Top 10 Incidents That Got Movie Actors Fired

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Incidents That Got Movie Actors Fired. For this list, we’ll be looking at the most notable situations that got big name stars removed from the roster, whether they got the boot outright, or agreed to depart. Which of these shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments!

#10: Sylvester Stallone’s Attempted Rewrite

“Beverly Hills Cop” (1984)
Thanks to 1976’s “Rocky”, Sylvester Stallone became a big Hollywood name. However, great fame doesn’t come without its own share problems, which is what happened here. Stallone was originally cast as Axel Foley in the now classic 1984 film “Beverly Hills Cop.” Prior to the start of filming, Stallone presented Paramount with his rewrite of the script, having increased the action elements by a lot. He even made the lead’s name “Axel Cobretti.” His material reportedly wasn’t bad by any means, but Paramount said no for financial reasons, and Stallone agreed to leave the project. Of course, Eddie Murphy took on the part afterwards, and the rest is history.

#9: Terrence Howard’s Salary Demands

“Iron Man 2” (2010)
In 2008’s “Iron Man”, Terrence Howard played the role of James Rhodes, the future War Machine. However, Howard was noticeably absent from “Iron Man 2”, replaced by Don Cheadle. There are a number of rumors surrounding the why of it all, but it boils down to salary demands. Howard earned substantially more than Robert Downey Jr. for the first film. After its massive success, Downey’s salary rose to a reported $10 million for the sequel, while Howard saw a dip in his paycheck. Amid apparent demands for more, the studio went in a separate direction. Howard has also been branded as being “difficult” to work with, so there’s that too.

#8: Ryan Gosling’s Weight Gain

“The Lovely Bones” (2009)
Peter Jackson’s 2009 film “The Lovely Bones” depicts a young girl, Susie, who gets assaulted and murdered. Her grieving father Jack, portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, was originally supposed to be played by Ryan Gosling. However, in pre-production, Gosling came up with the idea that the bereft father would be overweight. He thus put on 60 pounds with the help of melted ice cream beverages. He then showed up on set and was dismissed by Jackson, as the two clearly had differing opinions of how the character should appear. A simple phone call beforehand would likely have remedied this, but Gosling admitted there wasn’t much communication.

#7: Nicole Kidman’s Injury

“Panic Room” (2002)
Fired might be a strong word for this one. David Fincher’s film “Panic Room” was to star Kidman in the role of the mother, Meg. Filming had actually begun when the actress had to drop out after she irritated a pre-existing injury. Kidman had wrapped work on “Moulin Rouge” prior, and she had hurt her knee on that project. The physical demands of the “Panic Room” role proved to be too much, and Kidman was forced to take some time off. She had rehearsed for weeks with co-star Kristen Stewart prior to being replaced, which shows her dedication to the role. The decision for her to depart was likely mutual, but in any case, it wasn’t really her fault.

#6: Megan Fox’s Offensive Remarks

“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011)
It’s probably not a great idea to compare your boss to a Nazi when being interviewed for a publication. Before production started on the third “Transformers” film, Megan Fox spoke to Wonderland magazine. When asked about working with director Michael Bay, Fox said “He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is.” She went on to say that he was “vulnerable and fragile” off set, but the damage appeared to be done. Steven Spielberg was an executive producer on the film, and reportedly demanded that Fox be fired. We can only assume that in Hollywood, what Spielberg says goes, though there are conflicting stories about what exactly transpired.

#5: Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Kickboxing Addiction

“Predator” (1987)
1987’s “Predator” was initially supposed to star Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme in the titular role. However this ultimately didn’t quite work out, possibly because Van Damme couldn’t stop kickboxing. The actor would reportedly constantly show people his skills and insisted that they be incorporated into the role, which really didn’t sit well with producer Joel Silver. This got to the point where, as VFX supervisor Joel Hynek recalled, Silver just flat out fired him and told him to get out. Van Damme apparently responded with an invitation to embrace his nether regions, and left. Other reasons that have been given for his firing include him not being tall enough for the role and issues with the costume.

#4: Judy Garland’s Substance Use Disorder

“Valley of the Dolls” (1967)
Judy Garland’s is truly a tragic Hollywood story. After a series of inauspicious events, such as mismanaged finances and divorce, Garland landed the role of Helen Lawson in 1967’s “Valley of the Dolls.” It was slated to be her big comeback to the spotlight, and things were looking good until they weren’t. A number of anecdotes surround what went wrong. Her co-star, Patty Duke, claimed Garland was hired for publicity by director Mark Robson, and that he mistreated the actress. It’s also been said that her substance use disorder hindered her ability to perform, and that it was often a struggle to get her out of her dressing room. In the end, Garland was fired and the role ultimately went to Susan Hayward.

#3: James Remar’s Possession

“Aliens” (1986)
Corporal Dwayne Hicks in “Aliens” has become a fan favorite. However, off screen, the actor who was set to portray the character, James Remar, proved to be problematic. He was struggling with substance use disorder, and during production, cops reportedly found numerous illicit substances at his residence. The actor was fired from the project as a result. Michael Biehn took over the role, becoming the face everyone now associates with Hicks. There was also apparently another incident on the “Aliens” set where Remar fired a prop weapon into the neighboring film set, causing damage. However, the drug charge is said to have been the main grounds for dismissal.

#2: Armie Hammer’s Violent Sexual Misconduct

Various
Armie Hammer began acting around 2005. He worked his way to the top over the years, delivering acclaimed performances in films like “The Social Network” and “Call Me by Your Name.” In 2021, however, allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. An anonymous woman revealed online that she’d had an affair with the actor, during which he mistreated and assaulted her, both physically and emotionally. It was said that the actor had concerning and violent fantasies that he sometimes acted upon nonconsensually. Others came forward with similar allegations, while Hammer was axed from multiple projects and let go by his agency. The documentary “House of Hammer” further delved into his – and his family’s – history, exposing lots of disturbing information.

#1: Kevin Spacey’s Sexual Misconduct

“House of Cards” (2013-18) & “All the Money in the World” (2017)
Kevin Spacey was first accused of sexual misconduct in 2017 by actor Anthony Rapp, who eventually went on to sue him. Rapp claimed that Spacey had assaulted him when the former was underrage. Spacey, in what was widely seen as an attempt to evade the negative publicity, chose this moment to come out, a move that was ill-received. More people soon came forward, legal woes ensued, and the actor wasn’t seen much afterwards. His main character, Frank Underwood, was written off of the series “House of Cards.” Additionally, he was removed and replaced from the film “All the Money in the World,” which saw its premiere at AFI Fest canceled as a result. Spacey now appears to be making a comeback attempt of sorts.