Movie roles have been written around specific actors, potentially before or after that actor has signed a contract. When several actors turned down roles that would have changed Hollywood, it is possible that the screenwriter wrote a movie with a certain actor in mind but could only hope to be able to cast them. However, when these hopes are realized, or they agree to play the part ahead of time, the movie may spectacularly demonstrate how the writers leaned into a famous actor’s strengths.
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Some modern directors who still need to win Oscars demonstrate such amazing casting tastes, perfectly envisioning megastars as key characters from the earliest stages of writing. This extends to some characters in the best animated Disney movies when the producers have someone with a recognizable, dynamic voice in mind to bring to life the studio’s next iconic character. The result is often that audiences believe a certain movie actor was born to play that character, and that writing the role to accommodate them was a stroke of pure genius.
You are watching: 10 Movie Roles That Were Written For A Specific Actor
10 Robin Williams As Genie
Aladdin (1992)
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Genie became arguably the main character of Aladdin, while Williams went on to do some other voice-acting work.
Robin Williams’ deal with Disney for Aladdin gave him some freedom, and Genie’s constant gimmicks of becoming pop culture references are due to the legendary actor and comedian’s tastes. This gave rise to one of Disney’s funniest characters, who delivers some of the studio’s best comebacks, as well as demonstrates vulnerability and sadness. Aladdin co-director Ron Clements said (via Variety) that the role was written to allow for improvisation in Williams’ typical style:
“[Co-writer and co-director] John Musker and I wrote the original script with the specific idea that Robin would voice the genie and that he would be a visual as well as vocal shape-shifter. Robin would be encouraged to improvise to his heart’s content. On the first day of recording we had script pages written in Robin’s improv style and storyboards illustrating some of the visual metamorphosing we were planning. He started out recording the script as written a few times, then took off in a multitude of directions.”
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Aladdin GAnimationAdventureComedyFamilyFantasyMusicalRomance
Aladdin is an animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, the film follows Aladdin, a street-smart youth in the city of Agrabah, who discovers a magical lamp containing a genie, voiced by Robin Williams. With the genie’s help, Aladdin tries to win the heart of Princess Jasmine while thwarting the schemes of the villainous Jafar.
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*Availability in US Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 11, 1992 Writers Ron Clements , John Musker , Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Ed Gombert , Burny Mattinson Cast Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Frank Welker , Gilbert Gottfried , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga Runtime 90 Minutes
While Williams’ legacy is a myriad of major comedic and dramatic roles, mostly in live-action, Genie is still fondly remembered as a staple of his career. Genie became arguably the main character of Aladdin, while Williams went on to do some other voice-acting work. Clements also argued that Williams’ performance as Genie changed animation: “His brilliant comedy brought an adult appeal to animation that was new at the time.”
9 Bill Murray As Bob Harris
Lost In Translation (2003)
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It is relatively well-known that the role of the fictional washed-up actor Bob Harris was written for Bill Murray. Sofia Coppola only ever imagined Murray playing one of the movie’s two lead roles, putting the whole project at risk pending his being available and interested. Referring to the situation before a mutual friend luckily put her in contact with Murray, Coppola told Little White Lies:
“We went to Tokyo and were spending money in the hope that he would show up. […] I was determined and probably spent a year trying to track him down. People were trying to give me other options but I was set that I wasn’t going to make the movie if he wasn’t doing it […]”
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8/10 Lost in Translation RDramaComedy
Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation is a romantic comedy starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as fading movie star Bob Harris and Yale college graduate Charlotte, who build an unlikely relationship while traveling in Tokyo.
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*Availability in US Director Sofia Coppola Release Date October 3, 2003 Writers Sofia Coppola Cast Fumihiro Hayashi , Bill Murray , Anna Faris , Giovanni Ribisi , Scarlett Johansson , Catherine Lambert Runtime 102 minutes
Meanwhile, Lost in Translation is credited as Scarlett Johansson’s breakout role, creating a juxtaposition between the two actors that aligns with their in-story circumstances. The results at this year’s Oscars showed that Coppola knew what she was doing and that stalling production for Murray was a risk that paid off, despite how it must have stressed out the crew. Murray was nominated for Best Lead Actor, while Coppola became the first woman to be nominated for directing, producing, and writing in the same year (and won Best Original Screenplay).
