Actors Who Quit Or Were Fired And Ultimately Replaced In 25 Major Films
It's hard to imagine Catwoman played by anyone besides Michelle Pfeiffer or Harrison Ford not in the iconic role of Indiana Jones. But it almost happened on several occasions. Whether the actor was fired from set or just pulled out last minute due to the always convenient "scheduling conflicts" excuse, the person never made it to the big screen in these films.
1. Aliens
Original Star: James Remar
Replacement: Michael Biehn
James Remar left the film a week into filming when his creative differences with James Cameron couldn't be resolved.
2. American Psycho
Original Star: Christian Bale
Replacement: Christian Bale
This one is a bit bizarre. Christian Bale was originally offered the role of Bateman but then the studio decided to go in a different direction. They hired Leonardo DiCaprio the role but he dropped out after the success of Titanic. The part was then offered to Ewan McGregor, but he turned it down after Bale asked him to. Finally the studio returned to Bale.
3. Apocalypse Now
Original Star: Harvey Keitel
Replacement: Martin Sheen
Even though Martin Sheen was originally offered the role of Willard, he turned it down due to scheduling conflicts and Harvey Keitel landed the part. But a week into shooting, Francis Ford Coppola replaced Keitel with Sheen.
4. Back To The Future
Original Star: Eric Stoltz
Replacement: Michael J. Fox
Four weeks into filming, director Robert Zemeckis determined that Stoltz has been miscast. Zemeckis and Spielberg decided to reshoot the film with Michael J. Fox once his schedule opened back up.
5. Batman
Original Star: Sean Young
Replacement: Kim Basinger
Sean Young broke her arm after falling from a horse during rehearsal. Tim Burton scrapped the scene and continued filming the movie with replacement Kim Basinger.
6. Batman Returns
Original Star: Annette Bening
Replacement: Michelle Pfeiffer
Annette Bening was set to play Catwoman aka Selenia Kyle but had to drop out when she became pregnant.
7. Beverly Hills Cop
Original Star: Sylvester Stallone
Replacement: Eddie Murphy
Sylvester Stallone was originally cast as Alex Foley in a version of the film that was a straightforward action film. When he dropped out two weeks prior to filming, the script underwent massive rewrites to include more comedy for Eddie Murphy.
8. Demolition Man
Original Star: Lori Petty
Replacement: Sandra Bullock
It's unclear who she upset but Lori Petty was fired from the film a few days into filming.
9. Dirty Harry
Original Star: Frank Sinatra
Replacement: Clint Eastwood
The title role originally went to the blue-eyed crooner but he had to drop out because of a hand injury. John Wayne was then offered the part but he refused to take on Sinatra's rejects. Instead it went to Clint Eastwood.
10. Eyes Wide Shut
Original Star: Harvey Keitel
Replacement: Sydney Pollack
Harvey Keitel reportedly film 90 percent of the role but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with reshoots. Note this was his second time being replaced.
Original Star: Jennifer Jason Leigh
Replacement: Marie Richardson
In a similar situation, Jennifer Jason Leigh left the film and a near-identical Marie Richardson took over the small role.
11. Knocked Up
Original Star: Anne Hathaway
Replacement: Katherine Heigl
Long before her Les Miz days, Anne Hathaway was cast in the lead female role. However, she dropped out due to a disagreement over the filming of the birth scene. Meanwhile, Katherine Heigl waited until filming was over to complain about the movie.
12. Mortal Kombat
Original Star: Cameron Diaz
Replacement: Bridgette Wilson
In what would have been her second film, Cameron Diaz was originally set to play Sonya Blade. The actress had to pull out because she broke her wrist.
13. Panic Room
Original Star: Nicole Kidman
Replacement: Jodie Foster
Nicole Kidman was on set revealing a hairline fracture in her knee, which was the result of filming Moulin Rouge! While David Fincher originally planned to shut down production but the studio quickly recast the part with Jodie Foster.
14. Precious
Original Star: Helen Mirren
Replacement: Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey was cast in Lee Daniels film after Helen Mirren left the part for a bigger project. Not sure what convinced the director to go with the Glitter star but Carey managed to impress critics.
15. Predator
Original Star: Jean-Claude Van Damme
Replacement: Kevin Peter Hall
After complaining about the monster costume, Jean-Claude Van Damme was replaced by Kevin Peter Hall. Hardly a loss for Van Damme who would have been covered with a mask the entire film.
16. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Original Star: Tom Selleck
Replacement: Harrison Ford
Tom Selleck originally landed the part as Indy but had to back out after Magnum P.I. wouldn't let him out of his contract to film the movie.
17. The Departed
Original Star: Gerard McSorley
Replacement: Martin Sheen
The Irish actor was forced to pull out of the film for undisclosed reasons. The was the second time Martin Sheen had to step in for an abandoned role.
18. The Lord Of The Rings
Original Star: Stuart Townsend
Replacement: Viggo Mortensen
Four days into shooting, Peter Jackson determined that Stuart Townsend was too young to play Aragorn. Viggo Mortensen stepped in for the rest of the franchise. This was the first of two films Jackson changed the lead actor.
19. The Lovely Bones
Original Star: Ryan Gosling
Replacement: Mark Wahlberg
Ryan Gosling notoriously gained weight and sported a beard for several months prior to the filming of the book adaptation. However, Gosling and Peter Jackson determined was the right fit for the part and he left a month before filming began.
20. The Paperboy
Original Star: Sofia Vergara
Replacement: Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman starred in the sexually-charged drama after Sofia Vergara dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Though, Vergara was reportedly relieved she didn't have to pee on Zac Efron.
21. The Wizard Of Oz
Original Star: Gale Sondergaard
Replacement: Margaret Hamilton
Margaret Hamilton was originally cast as the Wicked Witch but left the part after the character changed into an "ugly hag." She left three days before filming.
Original Star: Buddy Ebsen
Replacement: Jack Haley
Jack Haley replaced Buddy Ebsen after the actor nearly died because of the aluminum dust makeup. The makeup was switched as was the actor.
22. There Will Be Blood
Original Star: Kel O'Neill
Replacement: Paul Dano
Paul Dano took on the role of Eli Sunday two weeks into filming on the 60-day shoot. Kel O'Neill was apparently intimidated by Daniel Day-Lewis' knack for staying in character on and off the set.
23. Titanic
Original Star: Reba McEntire
Replacement: Kathy Bates
James Cameron initially offered the part of Molly Brown to the country singer but Reba McEntire had to turn down the part due to scheduling conflicts. Kathy Bates landed the role in the iceberg epic.
24. V For Vendetta
Original Star: James Purefoy
Replacement: Hugo Weaving
James Purefoy left six weeks into filming due to creative differences. Some of his original footage remained in the film while his voice dubbed over by Hugo Weaving.
25. X-Men
Original Star: Dougray Scott
Replacement: Hugh Jackman
Bryan Singer settled on Dougray Scott after negotiations fell through with Russell Crowe. But then Scott backed out due to scheduling conflicts with Mission: Impossible II. Hugh Jackman was cast three weeks into filming and ended up being the breakout star of the series.
[Photo Credit: Getty]