Collection: Imagine...

Submitted by 1922 on Wed, 05/25/2005 - 11:52
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  1. The Aviator: Jim Carrey instead of Leonardo Di Caprio
  2. The Aviator: Nicole Kidman instead of Cate Blanchett
  3. Star Wars: Sissy Spacek instead of Carrie Fisher
  4. Star Wars: Jodie Foster instead of Carrie Fisher
  5. Star Wars: A huge green-skinned monster instead of Harrison Ford
  6. Star Wars: Kurt Russell instead of Harrison Ford
  7. Star Wars: Al Pacino instead of Harrison Ford
  8. Star Wars: Christopher Walken instead of Harrison Ford
  9. Star Wars: Nick Nolte instead of Harrison Ford (shudder)
  10. Star Wars: Toshirô Mifune instead of Sir Alec Guinness
  11. Star Wars: Orson Welles instead of James Earl Jones (actually Welles narrated the teaser)
  12. Taxi Driver: Rock Hudson instead of Leonard Harris (Senator Palantine)
  13. Taxi Driver: Farrah Fawcett instead of Cybill Shepherd
  14. Taxi Driver: Harvey Keitel instead of Albert Brooks
  15. Carrie: Carrie Fisher instead of Sissy Spacek
  16. Batman & Robin: Leonardo Di Caprio instead of Chris O'Donnell
  17. Airplane!: Christopher Lee instead of Leslie Nielsen
  18. Halloween: Christopher Lee instead of Donald Pleasence
  19. Halloween: Peter Cushing instead of Donald Pleasence
  20. The Godfather: Carmine Caridi instead of James Caan
  21. The Godfather: Robert De Niro instead of James Caan
  22. The Godfather: James Caan instead of Al Pacino
  23. The Godfather: Warren Beatty instead of Al Pacino
  24. The Godfather: Dustin Hoffman instead of Al Pacino
  25. The Godfather: Jack Nicholson instead of Al Pacino
  26. The Godfather: Alain Delon instead of Al Pacino
  27. The Godfather: Burt Reynolds instead of Al Pacino
  28. The Godfather: Martin Sheen instead of Al Pacino
  29. The Godfather: Ernest Borgnine instead of Marlon Brando
  30. The Godfather: Laurence Olivier instead of Marlon Brando
  31. The Godfather: Edward G. Robinson instead of Marlon Brando
  32. Dr. No: Christopher Lee instead of Joseph Wiseman
  33. Dr. No: David Niven instead of Sean Connery
  34. Gone with the Wind: Katharine Hepburn instead of Vivien Leigh
  35. Gone with the Wind: Joan Crawford instead of Vivien Leigh
  36. Gone with the Wind: Bette Davis instead of Vivien Leigh
  37. Gone with the Wind: Jean Harlow instead of Vivien Leigh
  38. Gone with the Wind: Olivia de Havilland instead of Vivien Leigh
  39. Gone with the Wind: Margaret Sullavan instead of Vivien Leigh
  40. Gone with the Wind: Claudette Colbert instead of Vivien Leigh
  41. Gone with the Wind: Carole Lombard instead of Vivien Leigh
  42. Rocky: Ryan O'Neal instead of Sylvester Stallone
  43. Dollars Trilogy: James Coburn instead of Clint Eastwood
  44. Dollars Trilogy: Charles Bronson instead of Clint Eastwood
  45. Dollars Trilogy: Henry Fonda instead of Clint Eastwood
  46. Dollars Trilogy: Richard Harrison instead of Clint Eastwood
  47. Dollars Trilogy: Steve Reeves instead of Clint Eastwood
  48. Dollars Trilogy: Eric Fleming instead of Clint Eastwood
  49. Dollars Trilogy: James Coburn instead of Clint Eastwood
  50. Dollars Trilogy: Charles Bronson instead of Clint Eastwood
  51. Dollars Trilogy: Henry Fonda instead of Clint Eastwood
  52. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Henry Fonda instead of Lee Van Cleef
  53. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Charles Bronson instead of Lee Van Cleef
  54. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Charles Bronson instead of Eli Wallach
  55. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Jack Elam as the one-armed gunman after Tuco
  56. Once Upon a Time in the West: Robert Hossein instead of Gabriele Ferzetti
  57. Once Upon a Time in the West: Robert Ryan instead of Keenen Wynn
  58. Once Upon a Time in the West: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef instead of Woody Strode, Jack Elam and Al Mulock
  59. Giu la testa: Malcolm McDowell instead of David Warbeck
  60. Giu la testa: Jason Robards instead of James Coburn
  61. Giu la testa: Clint Eastwood instead of James Coburn
  62. Giu la testa: Jason Robards instead of Rod Steiger
  63. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid: James Taylor instead of Kris Kristofferson
  64. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid: Bo Hopkins instead of Kris Kristifferson
  65. The Wild Bunch: Lee Marvin instead of William Holden
  66. The Wild Bunch: Burt Lancaster instead of William Holden
  67. The Wild Bunch: James Stewart instead of William Holden
  68. The Wild Bunch: Charlton Heston instead of William Holden
  69. The Wild Bunch: Gregory Peck instead of William Holden
  70. The Wild Bunch: Sterling Hayden instead of William Holden
  71. The Wild Bunch: Richard Boone instead of William Holden
  72. The Wild Bunch: Robert Mitchum instead of William Holden
  73. Ride the High Country: Joel McCrea instead of Randolph Scott
  74. Ride the High Country: Randolph Scott instead of Joel McCrea
  75. Pulp Fiction: Michael Madsen instead of John Travolta
  76. Pulp Fiction: Paul Calderon instead of Samuel L. Jackson
  77. Pulp Fiction: Sid Haig instead of Ving Rhames
  78. Pulp Fiction: Sylvester Stallone instead of Bruce Willis
  79. Pulp Fiction: Michelle Pfeiffer instead of Uma Thurman
  80. Raiders of the Lost Ark: Tom Selleck instead of Harrison Ford
  81. Amadeus: Kenneth Branagh instead of Tom Hulce
  82. The Graduate: Robert Redford instead of Dustin Hoffman
  83. The Graduate: Warren Beatty instead of Dustin Hoffman
  84. Rain Man: Jack Nicholson instead of Dustin Hoffman
  85. Batman: Robin Williams instead of Jack Nicholson
  86. Batman Forever: Robin Williams instead of Jim Carrey
  87. Apocalypse Now: James Caan instead of Harrison Ford
  88. Apocalypse Now: Steve McQueen instead of Martin Sheen
  89. Apocalypse Now: Al Pacino instead of Martin Sheen
  90. Apocalypse Now: Harvey Keitel instead of Martin Sheen
  91. Otto e mezzo: Laurence Olivier instead of Marcello Mastroianni
  92. Easy Rider: Rip Torn instead of Jack Nicholson
  93. Easy Rider: Bruce Dern instead of Jack Nicholson
  94. High Noon: Gregory Peck instead of Gary Cooper
  95. High Noon: John Wayne instead of Gary Cooper
  96. Batman Begins: Anthony Hopkins instead of Michael Caine
  97. Batman Begins: Christopher Eccleston instead of Cillian Murphy
  98. Batman Begins: Dennis Quaid instead of Gary Oldman
  99. Batman Begins: Kurt Russell instead of Gary Oldman
  100. Batman Begins: Chris Cooper instead of Gary Oldman
  101. Batman Begins: Lawrence Fishburne instead of Morgan Freeman
  102. Batman Begins: Viggo Mortensen instead of Liam Neeson
  103. Batman Begins: Daniel Day-Lewis instead of Liam Neeson
  104. Batman Begins: Natalie Portman instead of Katie Holmes
  105. Batman Begins: Sarah Michelle Gellar instead of Katie Holmes
  106. Batman Begins: Cillian Murphy instead of Christian Bale
  107. Batman Begins: Ashton Kutcher instead of Christian Bale
  108. Batman Begins: David Boreanaz instead of Christian Bale
  109. Batman Begins: John Cusack instead of Christian Bale
  110. Batman Begins: Billy Crudup instead of Christian Bale
  111. Batman Begins: Guy Pearce instead of Christian Bale
  112. Batman Begins: Jake Gyllenhaal instead of Christian Bale
  113. Batman Begins: Joshua Jackson instead of Christian Bale
  114. Batman Begins: David Duchovny instead of Christian Bale
  115. Batman Begins: Clint Eastwood instead of Christian Bale
Author Comments: 

