Buzz
We've all heard of actors being considered for roles that seemed totally wrong for them. But some casting decisions are so absurd that they leave you wondering how anyone could have thought they would work. Here are 10 of the most bizarre potential actor-character pairings in film history.
10. Laurence Olivier as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather
Before director Francis Ford Coppola triumphed in his casting battle with Paramount over who would play Vito, Michael, and Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972), the studio had some truly outlandish ideas for these iconic roles. As documented in books like Mark Seal’s Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather, it's almost impossible to picture actors like Robert Redford and Ryan O’Neal as Michael Corleone. But even more shocking is the fact that the esteemed British actor Sir Laurence Olivier was once considered for the role of Don Vito Corleone.
Olivier was, of course, a masterful and highly respected actor, even by Marlon Brando himself. But the notion of Olivier playing Vito was so absurd that it pushed Brando to pursue the role himself. The studio, however, was highly hesitant to hire him, due to his history of box office failures and difficult personality. They insisted that Brando undergo a screen test, accept a modest salary, and take out an insurance bond covering the financial risk of his behavior before Coppola would even consider him for the role.
Check out a clip of Laurence Olivier to see if he would have suited the role!
9. Emilia Clarke as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey
Anastasia Steele is meant to embody innocence and freshness when she meets Christian Grey in the provocative drama Fifty Shades of Grey. However, Emilia Clarke, with her sweet and almost childlike girl-next-door vibe, might have been a jarring choice for such a role in a BDSM world. It’s probably for the best she passed on the part, which ultimately went to the more overtly sensual Dakota Johnson. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Clarke felt that her early nudity in Game of Thrones had typecast her, and that played a part in her decision to decline the role in the erotic film.
Watch a clip of Emilia Clarke to see if she would have suited the role!
8. Ryan O’Neal as Rocky Balboa
At the peak of his fame following Love Story (1970), Ryan O'Neal became the go-to actor for virtually every male lead role. One of these was the gritty, underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, a character worlds apart from O'Neal's preppy, charming persona. At the time, Sylvester Stallone, struggling to make it as an actor and screenwriter, was turned down for the role that would ultimately make him a star. He insisted that United Artists could only make the film from his script if he was allowed to play the iconic Italian Stallion himself.
The studio was prepared to offer Stallone a substantial sum of money to allow either Ryan O’Neal or Burt Reynolds to portray Rocky. However, Stallone, who had already learned to live frugally, refused. As he explained in the Toronto Sun, 'I thought, $250,000 will go away, but the scar and the self-loathing of watching Ryan O’Neal play Rocky... I don’t know!'
Watch a clip of Ryan O’Neal and decide if he would have been a good fit for the role!
7. Britney Spears as Allie in The Notebook
Although Britney Spears has appeared in more than just music videos, including TV sitcoms and her 2002 film Crossroads, it’s hard to imagine her as Allie in the 2004 romantic drama The Notebook, based on Nicholas Sparks' novel. She was one of several contenders for the role, along with Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jaime King, and Rachel McAdams, according to E! News. While we can’t say how Spears would have played the part, she seems better suited to comedy.
The role of Allie ultimately went to Rachel McAdams, a more natural fit for the part. Although her acting resume wasn’t very extensive at the time, her performances in this film and Mean Girls—both released in the same year—catapulted her to stardom.
Check out a clip of Britney Spears to see if she might have been the right choice for the role!
6. Al Pacino as Han Solo in Star Wars
It's hard to imagine Al Pacino as part of the Star Wars universe, but it was reported that George Lucas had offered him the role of Han Solo in the original Star Wars (1977) film. This offer came shortly after Pacino had reprised his role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather: Part II, at a time when he was in high demand.
Pacino’s star power was so immense that, as he recalled at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival, 'They didn’t care if I was right or wrong for the role, if I could act or not act.' He turned down the part, which eventually went to Harrison Ford, because he found the script too confusing.
Check out a clip of Al Pacino to decide if he would have been the right fit for the role!
5. Jennifer Hudson as Precious
Jennifer Hudson, an Oscar-winning actress known for taking on difficult roles, was surprisingly considered for the part of Precious, a troubled and severely abused teen mother, in the 2009 film Precious, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. Hudson, who had previously worked with Weight Watchers, declined the role because it would have required her to gain weight—something she had just done for her portrayal of Effie in Dreamgirls.
