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We've all heard stories over the years about different actors that screentested for various roles or even turned down parts that they might have later regretted. So let's have some fun and share a bunch of those on this thread.
Can you imagine if several of these scenarios had actually happened? Would some of the 80's films we all cherish, still be that way? Would others that just didn't work, instead be considered gems now with a different cast attached?
Just to get this thread rolling.. I'll start with two infamous choices that still amaze me looking back:
Eric Stolz as Marty McFly in "Back to the Future":
There is actually five weeks of footage that was filmed of "Back To The Future" with Eric Stoltz as Marty. The clip above gives us a glimpse.. but I personally would love to see it all.
Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark":
I think Paul knows this story best, but believe it or not .. Tom Selleck was actually offered the role of Indiana Jones before Harrison Ford , but Selleck had obligations to the tv series "Magnum P.I." that would not allow him to accept what turned out to be a legendary role. Selleck eventually previewed his take on Indiana Jones in a 1983 film "high Road To China".
What are some of the rumors you've heard about that might have changed the way we view certain 80's films today?
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
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Molly Ringwald as Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts' role) in "Pretty Woman"
Keanu Reeves as Chris (Charlie Sheen's role) in "Platoon"
Tom Cruise as Ren McCormack in "Footloose"
Sylvester Stallone as Axel Foley in "Beverly Hills Cop"
John Cusack as John Bender in "The Breakfast ClubPosts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Matthew Broderick, Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox, Tom Hanks, Charlie Sheen, Jim Carrey, Rob Lowe, Eric Stoltz, John Travolta, Scott Baio & Robert Downey, Jr. as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell - Top Gun
Louis Gossett, Jr. as Mike "Viper" Metcalf - Top Gun
Sally Field as Loretta Castorini - Moonstruck
Rosanna Arquette, Goldie Hawn, Linda Hamilton, Barbara Hershey, Holly Hunter, Miranda Richardson, Debra Winger, Emma Thompson, Susan Sarandon, Kim Basinger, Kathleen Turner, Jessica Lange & Sigourney Weaver as Alex Forrest - Fatal Attraction
Martin Sheen, Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Jon Voight & Christopher Reeve as Dan Gallagher - Fatal Attraction
Jeff Bridges, John Denver, Dennis Quaid & John Travolta as Zack Mayo - An Officer and a Gentleman
Nancy Allen, Colleen Camp, Glenn Close, Courteney Cox, Jamie Lee Curtis, Melanie Griffith, Amy Irving, Margot Kidder, Camryn Manheim, Kathleen Quinlan, JoBeth Williams & Stephanie Zimbalist as Elvira Hancock - Scarface
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
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John Denver in "An Officer and a Gentleman"? Wow.. that would have been interesting indeed.
Here's a couple more:
Anthony Michael Hall was cast and later replaced in the role of Joker in "Full Metal Jacket". The part went to Matthew Modine.
Tom Hanks turned down the role of Ray Kinsella in "Field of Dreams". The part went to Kevin Costner.
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Pat Benatar, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Diane Lane, Mary Steenburgen & Debra Winger as Madison - Splash
Ellen Barkin, Candice Bergen, Kate Capshaw, Amy Madigan & Victoria Tennant as Muriel Pritchett - The Accidental Tourist
Jack Lemmon as Carl Fox - Wall Street
Rebecca De Mornay, Helen Hunt, Helen Mirren, Cybill Shepherd & Sissy Spacek as Dorothy Valens - Blue Velvet
Jodie Foster, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Lori Loughlin, Tatum O'Neal & Lori Singer as Emmeline - The Blue Lagoon
Kenneth Branagh, Tim Curry & Mark Hamill as Mozart - Amadeus
Kevin Bacon, Nicolas Cage, Timothy Hutton & Sean Penn as Joel Goodson - Risky Business
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Kim Basinger, Julie Christie, Jessica Lange & Mary Steenburgen as Michelle Stratton - American Gigolo
Courteney Cox, Alexandra Paul, Meg Ryan, Uma Thurman & Sean Young as Buttercup - The Princess Bride
Lorraine Bracco, Jodie Foster, Mary Stuart Masterson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Isabella Rossellini, Nicollette Sheridan & Brooke Shields as Tess McGill - Working Girl
Justine Bateman & Jennifer Connelly as Veronica Sawyer - Heathers
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-John Belushi as Peter Venkman, John Candy as Louis, and Eddie Murphy as Winston--the alternate Ghostbusters that may have been just as interesting.
-Robin Williams as the Joker--an interesting possibility of tapping a darker side of Williams, perhaps thus having the character come off as the flip side of the Genie, essentially
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
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Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges were both approached to play "Snake Plissken" and Kris Kristofferson was also considered as a possible candidate. In additon, The studio wanted Tommy Lee Jones for the role. Oh, i´m so glad they didn´t got the part because Kurt Russell is the MAN!
The Thing (1982)
Both Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges (again!) turned down the role of MacReady. Oh i´m so glad they did, Kurt Russell is the MAN!
Christine (1983)
How about Scott Baio as Arnie Cunningham and Brooke Shields as Leigh Cabot? Both were considered but naaah, Keith Gordon and Alexandra Paul are perfect for the roles. Kevin Bacon was also offered the lead role but ended up choosing Footloose.
Starman (1984)
Kevin Bacon (again!) was the original Starman but i don´t know what happened to that idea. He would have been too young anyway.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Although Kurt Russell was John Carpenter's only choice for the lead role, the studio suggested Jack Nicholson or Clint Eastwood I would have killed those company SOB´s because Kurt Russell is the MAN!
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James Caan, Sean Connery, Scott Glenn, Dustin Hoffman, Tommy Lee Jones, Raul Julia & Robert Mitchum were all considered to play Rick Deckard in "Blade Runner"
Ellen Barkin, Melanie Griffith, Jennifer Jason Leigh & Kelly McGillis as Susan in "Desperately Seeking Susan".
Jamie Lee Curtis, Annette Haven & Tatum O'Neal as Holly Body - "Body Double"
Robert Downey, Jr. & Anthony Michael Hall as Duckie Dale - "Pretty in Pink"
Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Don Johnson & Mickey Rourke as Elliot Ness - "The Untouchables"
Kim Basinger, Mary Gross, Michelle Pfeiffer & Cybill Shepherd as Annie Savoy - "Bull Durham"
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(click to play screentest)![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
, but Selleck had obligations to the tv series "Magnum P.I." that would not allow him to accept what turned out to be a legendary role. Selleck eventually previewed his take on Indiana Jones in a 1983 film "high Road To China".