8 Eddie Redmayne As Newt Scamander
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (2016)
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Eddie Redmayne was reportedly the “first and only choice” to play magizoologist and future bestselling author Newt Scamander in the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (via The Telegraph). The character concept long predates Redmayne being cast, as he is mentioned as the author of the textbook bearing the same title as the prequel movie in the Harry Potter series.
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7.4/10 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them PG-13FantasyAdventure
In 1926, British magizoologist Newt Scamander travels to New York City in his ongoing field research into magical creatures. Here, he finds himself caught up in some trouble involving a No-Maj, local wizarding law enforcement, and the Dark Wizard Grindelwald.
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*Availability in US Director David Yates Release Date November 18, 2016 Writers J.K. Rowling Cast Ezra Miller , Alison Sudol , Eddie Redmayne , Colin Farrell , Katherine Waterston , Dan Fogler Runtime 133 minutes
Ironically, Redmayne had a failed Harry Potter audition 15 years earlier when he vied for the role of Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Yet as Redmayne’s career grew, it became clear that he was perfect to portray Newt’s mannerisms, and the Fantastic Beasts team knew they had to call him back in.
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Redmayne expertly conveyed Newt’s intelligence, compassion, and quirkiness, alongside the rest of the perfectly-chosen Fantastic Beasts cast. While the future of the Fantastic Beasts franchise is uncertain, no one would say that Redmayne’s performance is one of the things that derailed the subsequent movies.
7 Octavia Spencer As Zelda Fuller
The Shape Of Water (2017)
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Guillermo del Toro reportedly wrote the role of Zelda in The Shape of Water for Octavia Spencer, which would become her second Oscar nomination (after winning the first time around for The Help). Spencer, a professed del Toro fan, was asked to meet with the director, who offered her the role he had created with her in mind (via CBS). Spencer said in interviews that she was eager to work with del Toro and instantly intrigued by his new fairy tale, about a cleaner who falls in love with a captive aquatic creature.
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8.8/10 The Shape of Water RFantasy Sci-Fi
Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water is set in Baltimore, Maryland in 1962, and follows Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins), a shy, mute woman who works as a custodian at a secure government facility. While at her job, Elisa meets and falls in love with a human-amphibian hybrid man, who is being held and experimented on at the facility by the evil Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon). Risking her life and the lives of her friends, Elisa hatches a plan to help her amphibian lover escape, pursued by Strickland and his forces in the government.
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*Availability in US Director Guillermo del Toro Release Date December 1, 2017 Writers Guillermo del Toro , Vanessa Taylor Cast Richard Jenkins , Doug Jones , Octavia Spencer , Michael Shannon , Sally Hawkins , Michael Stuhlbarg Runtime 123 Minutes
Zelda plays out her own subplot, of having accepted an unhappy marriage before standing up to her husband to help her friend in the final act. Zelda’s character seems to take inspiration from Spencer’s past roles, with a no-nonsense yet compassionate attitude. Likewise, Spencer is always able to deliver some biting, funny remarks while in a dark movie, something del Toro possibly saw in her as he developed the tone of a unique new story.
6 Sandra Hüller As Sandra Voyter
Anatomy Of A Fall (2023)
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The name of the main character of Anatomy of a Fall is indicative that it was always a movie for Sandra Hüller. Director Justine Triet purposely chose the name because the role was written for Hüller, and told W Magazine: “I thought that would be a way for her to say yes, […] It was a little trap!” Regardless of Triet’s schemes, Hüller loved the script and signed on for one of two Best Picture nominees for her in 2024.
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9/10 The Zone of Interest PG-13DramaHistoryWar
The Zone of Interest is a historical war drama by writer-director Jonathan Glazer. Set during World War 2, the film follows Rudolf Höss, the commandant of the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, as he tries to build a dream home right next door to the camp.
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*Availability in US Director Jonathan Glazer Release Date December 15, 2023 Writers Jonathan Glazer Cast Christian Friedel , Sandra Hüller , Ralph Herforth , Luis Noah Witte , Johann Karthaus Runtime 105 Minutes
Hüller became one of the biggest stars of the 2024 Oscars when she was the lead in two major motion pictures, Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest. However, she only earned an acting nomination for the former. Anatomy of a Fall is an immensely complex movie about culpability, and Hüller is one of the few people alive who could have played the wife accused of her husband’s murder in the nuanced way Triet had imagined.
