Top 10 Times Actors Were Replaced During Filming
#10: James Purefoy Replaced by Hugo Weaving
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“V for Vendetta” (2005) A mysterious vigilante named V leads a revolution against a totalitarian government in “V for Vendetta.” Originally, actor James Purefoy was the mysterious character underneath the Guy Fawkes mask. But after filming began, he decided to leave the role due to creative differences. Since he wore a mask during his shoots, a few scenes of his work were left in. The filmmakers just added a few voice over lines from Purefoy’s replacement, Hugo Weaving, for those shots. And since Hugo Weaving completely made the iconic role his own with a great performance, the movie wasn’t hurt by the swap.
#9: Colin Firth Replaced by Ben Whishaw
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“Paddington” (2014) With a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Paddington” is one of the most critically acclaimed children's movies of the 2010s. A lot of its success had to do with Ben Whishaw's excellent voice performance as the titular bear. But originally, Colin Firth was set to provide the voice for the beloved bear. Unfortunately, during the production process, the actor and studio mutually agreed that his voice wasn't quite what they needed. Whishaw was then cast to record lines, resulting in the iconic portrayal of Paddington that audiences have come to love.
#8: Kel O'Neill Replaced by Paul Dano
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“There Will Be Blood” (2007) When the production of “There Will Be Blood” began, Kel O'Neill was going to play Eli Sunday while Paul Dano played his brother Paul. But a recast was required shortly after shooting began. In an interview, O'Neill denied rumors that he didn't get along with Daniel Day-Lewis, who later won his second Academy Award for his performance. O’Neill claimed that he and director Paul Thomas Anderson just couldn't see eye-to-eye. Instead of searching for a new actor, Paul Dano was tasked with playing both Sunday brothers and the actor made both characters distinctive. His dual performance in both roles also helped make “There Will Be Blood” feel unlike many dramas that had come before.
#7: Nicole Kidman Replaced by Jodie Foster
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“Panic Room” (2002) The intense thriller “Panic Room” might not have seen the light of day if it weren't for a last minute swap. Originally, Nicole Kidman was going to fight off intruders in the lead role of Meg. Unfortunately, a leg injury she got on the set of “Moulin Rouge!” became worse and forced her to drop out. Meanwhile, Jodie Foster was going to direct a movie starring Russell Crowe. But he sustained an injury that made filming impossible. Foster decided to move on from that project at the time and star in “Panic Room” instead. Her committed and complex performance in the film made her seem as if she was always meant for the role.
#6: Dennis Hopper Replaced by Ed Harris
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“The Truman Show” (1998) Dennis Hopper was an actor who had no trouble landing roles as a villain throughout his career. However, his acting style wasn’t the perfect fit for the role of the shady Christof in “The Truman Show.” After he was replaced a couple of days into filming the role, director Peter Weir scrambled to find someone who could take over with a short amount of prep and shooting time. Enter Ed Harris. The actor surprisingly brought a lot of nuance to Christof’s role as a reality TV show producer with a serious god complex. His performance even earned him an Academy Award nomination. Although it would have been interesting to see Hopper’s take, Harris pulled off a fantastic feat by becoming Christof in a short time.
#5: Buddy Ebsen Replaced by Jack Haley as Tin Man
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“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) Trying to play the Tin Man nearly cost Ebsen his life. When he was first cast in the role, the actor was painted with clown makeup and aluminum dust to embody the character. But the latter choice wreaked havoc on his respiratory system and sent him to hospital with lung failure. The producers had no choice but to cast Jack Haley to finish the role. Fortunately, they went with a relatively safer makeup alternative this time around. Although Ebsen was tragically unable to complete his role, his voice can still be heard in the "We're Off to See the Wizard” song.
#4: Kevin Spacey Replaced by Christopher Plummer
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“All the Money in the World” (2017) By August 2017, “All the Money in the World” finished filming and was ready for a December release. But that all changed due to Kevin Spacey. He originally played the vital role of J. Paul Getty. However, director Ridley Scott removed him from the film after the actor was accused of misconduct. Oscar winner Christopher Plummer was brought in to fill the role, with only nine days to completely reshoot Spacey’s scenes for a December release date. Despite having very little time to work on the project, his performance felt complex and was extremely well-received. Plummer even received an Academy Award nomination for playing Getty. It's safe to say that this actor swap was great for the legendary actor and production as a whole.
#3: Samantha Morton Replaced by Scarlett Johansson
“Her” (2013) In this futuristic rom-com, a man named Theodore falls in love with his AI assistant Samantha. Although she’s only heard through voiceover and never appears onscreen, the character still builds a sweet and complex relationship with Theodore. The fact that Samantha never physically appears also allowed for a last minute swap. Actress Samantha Morton originally played the AI assistant and recorded the voiceover for the entire movie. But during post-production, director Spike Jonze realized that he wanted a different take on the part. So, Scarlett Johansson came in, took over the role and was a part of a few new scenes shot for the movie. The great performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Johansson made this significant swap feel seamless.
#2: Harvey Keitel Replaced by Martin Sheen
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“Apocalypse Now” (1979) If Francis Ford Coppola had had his way, his first choice, Martin Sheen, would’ve been cast as Willard in “Apocalypse Now” from the beginning. But since the actor had a scheduling conflict, Harvey Keitel was tasked with playing the role instead. After arriving on set, Coppola found that this casting choice wasn’t working for the character of Willard. But the director was able to bring in Martin Sheen after letting Keitel go. The number of iconic scenes Willard appeared in throughout “Apocalypse Now” speak for themselves. Sheen’s performance was just what the movie needed to become a war film we still talk about today. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Lori Petty Replaced by Sandra Bullock in the Role of Lt. Huxley in “Demolition Man” (1993) Petty Claims Bad Chemistry with Stallone Led to Bullock Coming in After Filming Began James Remar Replaced by Michael Biehn in the Role of Corporal Hicks, “Aliens” (1986) Allegedly a Shot of Remar in the Alien Nest Made It Into the Final Film Chloe Grace Moretz Replaced by Miley Cyrus in the Role of Teenage Penny, “Bolt” (2008) In a Strange Twist, Moretz Still Voiced a Younger Penny in the Film
#1: Eric Stoltz Replaced by Michael J. Fox
“Back to the Future” (1985) Diehard “Back to the Future” fans would never entertain the thought of anyone else but Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly. But that was very close to being a reality in our timeline. Since Michael J. Fox was working on the sitcom “Family Ties,” Eric Stoltz was cast as Marty. But Robert Zemeckis found the actor's serious approach the wrong fit for the sci-fi comedy. He continued to film footage for weeks with Stoltz before announcing that Fox would be coming onto the movie. This major casting shake-up cost millions of dollars and meant plenty of footage would have to be reshot. But many fans would agree it was worth it to see Fox lead a time traveling adventure.
