Celebrities Who Were Fired on the Very First Day of Filming

The high-pressure environment of a major film set often leaves little room for error, leading to swift casting changes when a performance or personality does not align with the director’s vision. Even after months of pre-production and rehearsals, some actors find themselves out of a job before the first week of principal photography is complete. These sudden departures can stem from creative differences, physical transformations, or behind-the-scenes conflicts that make continued collaboration impossible. For some, these firings are career setbacks, while for others, they become famous anecdotes in Hollywood history. Here are the celebrities who were let go shortly after the cameras started rolling.

Thora Birch

Thora Birch was the original choice to play the role of Tracy Flick in the satirical comedy ‘Election’. Director Alexander Payne decided to let her go after just three days of production because he felt she was not the right fit for the character. Payne believed that Birch’s interpretation of the ambitious high school student lacked the specific energy he envisioned for the film. Reese Witherspoon was subsequently cast in the role, which earned her critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. Birch’s departure remained a quiet footnote in the film’s production history until years later when details of the casting change surfaced.

Richard Gere

During the early stages of production for ‘The Lords of Flatbush’, Richard Gere was cast alongside Sylvester Stallone. The two actors reportedly clashed immediately, with tensions coming to a head over a specific incident involving a mustard sandwich. Stallone claimed that Gere intentionally dropped mustard on him during a lunch break, leading to a physical confrontation between the stars. Director Martin Davidson was forced to choose between the two actors to maintain order and progress on the set. Gere was fired just a few days into filming and was replaced by actor Perry King.

Ryan Gosling

In preparation for his role as Jack Salmon in ‘The Lovely Bones’, Ryan Gosling decided that the character should be overweight and bearded. He gained 60 pounds by drinking melted ice cream, but he did not consult director Peter Jackson about this drastic physical transformation. When he showed up on set for the first day of filming, Jackson was reportedly unhappy with the actor’s appearance and creative choices. Gosling was promptly fired from the project and replaced by Mark Wahlberg. The actor later admitted that he and the production team simply had a different vision for how the character should look.

Harvey Keitel

Harvey Keitel was the original choice to play Captain Benjamin L. Willard in the Vietnam War epic ‘Apocalypse Now’. Director Francis Ford Coppola became dissatisfied with Keitel’s performance within the first few days of shooting in the Philippines. Coppola felt that Keitel’s portrayal lacked the internal intensity and passive observation required for a character undergoing such a psychological journey. The production was halted briefly while the director sought a replacement, eventually casting Martin Sheen in the lead role. Keitel’s footage was discarded, and Sheen went on to deliver one of the most iconic performances in cinema history.

Kel O’Neill

Kel O’Neill was originally cast to play the role of Eli Sunday in the critically acclaimed drama ‘There Will Be Blood’. He began filming scenes opposite Daniel Day-Lewis, but he was replaced after a very short period on the set. Rumors circulated that O’Neill was intimidated by Day-Lewis’s intense method acting, though director Paul Thomas Anderson later cited a general lack of chemistry. Paul Dano, who was already cast as Eli’s brother Paul Sunday, was asked to take over both roles. The script was quickly rewritten to make the characters identical twins to accommodate the sudden casting change.

Lori Petty

Lori Petty was initially cast to play the role of Lenina Huxley in the futuristic action film ‘Demolition Man’. After only two days of filming, the production announced that she was being replaced due to creative differences with the studio. Reports suggested that Petty did not get along with her co-star, Sylvester Stallone, which made professional collaboration difficult on set. Sandra Bullock was quickly brought in to take over the role, which eventually became her major breakout performance in Hollywood. Petty later stated that the experience was disappointing but viewed it as a standard part of the industry’s inherent volatility.

James Remar

James Remar was cast as Corporal Hicks in the sci-fi sequel ‘Aliens’ and had already begun filming several key scenes. He was fired by director James Cameron after just a few days of production following an arrest for drug possession. The production had to quickly find a replacement to avoid costly delays in the high-budget shooting schedule. Michael Biehn, who had worked with Cameron on ‘The Terminator’, was brought in to take over the role immediately. Some of Remar’s footage remains in the final cut of the film, though only in wide shots where his face is not visible.

Stuart Townsend

Stuart Townsend was originally cast as Aragorn in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’. After months of training and preparation, he was fired by director Peter Jackson just as filming commenced in New Zealand. Jackson felt that Townsend was ultimately too young to portray the rugged Ranger and needed someone with a more mature, weathered presence. The actor was replaced by Viggo Mortensen, who flew to the set almost immediately to take over the iconic role. Townsend later expressed frustration over the dismissal, noting he had not been compensated for his extensive preparation time.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Before becoming a global martial arts star, Jean-Claude Van Damme was hired to play the titular alien in ‘Predator’. The actor reportedly struggled with the stifling heat of the red foam suit and disliked that his face would not be seen on screen. Conflict arose on the first day when Van Damme realized he was essentially a stunt performer rather than a featured actor. Producer Joel Silver eventually fired him due to his constant complaining and inability to move effectively in the bulky costume. The creature was later completely redesigned and played by the much taller actor Kevin Peter Hall.

Please share your thoughts on these sudden casting changes and whether you think the replacements were better choices in the comments.