5 Ryan Gosling As Ken
Barbie (2023)
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Gerwig had never met Gosling but wrote the role for him, even including his name in the script.
Margot Robbie was on board with Barbie as a producer long before she became its lead star, recruiting Greta Gerwig to write and direct, with Gal Gadot in mind for the lead role. After Gadot was forced to turn down Barbie due to scheduling conflicts, Gerwig insisted that Robbie play the character herself.
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9.1/10 Barbie PG-13ComedyAdventureFantasy
Barbie is a film adaptation of the generational iconic toy directed by Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbach. The film centers on Margot Robbie’s Barbie who is expelled from Barbieland and travels with Ken (Ryan Gosling) to the real world in search of happiness. The film also stars Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, and several other famous celebrities in cameo roles.
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*Availability in US Director Greta Gerwig Release Date July 21, 2023 Writers Noah Baumbach , Greta Gerwig Cast Margot Robbie , Ryan Gosling , Simu Liu , Ariana Greenblatt , Helen Mirren , Nicola Coughlan , John Cena , Will Ferrell , Ritu Arya , Michael Cera , America Ferrera , Alexandra Shipp , Kate McKinnon Runtime 114 Minutes
On the other hand, the role of the main Ken doll always belonged to Ryan Gosling. Gerwig had never met Gosling but wrote the role for him, even including his name in the script (via 60 Minutes). It is easy to see why, given Gosling’s long career as a heartthrob in both the drama and comedy categories, and his recent Oscar nomination for La La Land.
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Gosling fully committed to Ken’s goofy quest to win Barbie’s heart and then take over Barbie Land, earning another Oscar nomination and providing some of the funniest moments of the movie. He is also responsible for one of the most iconic moments of the 2020s when he argued for including “I’m Just Ken” in the movie (via Vanity Fair).
4 Ralph Fiennes As Gustave H.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
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Beloved indie director Wes Anderson told the Belfast Telegraph of The Grand Budapest Hotel: “The first idea for the movie had nothing to do with the setting. It had to do with this one character, played by Ralph Fiennes […].” The story of one of Anderson’s most cherished movies, demonstrating his usual style of an incredible ensemble cast delivering strange deadpan lines and breaking the fourth wall, revolves around the character of M. Gustave. Fiennes portrays the witty and immaculate hotel concierge, whose mentorship a young lobby boy reflects upon years later.
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9.3/10 The Grand Budapest Hotel RAdventureComedyDrama
From director Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel stars Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H., the renowned concierge of the film’s titular hotel. Fiennes is joined by Tony Revolori as Zero, a newly hired bellhop who serves as Gustave’s partner-in-crime throughout the film. An older Zero, played by F. Murray Abraham, serves as the narrator for the story, which chronicles the adventures of Gustave and Zero after Gustave is framed for the murder of the wealthy Madame D., his patron and lover.
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*Availability in US Director Wes Anderson Release Date March 28, 2014 Writers Wes Anderson , Hugo Guinness Cast Willem Dafoe , Jude Law , Edward Norton , Jeff Goldblum , Saoirse Ronan , Adrien Brody , Tilda Swinton , Ralph Fiennes , Tony Revolori Runtime 100 Minutes
Strangely, Fiennes disappeared from Anderson’s work for nearly a decade, elevating his performance of Gustave to an even higher status because of its singularity. Only Fiennes’ participation in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar could match his previous character’s quasi-mythical persona. In this short film, Fiennes proves to be the legendary presence needed to play a fictionalized version of children’s literature icon, Roald Dahl, serving as a narrator.
3 Samuel L. Jackson As Nick Fury
Iron Man (2008)
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The idea of Nick Fury’s cameo in the post-credits scene of Iron Man might have been in place when Samuel L. Jackson was cast, but with the bulk of the writing surrounding the character still in the future, the MCU was free to shape the role according to the actor. Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch’s 2002 comic book series “The Ultimates” featured the redesigned Nick Fury with Jackson’s likeness, without Jackson’s knowledge or permission (via SlashFilm). Jackson eventually discovered this by chance and was soon after offered a nine-picture deal by Marvel.
