12 Actors Who Were Fired in the Middle of Filming

Hollywood is built on carefully managed illusion, but some of the biggest drama happens before a movie or show ever reaches the screen. Behind the scenes, a major production can change direction overnight because of creative disputes, scheduling problems, studio concerns, personal controversy, or a performance that simply is not working.

When that happens, even famous actors can lose a role after filming has already started. Sometimes the change is handled quietly and viewers never realize someone else was originally cast. Other times, the firing becomes a major Hollywood story, especially when scenes have to be reshot, budgets balloon, or the replacement actor changes the entire feel of the project.

In a few cases, the new performance became so memorable that it is hard to imagine the role belonging to anyone else. In others, the actor’s exit left behind years of questions about what really happened on set.

This slideshow looks at 12 actors who were fired in the middle of filming, from last-minute creative pivots to public controversies that forced studios to make a change. Each case shows how quickly a high-profile role can disappear, even after the cameras are already rolling.

Ryan Gosling was fired from The Lovely Bones for showing up to set having gained weight, interpreting the character differently than director Peter Jackson had envisioned. Mark Wahlberg was brought in as a last-minute replacement.

Judy Garland was cast in Valley of the Dolls but was dismissed due to ongoing issues with substance abuse and erratic behavior during pre-production. Her replacement, Susan Hayward, reshot the role.

Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly, but after several weeks of filming, producers felt his dramatic tone didn’t fit the film’s lighter spirit. He was replaced by Michael J. Fox, who had always been their first choice.

Megan Fox was let go from the Transformers franchise after making controversial remarks comparing director Michael Bay to Hitler. She was replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in the third film.

Samantha Morton voiced the AI character in Her during filming, but director Spike Jonze later felt the role needed a different energy. Scarlett Johansson re-recorded all her lines for the final cut.

Harvey Keitel was replaced by Martin Sheen early into filming Apocalypse Now due to creative differences and a lack of chemistry with the director’s vision. Sheen famously took over with only a few days' notice.

James Remar was originally cast as Corporal Hicks in Aliens but was let go due to personal issues, reportedly including drug-related legal trouble. Michael Biehn stepped into the role.

Kevin Spacey was fired from All the Money in the World after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. Christopher Plummer re-shot all his scenes just weeks before the film’s release.

Jean-Claude Van Damme was cast as the Predator but was fired for being difficult on set and not fitting the physical presence needed for the role. He was replaced by Kevin Peter Hall in a redesigned suit.

Terrence Howard was dropped from Iron Man 2 reportedly due to salary disputes and behind-the-scenes disagreements. Don Cheadle took over the role of James Rhodes.

Richard Gere was fired from The Lords of Flatbush for clashing with co-star Sylvester Stallone and having on-set behavioral issues. He was replaced by Perry King.

Colin Firth was originally cast as the voice of Paddington Bear but was recast late in production after filmmakers decided his voice didn’t suit the youthful tone they wanted. Ben Whishaw replaced him.