Top 20 HUGE Cameos That Got CUT From the FINAL Movie

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 20 biggest movie cameos that ended up getting cut before their release!

#20: William Shatner

“Star Trek” (2009)

William Shatner was originally supposed to appear as a cameo in the 2009 “Star Trek” reboot. The original idea had Leonard Nimoy’s Spock receiving a birthday message from a previous timeline’s Captain Kirk, who would be Shatner. However, it never came to be. Shatner, who had portrayed Kirk from 1966 to 1994, wanted a more significant role than just a voice recording. But the director of the reboot film, J. J. Abrams, thought it would detract too much from the narrative and the new actors and characters.

#19: Kevin Costner

“The Big Chill” (1983)

The critically acclaimed 1983 comedy-drama “The Big Chill” defined an entire generation of people on the big screen. Originally, however, it was actually supposed to feature the superstar actor Kevin Costner. He was cast as Alex, the deceased friend whose funeral brings the main characters together. While his character’s death is the catalyst for the story of the film, Costner’s face is never shown. He filmed several flashback scenes intended to show Alex’s life and his connections to the other characters. However, director Lawrence Kasdan decided to cut all of the flashbacks, leaving Costner’s only appearance as the corpse being dressed for his funeral during the movie’s opening.

#18: Liv Tyler

“Everyone Says I Love You” (1996)

Woody Allen’s 1996 musical comedy “Everyone Says I Love You” was completely jam-packed with celebrity cameos, with names like Tim Roth, Natalie Portman, and many more. But some of them ended up not making it to the final cut! Liv Tyler filmed several scenes with Lukas Haas, but they never made it into the movie. Allen explained that he made the decision to shorten the film’s runtime. Liv wouldn’t even be the only celebrity who was cut, as Tracey Ullman similarly shot an entire storyline that also didn’t make it.

#17: Katherine Langford

“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)

In a scene that otherwise would’ve been really touching in “Avengers: Endgame,” Katherine Langford had starred in a sequence that would have given us a final, emotional goodbye for Tony Stark. After he snaps his fingers to defeat Thanos, Tony enters a metaphysical state. There, he’s meant to have a conversation with the grown-up version of his daughter, Morgan, played by Langford. The scene could’ve given Tony a moment of closure, as his older daughter would have forgiven him for his sacrifice. Instead, test audiences found the exchange confusing and felt it didn’t land emotionally. As a result, the scene was cut, leaving his final moments with ‘The Avengers’ instead.

#16: Ricky Gervais

“The Muppets” (2011)

The 2011 reboot of “The Muppets” brought back the beloved puppets and featured an impressive lineup of celebrity cameos, with lots of them making it, and lots of them getting cut. Ricky Gervais, together with stars like Danny Trejo and even Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, all filmed scenes for the movie that were later kept out of the theatrical release. Gervais’s scene involved him as a presenter at a fake awards show, while the others had smaller, comedic bits. Although the film was a massive hit, director James Bobin had to make these difficult cuts due to time constraints!

#15: Uma Thurman

“Savages” (2012)

Director Oliver Stone’s 2012 thriller “Savages” was an action-packed and fast-paced film with an already stacked cast that included Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, and Salma Hayek. Yet, it could have been even more star-studded. Famed “Kill Bill” actress Uma Thurman was supposed to appear as the mother of Blake Lively’s character, Ophelia. Unfortunately, her scenes were removed during the editing process. Stone explained that he had to cut down the film’s runtime and felt Thurman’s storyline was not essential to the main plot. It’s a shame we never got to see her in this gritty thriller!

#14: Tobey Maguire

“Life of Pi” (2012)

Tobey Maguire was originally supposed to have a role in the Oscar-winning movie “Life of Pi.” He was cast as the writer who interviews the adult Pi after his rescue. But after filming his scenes, director Ang Lee decided not to include him. Lee felt that Maguire’s star power was too distracting and would take away from the incredible story being told. Instead, Lee reshot the scenes with another actor, Rafe Spall, who at the time had gone mostly under the radar. While it would’ve been fun with Tobey, it paid off to let the late Irrfan Khan carry the scene with his amazing acting chops!