Contributions needed.

What this list is about: Here are mentioned alternative casting possiblities the producers/directors of these films were really considering.

THANKS TO:

grandpa_chum, russa03, Rushmore

grandpa_chum05/26/2005

OH MAN! kurt russell as han solo... I mean I actualy like ford as solo but at first I think how much more amazing it could have been with russell, but then again, russell might be a little too bad ass for star wars, I mean everything about star wars is a little wussy, so ford as the bad ass may be the limit without seeming over the top.

192205/26/2005

I can't think of a better Han Solo than Harrison Ford. IMO Kurt Russell would not have been a very good choice. But Nick Nolte would have been even worse. I'm quite happy that Lucas eventually decided to cast Ford.

If you now any others, just let me know.

grandpa_chum05/26/2005

oh with the rest of the cast I think ford fits perfectly too... the thing is if I were making star wars i would have had someone like harrison ford playing luke, and someone like kurt russell playing han solo... but you are right, kurt russell would have been to much of a contrast with mark hammill... if you get me..

stumpy05/26/2005

Don't know how serious you are here, but how about Schwarzenegger as Rocky and Stallone as the Terminator (camera angles are everything, ya know)? hee hee

192205/26/2005

Ah, I see. Mea culpa. This list is based on facts, as these are castings which producers actually thought about. Imagine, Laurence Olivier was really considered for the part Don Vito Corleone, etc.!
It was definetly my mistake as I could/should have explained this list more in detail.

