Actors Who Were Fired on the Very First Day of Filming

The film industry is a high stakes environment where major decisions are made at a moments notice to protect the vision of a project. While many casting changes occur during the development phase some actors are dismissed after production has already commenced. These departures can stem from creative differences or behavioral issues or even physical mismatches that only become apparent once the cameras are rolling. Getting fired on the very first day is a rare but significant occurrence that can alter the trajectory of a movie and the careers of those involved. Here are the actors who were let go right at the start of filming.

Stuart Townsend

The actor spent two months training and rehearsing for the role of Aragorn in ‘The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring’. One day before filming began director Peter Jackson realized the actor looked too young to play the weathered ranger. Townsend was replaced by Viggo Mortensen who flew out immediately to begin work on the production. The sudden dismissal left the actor feeling frustrated because he had spent significant time preparing for the massive trilogy. He did not receive any compensation for the work he put into the pre production phase.

James Remar

Production on the science fiction sequel ‘Aliens’ had just begun when the actor was let go from his role as Corporal Hicks. Director James Cameron made the decision to terminate his contract after the actor was arrested for drug possession. Michael Biehn was quickly brought in to take over the character and had to start filming right away. Some wide shots featuring the back of the original actor still remain in the final cut of the film. This incident serves as a rare example of a major character being replaced so late in the process.

Ryan Gosling

The actor was originally cast to play the grieving father in ‘The Lovely Bones’ directed by Peter Jackson. He arrived on the set having gained sixty pounds because he believed the character should look stressed and unkempt. The director disagreed with this physical interpretation and decided to replace him on the very first day of production. Mark Wahlberg took over the role and filming proceeded without further delay. Gosling later admitted there was a lack of communication between him and the production team during the preparation stage.

Frank Sinatra

The legendary singer and actor was set to star in the musical film ‘Carousel’ in the mid fifties. He arrived on the first day of filming and discovered that the production planned to shoot every scene twice for different film formats. Sinatra famously declared that he was not being paid to film two movies at once and walked off the set immediately. The studio was forced to replace him with Gordon MacRae who completed the role. This walkout remains one of the most famous examples of a star leaving a project on day one.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

The action star was hired to play the titular creature in the science fiction movie ‘Predator’ alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. He spent his first day on set in a heavy red suit that was used for early visual effects tests. Van Damme reportedly hated the costume and complained that he looked like a lobster rather than a lethal hunter. The production team also realized they needed a much taller performer to make the alien look imposing against the muscular cast. He was fired within the first few days and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.

Dennis Hopper

Director Peter Weir cast the veteran actor to play the role of Christof in the satirical drama ‘The Truman Show’. On the first day of filming the director felt that the performance was not aligning with the specific vision of the character. Hopper was dismissed from the production and the search for a new actor began immediately. Ed Harris eventually stepped into the role and received an Oscar nomination for his work. The departure was attributed to creative differences regarding how the antagonist should be portrayed on screen.

Kel O’Neill

Filming for the historical epic ‘There Will Be Blood’ began with this actor playing the role of Eli Sunday. After a short period of filming the production realized the actor was struggling with the intense method acting style of Daniel Day Lewis. The director decided to replace him early in the schedule to ensure the chemistry of the film was correct. Paul Dano who was already playing the role of the brother was asked to take on the twin character as well. This change resulted in one of the most acclaimed dual performances in modern cinema.

Richard Gere

The actor was cast to star in the drama ‘The Lord of Flatbush’ alongside Sylvester Stallone early in his career. Tension between the two leads grew quickly and culminated in a physical altercation involving a chicken sandwich on the first day. Stallone told the director that one of them had to go and the production chose to fire Gere. Perry King was hired to take over the part and the film was eventually completed without further incident. This clash remains a well known piece of Hollywood trivia regarding the early years of both stars.

Dougray Scott

This actor was the original choice to play Wolverine in the first ‘X Men’ movie released in the year two thousand. He had to be replaced on the first day of production because filming for ‘Mission Impossible 2’ had run over its scheduled time. The studio could no longer wait for his availability and decided to cast Hugh Jackman instead. Jackman flew to the set and began filming his iconic portrayal of the character shortly after the replacement. This scheduling conflict changed the course of the superhero franchise forever.