#13: Tim Roth

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019)

Quentin Tarantino fans were eagerly anticipating Tim Roth’s cameo in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” but they were left disappointed when he didn’t appear. Roth, a frequent Tarantino collaborator, filmed scenes as Jay Sebring’s butler, the character Raymond. He was part of a larger storyline involving Sebring’s life before the Manson family murder. Tarantino ended up cutting out Roth’s entire subplot to streamline the film’s narrative instead, which is understandable considering the movie would’ve otherwise had a 4-hour runtime. He’s even listed in the credits, even though he isn’t featured in the film!

#12: La Toya Jackson

“Brüno” (2009)

Sacha Baron Cohen is well-known for his outrageous and often very controversial antics, and his 2009 movie “Brüno” was no exception. One of the most talked-about deleted scenes of all time was an interview with La Toya Jackson. The production company had filmed what was essentially Brüno punking the pop singer, but a real-life tragedy would occur not long after. La Toya’s brother, the ‘King of Pop’ himself, Michael Jackson, had passed away unexpectedly. This caused Universal Pictures to cut La Toya’s part from the movie out of respect for the Jackson family.

#11: Marlon Brando

“The Godfather Part 2” (1974)

In what would have been one of the most iconic cameo appearances in cinematic history, Marlon Brando was set to reprise his role as Vito Corleone in a flashback scene for “The Godfather Part II.” Unfortunately, Brando had a major falling out with Paramount Pictures over his salary and treatment while filming the first “Godfather” movie. Still feeling mistreated, he famously failed to show up for the shooting with no notice! Director Francis Ford Coppola rewrote the scene on the spot, with Robert De Niro being the only actor in the role for the film, for which he would go on to earn himself an Oscar!

#10: Viggo Mortensen

“The Purple Rose of Cairo” (1985)

Imagine Aragorn himself, Viggo Mortensen, making an appearance in a whimsical Woody Allen film - only for his scenes to be cut completely. Well, that’s unfortunately what happened, as Viggo Mortensen’s early acting gig was unceremoniously taken out of the film “The Purple Rose of Cairo.” Mortensen has gone on to describe his time on set as particularly strange, saying he wasn’t given any direction – at all. However, he gave it his best shot. Unfortunately, once the film was released, he sadly learned he didn’t make the cut. It’s a shame, as the cameo would have certainly given fans a sneak peek into his burgeoning talent.

#9: Jena Malone

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016)

Given that “Batman v Superman’s” theatrical cut ran approximately two and a half hours, it’s understandable that some scenes (and characters) would be removed. However, many were incredibly disappointed when Jena Malone, as scientist Jenet Klyburn, was cut from the final edit. Known for her roles in “The Hunger Games” and “Pride & Prejudice,” Malone’s performance was rather anticipated, but her scenes only appeared in the “Ultimate Edition” of the film. Her absence left fans feeling short changed however, as they missed out on what could have been a valuable addition to the film’s impressive cast. Maybe if she played a character named Martha, she would have made the cut…

#8: Paul Rudd

“Bridesmaids” (2011)If you’re a fan of the ageless Paul Rudd (and frankly, who isn’t), then this cameo removal surely stung. Known for his impeccable comedic timing, improv skills, and charm, Rudd seemed perfect for the Paul Feig-directed comedy, “Bridesmaids.” Sadly, all of Rudd's scenes ended up being cut from the final version - due to the film’s length. The affable actor’s cameo would have seen him in a “date gone wrong” opposite Kristen Wiig’s Annie at a skating rink. His nice guy act would be proven a façade when he accidentally cuts his finger with an ice skate. It was a true missed opportunity for comedy gold from Rudd.