However, one could make a (this time really) imaginary list where listologists would figure out such castings. Why not? What do you think?

P.S.: Thanks for your contribution, stumpy. I looked it up, and the producers wanted Ryan O'Neal (!) as Rocky.

(I also changed 'suggestions' to 'contributions' as this seems more accurate.)

grandpa_chum05/26/2005

there are plenty of actual leone casting almosts that are pretty interesting.

Dollars Trilogy-
james coburn as the man with no name(was the first offered the part)
charles bronson as the man with no name(second one approached)
henry fonda as the man with no name(leone's pipe dream)
richard harrison as the man with no name
steve reeves as the man with no name
eric fleming as the man with no name(I think he was the back up plan if clint refused)
henry fonda as angel eyes(the bad) in GBU(actually wrote the part for him and his baby blues)
charles bronson as tuco(ugly) or angel eyes(the bad) in GBU(was offered both)
Jack Elam as the one-armed gunman after tuco in GBU(busy)

Once Upon A Time In The West(all offered)-
Robert Hossein as morton
Robert Ryan as the sherriff
Eastwood, Wallach, and Van Cleef as the three gunman who meet harmonica

Gui la testa-
Malcolm Mcdowell as sean's friend back in Ireland
Jason Robards or Clint Eastwood as Sean(second and third choices to coburn obviously)
Jason Robards as Juan Miranda(studio wanted a bigger name)

Some peckinpah almosts...
pat garrett and billy the kid-
James Taylor as bily(original directors, hellman, first choice)
Bo Hopkins as billy(peck's first choice)

Wild Bunch(all offered pike before william holding according to imdb, interesting all the same)-
Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, James Stewart, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck, Sterling Hayden, Richard Boone, Robert Mitchum

Ride The High Country-
Joel Mccrea was originally cast as gil westrum
Randolph Scott was originally cast as steve judd

192205/28/2005

Fascinating, interesting and many, many thanks for this, chum.

russa0305/26/2005

Pulp Fiction - Michael Madsen instead of John Travolta
Pulp Fiction - Paul Calderon instead of Samuel L. Jackson
Pulp Fiction - Sid Haig instead of Ving Rhames
Pulp Fiction - Sylvester Stallone instead of Bruce Willis
Pulp Fiction - Michelle Pfeiffer instead of Uma Thurman

there a few more for Uma Thurman's role

192205/28/2005

No Travolta in Pulp Fiction: Nice.

Thanks, russa03.

grandpa_chum05/27/2005

I just saw on tv last night that tom selleck was lucas and spielbergs first choice for indiana jones, but he was just starting up PI

192205/28/2005

Hmm, yeah, I remember sth. like that.

BTW, is it true that Eastwood was offered the part of Harmonica in OUATITW???

grandpa_chum05/29/2005

i've heard that rumor too but i've never heard definitly one way or the other... I would highly doubt it though, at least not ahead of bronson, maybe as a backup plan sort of thing... leone always had his eye on bronson and eastwood and leone were starting to grow apart... I would also think not because, from what I've read, when the 3 stars from GBU were approached about roles in the film they were excited about being brought back together, but only until they realized they only lasted for 15 minutes, then they turned it down.

russa0306/08/2005

The Graduate: Robert Redford instead of Dustin Hoffman
The Graduate: Warren Beatty instead of Dustin Hoffman

192206/09/2005

Thanks twice.

Redford or Beatty as Ben Braddock? Horrible.

Rushmore06/18/2005

Is the idea here that this is true facts that were going to happen or just a joke take on it? if it's based on true, i have suggestions i have heard:

Batman Robin Williams instead of Jack Nicholson

Was going to happen but it later was found out that after Nicholson turned it down they used Robin williams as bait to get Nicholson to sign up!
but in an attempt to make up for that warner offered Robin williams...

Batman Forever Robin Williams instead of Jim Carrey

But still bitter, he refused the offer

Apocalypse Now Al Pacino instead of Martin Sheen
Apocalypse Now Steve McQueen instead of Martin Sheen

Apocalypse Now James Caan instead of Harrison Ford

192206/18/2005

Hey, thanks. These are all great and interesting contributions.

grandpa_chum06/22/2005

steve mcqueen would have been pretty old for apoc now, but that would have been fantastic... and imagining nicholson in rain man made me laugh.

Rip Torn And Bruce Dern were both at one time set to play Nicholson's part in Easy Rider.

192206/22/2005

Rip Torn in Easy Rider? That makes me laugh...

grandpa_chum06/22/2005

verifying the mcqueen thing(he actually did turn it down) I found out that harvey keitel was the one actually replaced by sheen.