Forrest Gump
Bill Murray has starred in many classic movies , but there are many other Hellenic pic he could have star in , too . During a movie ’s casting phase , many actors are considered for its different roles . Of course , once a movie ’s made and becomes a classic , fans ca n’t retrieve of anyone else play the master parts . Being one of the world ’s biggest star topology , Bill Murray has been considered for many theatrical role , and many classics could have featured the famous wise guy thespian .
The trouble with Bill Murray is that he ’s punishing to get ahold of . He does n’t have an agent or managing director , but he does have a telephone number producers can call that connects to an answering car they can leave purpose offers for , and if he like the projection , he ’ll get back to them . communicating between filmmakers and Bill Murray has always been tough and many productions even worry whether or not he ’ll even show up on the first day of the shoot . But he finally does , making Bill Murray an elusive yet in - requirement doer - as these turn over - down , considered - but - rule out , or miss - the - voicemail theatrical role prove .
Bad Santa
Bill Murray was the first choice to play Willie Stokes inBad Santaand was in concluding dialogue to play the character , however , when it was time to sign on on the specked logical argument , Murray became unreachable . DirectorTerry Zwigoff leave behind many messagesfor him on the infamous answering machine but never heard back .
It would seem thatMurray settle to doLost In Translationinstead . finally , Billy Bob Thornton was castinBad Santa , and it ’s hard to imagine Bill Murray being as nasty as he was in the movie . Ultimately , Murray probably made the right choice as hisLost in Translationrole gain him an Oscar nominating address .
Rain Man
ab initio , producers and Dustin Hoffmanconsidered Bill Murrayfor the Charlie Babbitt purpose opposite Hoffman ’s Raymond character . However , the role end up last to rising genius , Tom Cruise .
Bill Murray has made a vocation out of playing well annoyed and sarcastic saccade , so he probably would have meet well as a man scramble to treat Hoffman ’s autistic character .
Philadelphia
Director Jonathan Demme initially desire a comedic histrion to star paired Tom Hanks inPhiladelphiato make hearing feel well-situated watch over an AIDS pic , so he believe Robin Williams and Bill Murray for the part of lawyer Joe Miller .
Denzel Washington in the end win the role andreceived vital acclamation , but in a Howard Stern interview year later , Murray point out that this was a use he would have liked to have played .
The Dead Zone
ab initio , Stephen King envisioned Bill Murray as psychic Johnny Smith . However , producers move with Christopher Walken , who was perfect for the part .
Today , hearing praiseWalken ’s operation iconicfor its kookiness , and it ’s hard to imagine that Bill Murray would have been able to achieve this while still being take gravely by audiences . However , it might have been an interesting pre - Ghostbustersgenre role for Murray .
Cape Fear
Originally , Steven Spielberg was go to directCape Fearand Martin Scorsese was go to directSchindler ’s lean . However , Spielberg would later remark that"he was n’t in the mood"to make a movie about a deranged Orcinus orca , so he flip projects with his friend Marty .
When Steven Spielberg was at the helm , Bill Murray was his top choice for the role of disturbed Max Cady . Either audiences may not have taken him seriously as a sadistic killer , or it could have been a career - changing carrying out and fans may never have consider the comedic actor the same way again . But ultimately , Martin Scorcese ’s frequent collaborator , Robert DeNiro , get the part .
John Travolta , Sean Penn , and Chevy Chase were all considered for the function ofForrest Gump . John Goodman was also considered because he nearly resembled how the origin novel describes Gump . manufacturer view Bill Murray too , but the part ultimately go to Tom Hanks .
Tom Hanks ' portrait of the sluggish - but - kind Forrest Gump is unforgettable , but Murray would later say Howard Stern he has yet to see the picture .
Star Wars
George Lucas weigh a bevy of actor for therole of Han Solo , from Christopher Walken and Al Pacino to Steve Martin and Chevy Chase . One of these hard - to - believeconsiderations was Bill Murray .
It ’s difficult to fancy anyone other than Harrison Ford as Han Solo and it ’s possible that the office would have come across as entirely different with Murray in it . Perhaps , Solo would have morph into comic relief or Bill Murray would have turn into an activity star and his career could have been altogether unlike . Rumor has it , he was also up for Indiana Jones , as well .
Batman
Michael Keaton ’s casting as Batman was a big deal because up until then , he was mainly known for comedic roles . The media and public dread that Tim Burton’sBatmanwould resemble the1960 ’s TV showinstead ofThe Dark Knight Returnsgraphic novel . Burton was looking to turn over an medium - look cat into a vigilante , so , heconsidered Bill Murrayfor the cap crusader , perhaps for the same reason .
However , Bill Murray as Batman might have been a bad pill to swallow for hearing . While Michael Keaton was chiefly known for funniness too , his edgy carrying into action inClean and Soberdemonstrated his ability that Bill Murray , despitebeing in the dramaticRazor ’s bound , did not at that time .
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Bill Murray was Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis ' first selection for the Eddie Valiant purpose , unfortunately , as in the case of other productions , they could n’t get a hold of him . On the Special Edition DVD ’s conductor commentary , Zemeckis states that he name in a paper audience that Murray was the original choice . evidently , Murray record this interview , and even though he was in a public home , he squall his lung out .
In the end , Bob Hoskins would get the Eddie Valiant role in the now study classical moving picture . Eddie Murphy was also offered the part and would regret not guide it eld later onInside The Actors Studio .
The Ice Harvest
After starring together in classics likeStripesandGhostbusters , Ramis directed Bill Murray in the masterpieceGroundhog Day , but they had a falling out during its output . Many age subsequently , Ramis had a villainous mobster function in mind for Murray in the little - seen , yet underestimate Christmas caperThe Ice Harvest , star John Cusack .
Frustratingly , Ramis was ineffective to attain him , forcing him to go through Murray ’s brother Brian Doyle - Murray to inquire if he desire to take the part . Unfortunately , Murray declined the role and Randy Quaid was cast rather . What make this especially tragic is that Harold Ramis would pass aside in 2014 and they would never work together again . However , just before Ramis ' passing , Murray and his onetime friendended their feudand made amends . Thankfully , it seems producers were able to get ahold of Murray to appear in 2021’sGhostbusters : Afterlife .
NEXT : Bill Murray : 9 Funniest Movie Moments