#7: Sienna Miller

“Black Mass” (2015)

Celebrated actress Sienna Miller had originally filmed scenes for the Johnny Depp-starring biographical mob film "Black Mass", where she played Catherine Greig. As the girlfriend and accomplice to notorious gangster Whitey Bulger, this surely would be a great addition Miller’s impressive filmography – right? Thanks to “narrative restructuring,” her small role was removed. Apparently, the filmmakers wanted to focus more tightly on Bulger’s criminal activities, rather than his time with Catherine, which were “less dramatic.” The exclusion felt particularly harsh however, as Miller’s performance reportedly brought further depth and nuance to Bulger's complex life. And, according to several critics, the film could have certainly used it.

#6: Jack Whitehall

“Frozen” (2013)

He’s still not over it folks! British comedian Jack Whitehall was reportedly extremely excited about his role in Disney's 2013 animated hit "Frozen," believing he delivered his lines “perfectly.” He proudly told everyone he knew about his part and eagerly went to the theater to hear himself on screen. However, when he watched, his character, a troll named Gothi, was about to speak but was cut off by Princess Elsa's song. Confused, he called his agent, who revealed that Disney had reduced his role to a non-speaking part. A frustrated Whitehall says his agent then told him to "let it go” – but he clearly hasn’t.

#5: Harrison Ford

“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)

Yep —you heard that right, Harrison Ford was to appear in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi classic “E.T.” Heck, he even filmed all his scenes. Ford played Elliott’s school principal, but sadly, it was all for naught. Spielberg himself says the decision was a very tough one given his working relationship with Ford. And while he says he did what was right for the film, the cut still stings. Ford’s unique appearance would have definitely added gravitas to the picture, considering his immense popularity at the time. However, we suppose when you got that much star power, it can overshadow the rest of the film – even if it is just a cameo.

#4: Rob McElhenney

“Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024)

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is celebrated, in part, for its plethora of amazing cameos. Unfortunately, not everyone made the final cut. However, Rob McElhenney's cameo, which was set to reunite him with his “Welcome to Wrexham” co-star and friend Ryan Reynolds, is perhaps the most brutal axing. Despite flying to London to film his scenes, McElhenney’s appearance was removed because, as Reynold’s explained, “the sequence wasn’t working the way they originally constructed it.” In a behind-the-scenes image shared on social media, McElhenney can be seen dressed as a TVA soldier, hinting at what could have been. Here's hoping that his appearance features in some sort of future “director’s cut.”

#3: Shailene Woodley

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (2014)

A major player in the Spider-Man mythos is Mary Jane Watson, and the actresses who have played the role on film have been Kristen Dunst, Zendaya, and Shailene Woodley… err, scratch that last one. You see, the “Divergent” series heroine was originally cast as MJ in the sequel to the Andrew Garfield-led Spider-Man franchise. However, filmmakers decided to streamline the story to focus solely on Peter and Gwen Stacy’s arc instead. This meant the MJ cameos would be scrapped altogether. While Woodley says she understands the reasons behind it, it no doubt broke the hearts of countless comic book fans who wanted to see the beloved character on screen again.

#2: Mickey Rourke

“The Thin Red Line” (1998)

The Terrence Malick helmed WWII epic, “The Thin Red Line,” features an absolutely stellar ensemble cast that includes the likes of Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, George Clooney, and Adrien Brody - among others. However, other prominent actors were meant to be featured in the film, but had their scenes reduced or removed. Mickey Rourke was one of them, and he was none too pleased about it. Rourke was particularly offended as he believed he gave some of his best work during filming. The actor was also quoted as saying he believed the axing was over “political reasons.” To say it left a sour taste in the actor’s mouth would be an understatement.

#1: Henry Cavill

“The Flash” (2023)

The DC Universe faced turbulent times amidst shifts in direction and leadership behind the scenes prior to the release of 2023’s “The Flash.” The film would ultimately serve as a love-letter to on-screen DC characters of yore and feature some surprising cameos. A highly anticipated cameo, however, was ultimately cut amidst the corporate restructuring. Superhero A-lister Superman, played by Henry Cavill, ended up on the chopping block. Superman’s big cameo was reportedly to appear at the movie’s close. Alas, the last-minute axing resulted in further disappointment and disillusionment for DC loyalists.

Which cameos do you think should’ve made it into the final cut? Tell us in the comments!