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8.7/10 Iron Man PG-13 Sci-FiActionAdventure
Iron Man is the first film in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark, who becomes Iron Man after he is kidnapped and discovers terrorists are using weapons developed by Stark Industries. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Tony’s love interest Pepper Potts alongside Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan and Jeff Bridges as the villainous Obadiah Stane.
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*Availability in US Director Jon Favreau Release Date May 2, 2008 Writers Matt Holloway , Art Marcum , Hawk Ostby , Mark Fergus Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Jeff Bridges , Gwyneth Paltrow , Terrence Howard , Leslie Bibb , Shaun Toub , Clark Gregg , Paul Bettany Runtime 126 minutes
Nothing ever came of the copyright infringement of using his likeness; Jackson brushed it off as he was happy to be a part of the burgeoning MCU. As the series goes on, it becomes only more evident that Fury’s strategic and intense persona is tailored to Jackson. Nowadays, Fury’s ever-present guidance from the shadows is one of the most iconic fixtures of the MCU, and Jackson is one of the few original actors still involved with the franchise.
2 Sean Connery As Henry Jones, Sr.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
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Steven Spielberg loved the idea of Sean Connery playing Indiana Jones’ father; he cited James Bond as one of the inspirations for Indiana Jones’ character (via Empire Online). Connery helped build Henry Jones, Sr.’s characterization and ab-libbed some of his famous lines. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is often argued to be the best Indiana Jones movie, in no small part because of the dynamic between Connery and Harrison Ford, as Indy is pulled into his father’s life-long quest to find the Holy Grain.
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9.6/10 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade pg-13AdventureAction
A sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade sees the return of the titular hero, this time in search of his father who has been kidnapped by Nazis. Aided by his friends Marcus Brody and Sallah, as well as his father’s associate Elsa Schneider, Indy must travel Europe to locate his father and stop the Nazis from finding the Holy Grail. Sean Connery, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, and Alison Doody also star.
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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date May 24, 1989 Writers Jeffrey Boam Cast Harrison Ford , Sean Connery , Denholm Elliott , Alison Doody , John Rhys-Davies , Julian Glover Runtime 127 Minutes
Connery turned down Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, having retired from acting at the time and being uninterested in returning to work for such a small role. If the role was a cameo, he probably would have appeared at Indy and Marion’s wedding; instead, it is implied that Indy’s father has passed away. However, Last Crusade remains special among the Indiana Jones movies because it is the only one with Connery, contributing to an emotional story that stands apart.
1 Uma Thurman As Beatrix Kiddo
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
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Beatrix Kiddo a.k.a. “the Bride” was always meant to be played by Uma Thurman, as the actress and director Quentin Tarantino came up with the idea for Kill Bill, based around her character, while they were working on Pulp Fiction (via TODAY.com). The new movie’s credits also attribute the story and character to “Q & U,” referring to Tarantino and Thurman. She may not be the title character, but Kill Bill is about Beatrix, and her quest for revenge while contemplating the events that lead her there.
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10/10 Kill Bill RThrillerCrimeAction
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a classic tale of betrayal and revenge. When the Bride (Uma Thurman) awakens from a four-year coma, she sets out to settle the score with the team of assassins that betrayed her at the behest of her former boss, Bill (David Carradine). Tracking and killing the world-class assassins isn’t easy, but the Bride uses all the tools at her disposal in her relentless pursuit of revenge.
Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date October 10, 2003 Writers Quentin Tarantino Cast David Carradine , Michael Madsen , Uma Thurman , Daryl Hannah , Lucy Liu , Vivica A. Fox Runtime 111 minutes
People still want to see Thurman return to this iconic role when Beatrix’s future is rife with potential. The proposed additional Kill Bill sequel would be a perfect way to expand upon Beatrix’s character when she would have been the target of someone else’s revenge. Thurman was involved with Beatrix’s development from the beginning, supporting an amazing performance because of the role being written with her input.
Source: Variety, Little White Lies, The Telegraph, CBS, W Magazine, 60 Minutes, Vanity Fair, Belfast Telegraph, SlashFilm, Empire Online, TODAY.com
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Category: Entertainment