Director Lee Daniels faced considerable difficulty casting the role of Precious. In fact, Gabourey Sidibe, who delivered an Oscar-nominated performance, wasn’t chosen for the part until mere weeks before filming began. Being relatively unknown at the time made it easier for the filmmakers to accept Sidibe in the role, which might have been challenging for other, more established actresses.
Watch a clip of Jennifer Hudson to see if she would have been a good match for the role!
4. Doris Day as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate
While The Graduate (1967) was meant to be a satire, casting wholesome American icon Doris Day as the seductive Mrs. Robinson would have shifted the film from sharp comedy into the realm of exaggerated sketch comedy. However, as noted in the book Anne Bancroft: A Life by Douglass K. Daniel, Doris Day was actually considered for the role before Anne Bancroft was chosen. Day ultimately turned it down, stating that the part 'offended my sense of values,' as quoted by The Columbus Dispatch.
Bancroft’s portrayal of Mrs. Robinson was so flawless that the role became not only her most unforgettable but also one of the most iconic characters in film history.
Watch a clip of Doris Day and decide if she could have brought the role to life!
3. Bette Davis as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind
The epic search for the perfect actress to play Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind attracted some unexpected candidates, including Katharine Hepburn and Joan Crawford. However, one of the most unusual suggestions was Bette Davis as the captivating Southern belle. Scarlett shared traits with many of Davis's roles, such as being calculating and strong-willed. But Scarlett often hid these traits beneath the mask of Southern charm and traditional femininity. Davis, known for her sharp and feisty nature, wasn't one to conceal anything, and her portrayal of Julie Marsden in Jezebel (1938) felt like an anti-Southern belle.
Warner Bros., the studio Davis was contracted to, played a key role in blocking her from what could have been the defining role of her career. Reportedly, Jack Warner insisted that Davis could only take on the role of Scarlett if she first agreed to appear in a film called God’s Country, where she would play a lumberjack. On the other hand, iconic producer David O. Selznick was eager to cast Davis if he could secure Errol Flynn for Rhett Butler. However, Davis felt Flynn was too mechanical, stating, 'He just said his lines, and that was it.'
Watch a clip of Bette Davis to see if she could have brought Scarlett O’Hara to life!
2. Anne Hathaway as Alison Scott in Knocked Up
While Anne Hathaway is no stranger to comedy, her natural elegance would have seemed out of place in the earthy, irreverent world of Judd Apatow’s films, including the 2007 romantic comedy Knocked Up. Hathaway was originally cast to play the intelligent, refined, and highly sought-after E! News reporter Alison Scott, opposite Seth Rogen's slacker character, Ben Stone.
It’s easy to assume that Hathaway left the project due to creative disagreements, but the reality is a bit different. According to Apatow’s comments to The New York Times, Anne Hathaway stepped away from the role because she didn’t want the filmmakers to use actual birth footage to make it look as if she were giving birth on screen. The role was eventually taken by Katherine Heigl, who not only fit the character's requirements but also seamlessly integrated into the world of her unconventional love interest.
Check out a clip of Anne Hathaway to see if she would have been a good fit for the role!
1. Justin Timberlake as Elton John in Rocketman
Though Sir Elton John would later describe Taron Egerton’s performance in the 2019 biopic Rocketman as ‘scary brilliant,’ Egerton wasn’t the initial pick for the part. At one point, Justin Timberlake was considered a strong contender for the role, especially after his striking impersonation of Elton John in a 2001 music video for ‘This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore.’ However, Egerton’s phenomenal performance, capturing both the grandeur of John as a showman and his personal struggles, ultimately made it seem as though he was destined for the role.
As it turns out, Egerton wasn’t even the second choice for the role of John. He secured the part after Tom Hardy, who had initially been cast, dropped out of the film. While Timberlake’s abilities may be up for debate, his career has largely been defined by lighter roles, such as in the 2011 rom-com Friends with Benefits.
Watch a short video of Justin Timberlake to determine if he would have been a good fit for the role!
