Almost A Wrap: Moments That Almost Made Actors Quit
Becoming an actor is undoubtedly a dream many of us had, especially during our childhood. For one thing, who wouldn’t want to play a character – say, their favorite superhero or villain – for work? Well, as great as that sounds, though, acting is still a job, and it’s not without its challenges. In fact, some of these hurdles have become so inconvenient that some actors have, to some degree, considered quitting at one point. Well, for today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at some moments in film’s production that almost made our favorite stars walk out of the set.
Shelley Duvall‘s Work On The Shining
Today, Stephen King is credited as one of the best horror authors of all time, earning him the title “King of Horror.” With that in mind, it’s no surprise that filmmakers are interested in adapting his works for the big screen. Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining is one such adaptation that has received a lot of praise over the years. To make it the way Kubrick wanted it, the director put the cast, particularly Shelley Duvall, in a difficult situation: Duvall had to do at least 35 scenes before Kubrick was satisfied with the take. In addition, the crew members ignored her at times, as directed by the director, to help her get into character.
Michael Keaton‘s Batsuit
Before resorting to CGI to design a superhero or villain’s suit, studios would frequently spend a significant portion of investment money designing an actual costume for an actor to wear. They still do it today, with new materials that provide a more comfortable fit. Unfortunately, Michael Keaton did not have that luxury when he donned the Batsuit in 1989’s Batman. In addition to the cowl being so stiff that he couldn’t move his neck, the actor felt quite claustrophobic whenever he wore the suit. Plus, from the looks of it, he wasn’t the only one having costume issues: Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1992 sequel, Batman Returns, also had issues with her Catwoman costume.
A Rising Al Pacino‘s Time On The Godfather
To a huge degree, many great films have come from the crime genre. Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 masterpiece, The Godfather, has received a flood of praise and recognition, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest films of all time. Despite being an award-winning project, the production process was not without its challenges, which were aimed at Coppola and new actor Al Pacino at the time. Along with Coppola not being the first choice to direct the film, producers had reservations about Pacino’s performance, believing his portrayal of Michael Corleone was too ambiguous. Of course, it was done on purpose. Fortunately, the producers recognized Coppola’s vision and Pacino’s approach to the character.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, And Ian McKellen‘s Experience On Set
Of course, many beloved books have been adapted for the big screen in the fantasy genre. Among these, Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on JRR Tolkien’s books of the same name, is widely credited as one of the best adaptations in the industry. With the trilogy’s massive success, it’s no surprise that plans were made to adapt the prequel novel, The Hobbit, into a trilogy. Ian McKellen, who played the wizard Gandalf in the prequel films, was one of the actors who returned to reprise their roles. While he had a great time working on The Lord of the Rings, McKellen had a less-than-pleasant time working on The Hobbit, criticizing the production’s reliance on computer-generated animations and green screens rather than shooting on location and using practical effects.
Leonardo DiCaprio‘s Gut-Wrenching Moment In The Revenant
Speaking of filming on location and relying on practical effects over CGI, Alejandro G. Iárritu’s award-winning survival drama The Revenant is known for using as little CGI as possible. Leonardo DiCaprio, the talented actor himself, takes on the lead role. Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, was seen in one scene eating raw bison liver. While the prop department did create a fake liver out of jelly, DiCaprio was concerned that it would not appear realistic on camera. Despite being vegan, he chose to eat the real thing. To their credit, DiCaprio’s performance in that scene was extremely realistic.