I've go a couple of these: Cases where you just can't imagine anyone else playing the role.

My favorite is Gig Young instead of Gene Wilder as Jim (The Waco Kid) in Blazing Saddles.

"Production began with Gig Young as Jim, The Waco Kid. On the first day of shooting the scene where the drunk Waco Kid hangs from a bunk asking if Bart is black, Young revealed that he really was indeed drunk (he had had an alcohol problem for years) and proceeded to undergo a physical collapse on-set. According to Brooks, "On the first day of shooting... we hung him upside down in the jail cell, and green stuff started spewing out of his mouth." Brooks shut down production for a day and Gene Wilder flew cross-country to take over the role. Young sued Warner Brothers for breach of contract." Link

Leslie Howard had to threated to quit if Bogart wasn't cast in "The Petrified Forest", the studio wanted to cast one of their big names, not some unknown from the Broadway production.

And the rest is history.

Back To The Future almost had Eric Stoltz in it as Marty McFly instead of Michael J. Fox

IIRC they had filmed like half the first movie when it was decided that Stoltz just wasn't a good fit for the role.

George Burns was a last-minute fill-in for an ailing Jack Benny in 1975's The Sunshine Boys, which would go on to earn Burns an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and jump-start a resurgence in Burns' career.

Veronica Cartwright was originally cast as Ripley in Alien.

IIRC, Harvey Keitel started as CPT Willard in "Apocalypse Now" but had a serious medical issue on location in the Philippines. Martin Sheen replaced him.

Here's an interesting one I never knew about!

Did you know Tom Selleck was originally slated to play Indiana Jones?

quote:

Can you imagine a world where Indiana Jones was not played by Hollywood's beloved resident grump, Harrison Ford? Well, that was almost a reality, because the epic tale of the archaeologist was initially set to star Tom Selleck. Complications with negotiations led to Ford getting the part instead. During a 2014 appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman, Selleck set the record straight on just barely missing the opportunity of a lifetime. "They held the offer [for the role] out about a month. And the more they held out the offer and talked to the network, the more the network said no."

Link

I heard about the Selleck | Indy part this morning on the radio.

They also mentioned that Matt Damon had been approached for the lead in Avatar & he turned it down.
One of his biggest regrets.

Clint Eastwood was not the top choice for the role of Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry.

Frank Sinatra was originally cast, until a wrist injury prompted him to bow out. Then the role was offered to Burt Lancaster, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman, all turning down the part. It is said that Newman recommended Eastwood.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I heard about the Selleck | Indy part this morning on the radio.

They also mentioned that Matt Damon had been approached for the lead in Avatar & he turned it down.
One of his biggest regrets.

To the tune of a quarter billion.

Actors originally offered the lead role in the first Die Hard movie:

Frank Sinatra
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Richard Gere
Clint Eastwood
Burt Reynolds
Sylvester Stallone
Harrison Ford
Don Johnson
Nick Nolte
Mel Gibson
Richard Dean Anderson

The part was finally offered to Bruce Willis, who was mainly known for his comedic work in the successful tv series Moonlighting.

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
Clint Eastwood was not the top choice for the role of Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry.

Never heard this.

IMO, this thread can stop here. I can not imagine any other actor-role that would be stranger than someone other than Clint as Dirty Harry.

Shirley Temple instead of Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz.

Sacha Cohen as Freddy Mercury instead of Rami Malek.

Rami did OK, but Sacha would have been epic.

I was just reading an article about Paul Newman, that claimed Steve McQueen was first choice for the Robert Redford, Sundance role but insisted on top billing over Newman.
Newman refused and the part went to Redford.

Sacha was cast in the role for a long time. Apparently he and the band had creative differences on the direction of the film and he ultimately walked or was removed.

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Sacha Cohen as Freddy Mercury instead of Rami Malek.

Rami did OK, but Sacha would have been epic.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Here's an interesting one I never knew about!

Did you know Tom Selleck was originally slated to play Indiana Jones?

quote:

Can you imagine a world where Indiana Jones was not played by Hollywood's beloved resident grump, Harrison Ford? Well, that was almost a reality, because the epic tale of the archaeologist was initially set to star Tom Selleck. Complications with negotiations led to Ford getting the part instead. During a 2014 appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman, Selleck set the record straight on just barely missing the opportunity of a lifetime. "They held the offer [for the role] out about a month. And the more they held out the offer and talked to the network, the more the network said no."

Link

That was the one I cam here to post but speaking of Harrison Ford and iconic roles, we’ve all seen the famous Saturday Night Live sketch of people trying out for Han Solo? It’s based on reality.

https://movieweb.com/han-solo-...l-star-wars-trilogy/

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Sacha Cohen as Freddy Mercury instead of Rami Malek.

Rami did OK, but Sacha would have been epic.

I disagree 100%

He would have made the part TOO campy and comedic and it just wouldn't have worked.

I thought Rami Malek did a phenomenal job and nailed the part despite being much shorter than the real Freddie Mercury.

quote:

Originally posted by daikyu:
Sacha was cast in the role for a long time. Apparently he and the band had creative differences on the direction of the film and he ultimately walked or was removed.

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Sacha Cohen as Freddy Mercury instead of Rami Malek.

Rami did OK, but Sacha would have been epic.

The rumor is Brian May had a big say with his departure. And IMO - wouldn't have been epic, would've been trashy.