effects to insert her into scenes originally featuring D'Elia.
Armie Hammer — Next Goal Wins
Armie Hammer finished shooting his supporting role in Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins before controversy surrounding the actor delayed its release plans. The filmmakers subsequently replaced him with Will Arnett, who reshot the necessary scenes.
Martin Kraft, Wikimedia Commons
Johnny Depp — Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore
Johnny Depp had reportedly filmed a scene for the third Fantastic Beasts movie when Warner Bros asked him to resign following his unsuccessful British libel case. Mads Mikkelsen replaced him as Gellert Grindelwald.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Samantha Morton — Her
Samantha Morton originally performed the artificial intelligence voice in Spike Jonze's Her, working alongside Joaquin Phoenix during filming. During editing, Jonze decided the character needed something different. Scarlett Johansson rerecorded the role for the finished movie.
PhilipRomano, Wikimedia Commons
Al Pacino — Despicable Me 2
Al Pacino recorded most of his dialogue as villain Eduardo in Despicable Me 2. However, he departed over creative differences just months before release. Benjamin Bratt stepped in to record the character's voice without delaying the movie.
Embajada de EEUU en la Argentina, Wikimedia Commons
Janeane Garofalo — Shrek
Janeane Garofalo was originally cast as Princess Fiona opposite Chris Farley's Shrek. She later revealed that she had been fired, reportedly because producers considered her voice insufficiently princess-like. Cameron Diaz ultimately voiced Fiona in the completed animated film.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
Holly Hunter — Chicken Little
Disney initially developed Chicken Little with a female protagonist, voiced by Holly Hunter. After Hunter had recorded dialogue, the studio changed the character into a boy. Zach Braff became the new lead, making Hunter's performance unusable.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Chloë Grace Moretz — Bolt
Chloë Grace Moretz originally voiced Penny in Disney's Bolt. During production, the studio decided to replace her with Miley Cyrus. However, Moretz wasn't completely erased: some of her original recordings survived as the younger Penny.
Joella Marano, Wikimedia Commons
Colin Firth — Paddington
Colin Firth recorded dialogue for the title character in Paddington before concluding that his voice wasn't the right match. He and the filmmakers parted ways, and Ben Whishaw replaced him. Firth nevertheless remained supportive of the movie.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
John Lithgow — The Good Dinosaur
John Lithgow recorded his entire role as Poppa in Pixar's The Good Dinosaur. However, extensive story changes resulted in a major cast overhaul. Jeffrey Wright eventually replaced Lithgow, whose original recordings never appeared in the finished film.
David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons
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