Mick Jagger

The rock icon was cast to play a major role in the ambitious production of ‘Fitzcarraldo’ directed by Werner Herzog. Filming took place in a remote jungle location and suffered from numerous delays and technical setbacks. When the lead actor fell ill and production stopped Jagger had to leave to prepare for a concert tour. When filming was ready to resume the director had to cut his character entirely from the script. Only a small amount of footage exists showing the singer in his costume during the early stages of the shoot.

Anthony Michael Hall

Director Stanley Kubrick selected the young actor to play Private Joker in the war film ‘Full Metal Jacket’. The production process was famously difficult and tensions arose between the actor and the director during the very early stages. After a series of disagreements over the schedule and creative direction the actor was let go from the project. Matthew Modine was eventually cast as the lead and the film became a classic of the genre. The dismissal followed weeks of intense preparation that ultimately never made it to the screen.

Sylvester Stallone

The actor was originally signed to play the lead role of Axel Foley in the action comedy ‘Beverly Hills Cop’. He wanted to rewrite the script to make it a serious action movie rather than a comedy which the studio resisted. On the day production was meant to begin the two parties could not agree on the budget for his changes. Stallone was let go from the project and Eddie Murphy was brought in to play the character. The film went on to become a massive hit and solidified the career of its new star.

Gene Hackman

The acclaimed actor was originally cast as Mr Robinson in the classic film ‘The Graduate’. On the first day of rehearsals and initial camera tests director Mike Nichols realized the actor was too young for the part. Hackman was fired immediately before he could film any significant scenes with the rest of the cast. Murray Hamilton was hired to replace him and the production moved forward with the new casting. This early exit did not hurt the career of the actor who went on to win multiple Academy Awards.

Viggo Mortensen

Early in his career the actor was cast to play a role in the Woody Allen film ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’. He spent his first day on set filming scenes and interacting with the lead actors. When he went to see the movie in theaters he discovered that his entire role had been cut and he was effectively replaced or removed. This experience was a common occurrence for actors working on projects with that specific director. Mortensen later became a major star through his work in other significant film franchises.

Tim Curry

The versatile actor was the original voice for the Joker in the acclaimed ‘Batman The Animated Series’. He recorded several episodes during the initial production phase but the producers felt his performance was too frightening for a younger audience. They decided to let him go and brought in Mark Hamill to voice the iconic villain. Hamill went on to become the definitive voice of the character for many fans of the series. Curry later voiced other animated villains but his take on the Joker remains a lost piece of media history.

Buddy Ebsen

The actor was the first choice to play the Tin Man in the legendary musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’. After filming for only nine days he suffered a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum powder makeup used for the character. He was hospitalized and the production could not wait for his recovery so they replaced him with Jack Haley. The makeup was changed to a paste to prevent a similar incident with the new actor. While not a typical firing the replacement was immediate and necessary for the production to continue.

Marcus Chong

After appearing in the first ‘The Matrix’ film the actor was set to return for the sequels. He was fired at the very start of production for ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ due to disputes over his salary and contract terms. The actor reportedly made numerous phone calls to the directors that led to a legal battle and his removal from the franchise. His character was written out of the story and replaced by a new operator on the ship. This public falling out ended his involvement with one of the biggest science fiction trilogies in history.

Thomas Gibson

The actor was a main cast member on the procedural drama ‘Criminal Minds’ for many years. He was fired on the first day of filming an episode in the twelfth season after a physical altercation with a producer. The network conducted an investigation into the incident and decided to terminate his contract immediately. His character was written out of the show with an explanation that he had entered witness protection. This sudden exit shocked fans who had followed the character since the beginning of the series.

Isaiah Washington

The actor played a prominent surgeon on the medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ during its early seasons. He was involved in an on set argument with a co star that included the use of a homophobic slur. Although he initially remained on the show the network decided to fire him right as production for the next phase began. The character was written out by having him leave his wedding and move to another city. This firing became a major news story that prompted discussions about workplace conduct in the industry.

