Image via Complex Original
Plans change, and nowhere is that more true than in Hollywood, where a big part of the film-planning process is getting the stars together for long enough to shoot the damn thing. Add to the scheduling complexities the whims of directors, replacement directors, studios and the actors themselves, and it's really a miracle that movies get made at all.
This Friday,Evil Dead hits theaters, and it stars Jane Levy instead of the originally-planned Lily Collins. Click on to read about this and 14 other actress switcheroos from major movies. The alternate realities are mind-boggling.
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Liv Tyler for Uma Thurman in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Peter Jackson's preferred casting had Uma Thurman playing elf babe Arwen. Thurman had to resign from the role when she became pregnant, and Liv Tyler stepped in to don the pointy ears. Interestingly, the other major female elf, Galadriel, was going to be played by Lucy Lawless, but that role went to Cate Blanchett after Lawless became pregnant.
Angelina Jolie for Nicole Kidman in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
The Smiths were initially to be played by Nicole Kidman and Johnny Depp, but both pulled out. Brad Pitt wanted to play the Mister, but hoped that Kidman would come back to be the Missus; instead the filmmakers secured the services of Angelina Jolie. Could Brad Pitt get on board with that? Oh yes, could he ever.
Kaya Scodelario for Natalie Portman in Wuthering Heights (2011)
"Natalie Portman to Star in New Adaptation of Wuthering Heights"—that was the story in 2008. What could go wrong? Plenty. Portman bailed on the project within a few months, and director John Maybury cast Abbie Cornish as Catherine Earnshaw. A year later, Peter Webber was announced as the new director and his choice for the role was Gemma Arterton. And nearly a year after that, another director, Andrea Arnold, signed on, and cast British newcomer Kaya Scodelario. Needless to say, she wasn't quite the box office draw that Portman would have been.
Claire Danes for Natalie Portman in Romeo + Juliet (1996)
She's too little! That was essentially the reason Portman didn't end up in Baz Luhrmann's unconventional Shakespeare adaptation. The director flew her to Sydney, Australia, to film some sample scenes with male lead Leonardo DiCaprio, and the result was unsettling.
"Although she's a fantastic young actor, she's a tiny little girl and Leonardo's six feet tall," Luhrmann said. "He's 21, but can look 18. She made him look all of 21, and it just became obscene." Portman essentially agreed, saying: "They said it looked like Leonardo was molesting me when we kissed. It was really disappointing, but I wouldn't have wanted to be in the movie and have it look wrong."
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kate Winslet, Christina Ricci and Jennifer Love Hewitt were also considered before the decision was made to go with Danes.
Malin Akerman for Lindsay Lohan in Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story (2013)
Lohan, former good girl open to bad ideas, seemed to be the perfect actress to play Linda Lovelace, star of the groundbreaking adult film Deep Throat. And from the Lovelace-themed photos that Lohan did with Tyler Shields, it seemed perfect casting. But director Matthew Wilder wasn't able to stick with his star, announcing on his Facebook page in November 2010: "We stuck by her very patiently for a long time with a lot of love and support. The impossibility of insuring her and other issues have made it impossible for us to go forward."
Whether Inferno will actually be released in 2013 is still a matter of debate; it's already got some serious competition from Lovelace, starring Amanda Seyfried, which screened at Sundance in January.
Jane Levy for Lily Collins in Evil Dead (2013)
Lily Collins (daughter of Genesis vocalist Phil) was set to star in this remake of the 1981 horror classic, but abruptly relinquished the job in January 2012, citing "scheduling conflicts." Just a couple weeks later, it was revealed that Levy would replace her as Mia, a character based on Ash, played by Bruce Campbell in the original.
Scarlett Johansson for Keira Knightley in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
The film is about Henry VIII romancing first one, then the other of the Boleyn sisters, and Keira Knightley was attached to it for a long time. Reports from the time don't say for sure which sister the Pirates of the Caribbean actress was slated to play, but reliable (ahem) Internet sources point to Mary, a role that went to Scarlett Johansson.
At the time, there was a minor furor over so many American actors being cast as Britons, so the choice to do this film with Johansson and Natalie Portman didn't go over too well with UK audiences, who demanded Knightley star in every movie.
Samantha Morton for Kate Winslet in In America (2002)
This autobiographical, critically-acclaimed film (it received three Oscar nominations) might have been a bigger box-office success if director/co-writer Jim Sheridan's original casting had prevailed: He wanted Winslet and Ewan McGregor to star in roles that ended up going to Morton and Paddy Considine.
Frances McDormand for Julia Roberts in Darkman (1990)
Roberts was committed to Darkman, but playing the hooker who turns callous rich-guy Richard Gere into a human was too tempting. Goodbye Darkman, hello Pretty Woman.
Leslie Mann for Jodie Foster in Knocked Up (2007)
If you've ever wondered why Leslie Mann shows up in so many Judd Apatow movies, you're not really paying attention. Leslie Mann is Judd Apatow's wife. But before you scream nepotism on this particular occasion, consider that Apatow originally wanted Jodie Foster for Debbie, sister of the female lead (played by Katherine Heigl). When the Jodie Foster situation didn't work out, sure, Judd probably turned to Leslie like, "Honey, can you give me a hand with this? I'm making a movie and..."
Kristen Stewart for Hayden Panettiere in Panic Room (2002)
Panic Room was almost a vastly different movie, as Nicole Kidman was originally committed to play the lead role but had to bow out because of a knee injury. Given that major shakeup, subbing in pre-teen Kristen Stewart for original pre-teen co-star Hayden Panettiere may seem minor, but the fact that both of them grew up to be a couple of the most visible young stars today makes it a notable change.
Scarlett Johansson for Emily Blunt in Iron Man 2 (2010)
Director Jon Favreau wanted Blunt to play the Russian supervillain/spy, but she was obligated to make Gulliver's Travels with Jack Black for Fox.
Renee Zellweger for Charlize Theron in Chicago (2002)
Theron had the lead role of Roxie Hart when the film was set to be directed by Nicholas Hynter, but when Rob Marshall took over as director, she was made to audition again. This time, she lost to Renee Zellweger.
Kelli Garner for Scarlett Johansson in Thumbsucker (2005)
All we know for sure is that Johansson was signed on to play the supporting role of Rebecca in this indie film based on a Walter Kirn novel—but we can deduce a fair bit. Having blown up with her performance in Lost in Translation (2003), ScarJo was suddenly every director's dream girl. Look at her filmography in the years following Lost in Translation (and Girl With a Pearl Earring), and it's all over the map, but you don't see her in any films where she's not front and center.
Kate Beckinsale for Charlize Theron in Pearl Harbor (2001)
Red-hot Theron was coming off high praise and exposure in The Cider House Rules (1999) and, perhaps sensing this action epic was unseaworthy, she jumped ship. She jumped to Sweet November, co-starring Keanu Reeves, which wasn't exactly an approved flotation device, but still...