Roles they DIDN'T get....- Page 3

[Taryn]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 3:12pm

I'm pretty sure Bardem said yes but had to be replaced because of scheduling conflicts.

[JOak]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 3:31pm

Bardem backed out due to tiredness.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 5:08pm

LaChanze was almost cast as Sarah in the original Ragtime, but one of the head backers insisted on Audra.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 5:25pm

Celia Keenan-Bolger was the original Clara in Piazza, but Kelli O'Hara, then Franca, moved on up to play Clara

[Will42]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 5:43pm

Roles that Angela Lansbury could've played (3 Oscar wins + 2 Oscar noms and 2 Tony wins):

Turned down:

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (Oscar win)
Angela Lansbury turned down the role of Nurse Ratchet because she 'couldn't bear her'. After she saw the movie she knew even more that she made the right decision. Ms. Lansbury said that Louise Fletcher is a great actress and deserves her Oscar very much.

FOLLIES (Tony win)
Turned down the role of Phyllis Rogers because of a schedule conflicts. Fellow MGM star Alexis Smith got the part.

THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE
Turned down the lead role of the lesbian soap opera star.
Actor who got the part: Beryl Reid

A TASTE OF HONEY
Was asked to reprise the role she originated on Broadway in a movie adaption, but turned it down.
Actor who got the part: Dora Bryan

TEA WITH MUSSOLINI
Angela Lansbury was cast in this film but had to withdraw when her husband became ill.
Actor who got the part: Joan Plowright


Was considered:

SUNSET BOULEVARD (Tony win)
Around 1980, Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince were working on a musical adaptation (with Norma to be played by Angela Lansbury). She later had a meeting with Andrew Lloyd Webber to star in his production.

ALL ABOUT EVE
Lansbury was considered for the role of Miss Caswell.
Actor who got the part: Marilyn Monroe

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE (Oscar win)
Lansbury (along with Ingrid Bergman and Olivia de Havilland) was one of the three major contenders for this role, but in the end Eileen Heckart repeated her stage success and won an Oscar.
Very happy for Ms. Heckart. Not only she was wonderful, but it's always nice when the actor who originated the role on stage is being cast in movie adaption.

MARY POPPINS (Oscar win)
Considered to play the stern nanny who helps change the life of the Banks family.

THE CORN IS GREEN (Oscar nomination)
Lansbury wanted to be cast in the role of Bessie, but was not loaned out.
Actor who got the part: Joan Lorring

A PLACE IN THE SUN (Oscar nomination)
Lansbury was one of the thirty actresses considered by the director, George Stevens, for the role of Alice Tripp. Shelley Winters got the part.

ANNA CHRISTIE
There was talk in the 1940's of remaking this role with Lansbury as Anna Christie, but it did not happen.
Actor who got the part: No One

EASY TO WED
Lansbury was originally thought of for this role.
Actor who got the part: Lucille Ball

FOREVER AMBER
Told Rex Reed that she was considered for the lead role, but added "What would I have done for bosoms?"
Actor who got the part: Linda Darnell

THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Lansbury begged MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer to let her play the Lady DeWinter part. He refused, insisting that she was better suited for the Queen Anne role--which Lansbury hated.
Actor who got the part: Lana Turner

THE GRADUATE
Angela Lansbury auditioned to play Mrs. Robinson.
Actor who got the part: Anne Bancroft Updated On: 11/7/10 at 05:43 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 5:43pm

"LaChanze was almost cast as Sarah in the original Ragtime, but one of the head backers insisted on Audra."

She went on to originate the role in the Chicago production...I'm pretty sure she went on to play it on Broadway eventually.

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 6:22pm

She did replace Audra in the Broadway production I believe.

[pretendworld]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 6:28pm

Anneliese van der Pol as Glinda in Wicked. 4 call backs and she didn't get it? figured they couldn't settle on a deal.

p.s.
loving this thread.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 6:36pm

Michelle Pfeiffer was also in consideration for the EVITA film, but wanted production to take place in a Hollywood studio as opposed to on location filming (which was the director's preference).

Updated On: 11/7/10 at 06:36 PM

[singingbackup]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 6:53pm

LaChanze also played the role in the Los Angeles Production of Ragtime

Robert Morse turned down the role for Broadway as not to displace his family. (lucky enough to do a benefit with him, which is where I heard this...very sweet man)

At one point someone on Facebook, and I want to say Lin-Manuel Miranda, posted a great bunch of old broadway photos....one that caught my attention looked to be an audition sheet for the role of Tony, most likely stage version. Among the names on the call sheet were Bill Hayes, Larry Kert and Warren Beatty. WIsh I could find that gem again!

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 7:10pm

@singingbackup This picture?


Jerry Orbach auditioned for Chino!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 8:02pm

Liza was actually a major contender for the Evita film in the 80s. From what I've heard she threw herself into the role.

