‘Sons of Anarchy’ star Charlie Hunnam was originally hired to play erotica-enthusiast Christian Grey in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’ Alas, he dropped out due to good ol’ fashioned “scheduling conflicts,” and ‘The Fall’s’ Jamie Dornan took his place. Here are some other movies that recast key roles.
Recasting superhero movies is now commonplace, but it all began when Sean Young, playing Vicki Vale, broke her arm during rehearsals and was replaced by Kim Basinger. (Young’s loopy bid to play Catwoman in the sequel did not go over well.)
The Dark Knight started a trend of playing “casting musical chairs” with this hit sequel. After original Batman Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton bailed on ‘Forever,’ director Joel Schumacher enlisted Val Kilmer to don the cowl. George Clooney infamously replaced Kilmer as Bats in the even more infamous ‘Batman & Robin.’
Jack Ryan’s first big-screen outing, ‘The Hunt for Red October,’ starred Alec Baldwin as the intrepid CIA analyst. Baldwin vacated the role for a mix of reasons – a role in a Broadway show and poor negotiation tactics on behalf of his agent – and in stepped Harrison Ford.
Bob Hoskins was a dead ringer for Al Capone, so Brian De Palma offered him the part, thinking Robert De Niro wasn’t available. When De Niro eventually came through, Hoskins received a payoff somewhere between $30,000 and $300,000 (accounts vary).
It was the movie that gave Sandra Bullock her big break, but her part was first given to Lori Petty, hot off of 1992’s ‘A League of Their Own.’ Petty was let go a few days into production due to those pesky old “creative differences.”
Bullock benefits again: During this film’s long gestation period, original star Angelina Jolie moved on to other projects. Meanwhile, Robert Downey, Jr. was afraid he’d be stifled by the film’s many technical constraints, so George Clooney took the role.
As the faceless computer system that romances Joaquin Phoenix, Samantha Morton had recorded all her lines when writer/director Spike Jonze decided Scarlett Johansson’s voice was a better fit. (Her character retained the name Samantha.)
After aggravating a knee injury she suffered on the set of ‘Moulin Rouge!’, Nicole Kidman vacated the role of Meg Altman – and Jodie Foster took her place in David Fincher’s hit thriller. Fans of the film can still hear Kidman’s voice, however – she provides the voice for the girlfriend of Meg’s ex-husband.
Rafe Spall (left) plays the writer who interviews Pi about his adventures on the lifeboat. Tobey Maguire was first cast as the writer, and even filmed all his scenes, until director Ang Lee realized that Maguire’s famous face distracted from Pi’s story.
Speaking of sexy Nicole Kidman movies, Harvey Keitel had shot most of his ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ scenes when Stanley Kubrick rebooted the film and replaced Keitel with Sydney Pollack (left). A similar thing happened to Keitel on 1979’s ‘Apocalypse Now.’
It’s probably cinema’s best-known case of emergency recasting: Eric Stoltz was sacked after nearly a month of work as Marty McFly. The sci-fi comedy simply needed the expert timing and wry humor that only Michael J. Fox could provide.
Terrance Howard originally played Tony Stark’s right-hand man, Rhodey, in the first ‘Iron Man’ movie. A salary dispute forced Howard to exit the hit franchise, allowing Don Cheadle to don the War Machine armor.
Fans almost had a Viggo Mortensen-less trip to Middle-earth. Peter Jackson originally cast Stuart Townsend to play the heroic Aragorn, with the actor having shot a few scenes before Mortensen took over the role.
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Limited time offer. While supplies last. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions allowed in this promotion. Log in to your Fandango account on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app between 6:00am PT on 9/1/26 and 11:59pm PT 10/12/26, purchase two (2) or more IMAX tickets to see Resident Evil at a participating Fandango theater, and enter the Fandango promotional code RESIDENTEVILIMAX ("Code") to receive up to $14 off your purchase. Code expires, and can no longer be used, if not redeemed by 11:59pm PT on 10/12/26, or when the limit of Code redemptions is reached, or when Resident Evil is no longer available in IMAX theaters, whichever comes first. Code must be entered at checkout. Only valid for purchase of movie tickets made at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app and cannot be redeemed directly at any theater box office. You must have, and be logged into, a Fandango account to redeem the Code on Fandango. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. If cost of movie tickets and associated fees and charges is more than Code’s maximum discount, then user must pay the difference. Any price difference between total transaction price and Code’s maximum discount will not be refunded. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). You may have to pay taxes additionally. Limit one (1) Code redemption per person. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango's Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
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*Spider-Man: Brand New Day Exclusive Poster Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at check out. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The exclusive poster will begin shipping in July. Please use a physical U.S. address where the exclusive poster shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://store.fandango.com/products/spider-man-brand-new-day-exclusive-poster
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Limited time offer. While supplies last. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions allowed in this promotion. Log in to your Fandango account on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app between 6:00am PT on 8/31/26 and 11:59pm PT 10/20/26, purchase two (2) or more Dolby tickets to see Heart of the Beast at a participating Fandango theater, and enter the Fandango promotional code HEARTDOLBY ("Code") to receive up to $10 off your purchase. Code expires, and can no longer be used, if not redeemed by 11:59pm PT on 10/20/26, or when the limit of Code redemptions is reached, or when Heart of the Beast is no longer available in Dolby theaters, whichever comes first. Code must be entered at checkout. Only valid for purchase of movie tickets made at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app and cannot be redeemed directly at any theater box office. You must have, and be logged into, a Fandango account to redeem the Code on Fandango. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. If cost of movie tickets and associated fees and charges is more than Code’s maximum discount, then user must pay the difference. Any price difference between total transaction price and Code’s maximum discount will not be refunded. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). You may have to pay taxes additionally. Limit one (1) Code redemption per person. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango's Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
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Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app and purchase, between 12:01am PT on 7/31/26 and 11:59pm PT on 9/18/26, at least one (1) movie ticket to ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. Purchaser will receive a post-purchase email containing one (1) Fandango Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for $5 off the purchase (and not the rental) of the pre-order of the Spider-Man 4-Movie Collection in My Offers in your account on http://fandangoathome.com and via participating Fandango apps. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive and redeem a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Credit card may be required for transactions on Fandango.com. Code expires on (and must be used by) 9/23/26 at 11:59pm PT, and the Spider-Man 4-Movie Collection will be added to your Library when it is made available by the studio. Limit one per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
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NO PURCHASE OR APP NECESSARY. Purchase does not increase chances of winning. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age and older, provided, however, that at least one person traveling must be 21+. Void where prohibited. Ends November 9, 2026, visit https://www.fandangomovietickets.com/superpremieresweepstakes. Sponsor: Fandango Media, LLC, 10 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608.
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Don't miss out on the action. Get 10% off your purchase on the A24 Shop when you buy a ticket to Onslaught.
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