I believe that Buddy Ebson was originally cast as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz,but had to turn it down because he was allergic to the make-up.

 

I read the same thing. I believe it had to do with the aluminum dust that was required for the silver make-up.

Kevin Costner and Tom Hanks both turned down the role of Andy Dufrense in The Shawshank Redemption.

Kevin Costner and Tom Hanks both turned down the role of Andy Dufrense in The Shawshank Redemption.

 

I'm a Shawshank freak. :thumb: Not a big Timothy Robbins fan, but he was awesome in it. Hanks could have pulled it off, but can't see Costner in the role.

Ronald Reagan in "Casablanca".

I'm a Shawshank freak. :thumb: Not a big Timothy Robbins fan, but he was awesome in it. Hanks could have pulled it off, but can't see Costner in the role.

 

I, too, am a Shawshank Fanatic. I don't know if Hanks nor Costner could have pulled it off. Robbins build and demeaner made that character for me.

Shirley Temple in "The Wizard Of Oz".

Beverly Hills Cop was written for Sly Stallone. However, he wanted the character to be darker and not as funny so he left the project to put his ideas to work in Cobra.

 

Eddie Murphy was cast as Axel Foley.

The thread by KyTiger89 made me think of actors/actresses that "almost" got the role (or turned it down).

 

For example, Tom Sellick was offered the role of Indiana Jones. However, he had justed signed a contract to do Magnum, PI, and decided to fulfill his commitment.

 

Star Wars might have been different (or maybe not) if Sellick had taken the gig.

 

What other actors/actressed do you know were almost cast in a movie role?

 

Oops had a brain-fart/senior moment... :creepy: :irked:

 

I meant the Indiana Jones movies.

Ronald Reagan in "Casablanca".

 

WOW!! That's hard to picture!

I believe that Buddy Ebson was originally cast as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz,but had to turn it down because he was allergic to the make-up.

 

I read the same thing. I believe it had to do with the aluminum dust that was required for the silver make-up.

 

Both of the above are correct. He was allergic to the aluminum dust used in the makeup for the tin man.

 

Also, Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow, was originally cast as the Tin Man, but changed his mind and claimed there was a verbal agreement for him to play the Scarecrow.

 

Shirley Temple in "The Wizard Of Oz".

 

This is also correct. Shirley Temple was MGM's first choice to play Dorothy, as Judy Garland was 16 at the time of production, and the "Dorothy" character is supposed to be nine years old. Temple wasn't available to do the part because she was contracted with 20th Century Fox and they refused to let her play the part for MGM...

Didn't another major star turn down the part Jimmy Stewart played (George Bailey) in "It's a Wonderful Life"?

Paul Newman was originally cast as Sundance, not Butch Cassidy. And I believe that Steve McQueen was to play Butch's role.

I think he's saying then maybe Harrison Ford wouldn't have gotten the part of Hans Solo, although Ford was in Star Wars before Indiana Jones.

 

Christian Bale was almost cast as Jack Dawson in the Titanic. I wonder how that would have played for Leonardo, considering that was his breakthrough IMO.

 

Also, I think I heard that Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix. Imagine that one.

 

Val Kilmer was almost cast as Johnny in Dirty Dancing.

 

I heard that when the Matrix was written, the writers had none other than Brandon Lee in mind for the role.

 

And, Frank Sinatra turned down the role for Dirty Harry. Could you imagine?

There is a website devoted to this stuff. It's easy to waste several hours on there.

 

Tupac Shakur in Forrest Gump is by far my favorite.

If we can include TV, Mickey Dolenz was offered the "Fonz" role on Happy Days.

 

Wasn't offered the part but did audition. THAT would have been interesting.