[jdtp12]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 8:42pm

Also with the Evita film, Webber once said that Madonna "beat out" Elaine Paige for the role. So I'm guessing that means she was in consideration as well.

[Brick]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 9:31pm

Patti was asked to do a screen test in the early 80s for EVITA, but she balked and told them to watch the commercial. I've also heard a rumour she was offered Eva's mother in the film, but turned it down.

In other EVITA offers, Placido Domingo was originally offered Peron, but turned it down.

[Overkill]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 11:30pm

Mario Cantone was offered to play Timon in the OBC of The Lion King, but he turned it down, because it was too tough of a show and he didn't enjoy the puppeteering in the workshops he did. Here he is telling the story himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM0LYdcz9a8

He was also in a workshop of The Producers as Carmen Ghia.

Kristin Chenoweth auditioned for Beauty and the Beast back in the 90s, didn't get it.

Dick Van Dyke was offered Bring Back Birdie, but smartly passed. His role of Albert, went to Donald O'Connor.

Ann Margaret auditioned/did a screen test for the movie of Hello, Dolly as Irene. There's footage out there.

Seth Rudetsky auditioned for The Litte Mermaid and got a call back or two.

Neil Patrick Harris was approached to do a Barnum revival a year or so ago. I don't know what ever came of that.

Jane Krakowski was set to star in Xanadu, but dropped out citing schedueling conflicts with 30 Rock.

Not Broadway, but the new Disney movie, Tangled, then called Rapunzel (which is how it should have remained) was originally going to be a classic Disney animated musical and had Kristin Chenoweth as Rapunzel and Dan Fogler as the Prince set to star. But then studio execs ****ed things up....

Brian d'Arcy James was in a reading of Young Frankenstein, but he says they didn't offer it to him, because "they wanted a star.". Kristin starred in the same reading as Elizabeth, but turned it down when offered to do Pushing Daisies.

AC126748, see below, please. :)

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Cloris_Leachman_Confirms_YOUNG_FRANKENSTEIN_Offer_on_The_View_20081030

[legally_popular]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 11:42pm

Loving all these stories!


Wasn't Steven Pasquale supposed to play Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/7/10 at 11:56pm

^ He played him in at least the Seattle production of the show, but either left or was replaced (I'm not sure which) when the show came to Broadway.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 12:03am

Yes. Pasquale played Fabrizio in the two pre-Broadway productions in Chicago and Seattle, but couldn't do the Broadway run because the producers of "Rescue Me" weren't willing to shoot around his Broadway schedule. He said in an interview that having to turn down the Broadway run was one of the most devastating artistic experiences of his life.

And yes, Meryl Streep was offered Mrs. Lovett in the movie but turned it down, evidently deciding that two back-to-back movie musicals would be silly. Also, there was a rumoured Sweeney Todd film in the 80's that was to have starred Kevin Kline and (I sh*t you not) Julie Andrews.

Hugh Jackman said in an interview that he was offered Billy Flynn in the movie but turned it down because he felt that he was too young for it.

LOVING this thread. Keep 'em comin'!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 12:08am

Wasn't Rebecca Luker supposed to replace Mary Stuart Masterson as Luisa in the revival of Nine, but wound up going in as Claudia because Masterson decided to extend her contract?

[singingbackup]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 1:18am

I do believe that's it!!!!

[Tsao5]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 1:25am

In the phantom of the opera room:

Donny Osmond and David Cassidy both wanted the role on The Phantom.

(recently Norm Lewis and Adam Pascal have both said they really want to play the role)

Mandy Patankin and Jonathan Pryce I believe were actually offered the role for London at some point in the beginning of its run.

Meatloaf was offered the role for the Canadian production

and, original Raoul, the late Steve Barton was offered the role of Scar in The Lion King.

[sorano916]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 2:40am

Haven Burton was in the role of Wendla in the first Spring Awakening workshop before Lea Michele joined.

Ben Walker was in the role of Melchior in the Lincoln Center workshop of Spring Awakening before Jonathan Groff joined.

Constantine Maroulis was in the role of St. Jimmy during workshops of American Idiot before Tony Vincent joined.

I also heard that Brian Charles Johnson was Will during one of the American Idiot workshops but I can't confirm that.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 3:28am

^ Ya know, Haven is the only one who ever says she was Wendla at any point. Every thing I have ever seen published/discussed about that show says it was Lea Michelle always.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 6:37am

"Cyndi Lauper auditioned for the SWEENY 2005 revival, and really impressed the creatives, including Sondheim."

Well, she can't have been worse than Patti.

And yes, Elaine Paige was originally asked to be Fantine in London, but she turned it down to do Chess. Another Patti role.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 11/8/10 at 9:18am

Barbara Dickson turned down the roles of The Mistress in "Evita" and Svetlana in "Chess" after doing the concept recordings, because of her solo recording and touring career.

I've also heard talks of Roseanne and Kathy Griffin being approached to fill in for Jackie Hoffman, but then Whoopi getting the role. Not sure of the validity of those two, though.