Columbus Short

The actor was a regular on the hit political drama ‘Scandal’ where he played a member of the crisis management team. He was fired from the show at the start of the production cycle for the fourth season following personal legal issues. The creator of the series decided that his presence was no longer tenable for the production. His character was killed off screen to explain his absence from the upcoming episodes. The actor later spoke about his struggles and how they impacted his professional life during that time.

Hartley Sawyer

The actor joined the cast of ‘The Flash’ to play the character of Ralph Dibny in later seasons. He was fired from the superhero series on the first day of pre production for the seventh season after old social media posts resurfaced. The network and producers issued a statement saying they had no tolerance for the nature of the comments found online. His character was removed from the show and the storyline was adjusted to account for the vacancy. This dismissal served as a prominent example of how past actions can affect current employment in Hollywood.

James Purefoy

The actor was the original lead in the graphic novel adaptation ‘V for Vendetta’. He spent several weeks filming behind the mask but the director felt his performance lacked the necessary presence. He was let go very early in the production and Hugo Weaving was brought in to take over the role. Some of the body movements in the final film still belong to the original actor despite the voice being dubbed. The transition happened quickly to ensure the filming schedule remained on track for the studio.

Harvey Keitel

Director Francis Ford Coppola originally cast the actor as Captain Willard in the war epic ‘Apocalypse Now’. After only a few days of filming in the jungle the director realized the actor was not the right fit for the introspective character. Keitel was fired and replaced by Martin Sheen who had to fly to the remote location to begin work. The production faced many more hurdles after this change including natural disasters and health crises. The original footage of the first actor remains a curiosity for fans of the film.

Rob Lowe

The actor was cast to star in the medical drama ‘Dr Vegas’ alongside an ensemble of well known performers. After the first day of filming the pilot episode the network decided that the chemistry was not working as intended. Lowe was replaced and the series underwent significant changes before it was eventually aired. This quick dismissal was a surprising turn for an established star with a long history in television. The show only lasted a short time on the air before being canceled by the network.

Rip Torn

The veteran actor was cast to play George Hanson in the counterculture classic ‘Easy Rider’. He was fired after a heated argument with director and star Dennis Hopper during a pre production dinner that reportedly involved a knife. Jack Nicholson was hired to replace him and the role became a career defining performance for the young actor. The incident highlighted the volatile nature of the independent film scene in the late sixties. Torn and Hopper continued to hold different accounts of the conflict for many years.

Damon Wayans

During his time as a cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live’ this actor decided to go against the script during a live broadcast. He played a character as flamboyant instead of the way it was written during a police sketch. Producer Lorne Michaels fired him immediately after the show finished airing for his unprofessional behavior. This bold move eventually led the actor to create his own successful sketch series called ‘In Living Color’. He eventually returned to host the show years later despite the early controversy.

Charles Grodin

The actor hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the year nineteen seventy seven and famously broke the rules of the live production. He pretended to miss his cues and acted as if he did not understand that the show was actually live. The producers were so frustrated by his meta performance that he was banned from ever hosting the show again. This effectively acted as a firing from the revolving door of guest hosts that the show employs. His episode remains a unique and polarizing moment in the history of the program.

Robert De Niro

The actor was originally cast in the comedy ‘The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight’ early in his career. He was let go from the production after he decided to pursue a role in another film that he found more interesting. The studio replaced him with Al Pacino who was also an up and coming actor at the time. This casting change allowed both actors to move toward the roles that would eventually make them icons. It is a rare instance where a firing or departure worked out perfectly for everyone involved.

Al Pacino

Before he became a household name the actor was fired from a play titled ‘The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight’. He had been cast to play a lead role but the director felt he was not right for the comedic tone of the production. He was let go during the early stages of rehearsals and replaced by another actor. This setback did not prevent him from landing his breakout role in ‘The Godfather’ shortly after. He eventually established himself as one of the greatest actors of his generation despite this early rejection.

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