Even if an actor was cast in a film does not guarantee that they will stay in it. They may leave in the middle of filming for a variety of reasons, but another possibility is that they complete their work but do not appear in the final product. A lot can happen between the time filming ends and the time a film is released.
When Hollywood’s directors enter the editing room, no one, not even A-listers, is safe. Sometimes the director or the production company decides whether the character is necessary or not, and as a result, the scenes with the hero are cut. Other times, a controversy explodes among audiences, leading to the actor’s scene being deleted from the movie or even recreated with another actor. Whatever the reason, there are numerous cases of well-known actors being cut from their films during post-production.
These 15 actors were all cut out of movies in post-production, from deleted cameos to entire plot lines.
#1 Angela Bassett, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Source: RODIN ECKENROTH/GETTY IMAGES
In the spy thriller Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Angela Bassett took the role of Brad Pitt’s boss. While Bassett was filming her scenes, her part was cut, and the finished movie did not include her. Her voice can still be heard in the film, though.
#2 Christopher Lee, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Source: JON FURNISS/GETTY IMAGES
Christopher Lee was “shocked” to know that he had been completely edited out of the final edition of the Lord of the Rings franchise after playing the wizard Saruman. The actor decided not to go to the movie premiere because he felt so belittled.
#3 Harrison Ford, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Source: ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAGES
Despite having filmed a cameo for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Harrison Ford‘s scene was cut. Steven Spielberg, the film’s director, removed Harrison Ford, who played Elliot’s teacher, from the finished product.
#4 Jena Malone, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Source: GEORGE PIMENTEL/GETTY IMAGES
When it was revealed that the Hunger Games actress would appear in Batman v Superman, fans were thrilled. However, when the movie debuted, she was not to be found. We can see a few of Malone’s scenes as a scientist because of the movie’s extended-release, but she wasn’t included in the theatrical version.
#5 Katherine Langford, Avengers: Endgame
Source: JON KOPALOFF/GETTY IMAGES
Katherine Langford filmed a scene with Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers: Endgame that was supposed to be the grown-up version of his daughter coming to him before his death. The exchange was cut because test audiences didn’t like it.
#6 La Toya Jackson, Bruno
Source: ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAGES
The news of Michael Jackson’s death broke shortly after Sacha Baron Cohen filmed a hijinks-filled interview with La Toya Jackson for his film Bruno. Because of the family’s tragic loss, the production company decided to cut the scene from the film.
#7 Matthew Fox, World War Z
Source: DANNY MARTINDALE/GETTY IMAGES
While Lost’s Matthew Fox was supposed to play a significant role in World War Z, the actor’s character was greatly reduced to the point where Fox “ just ” portrays one of the paratroopers shown at the beginning of the movie.
#8 Mick Jagger, Fitzcarraldo
Source: DAVE HOGAN/GETTY IMAGES
Mick Jagger made his acting debut as one of the main characters in Fitzcarraldo in 1982. However, due to the film’s remote filming location, which Jagger couldn’t accommodate with his Rolling Stones tour, there were numerous production delays. Jagger was cut from the film due to scheduling conflicts.
#9 Rachel Weisz, To The Wonder
Source: JON KOPALOFF/GETTY IMAGES
Terrence Malick, the director of To The Wonder, is known for removing major actors from his films. But he may have outdone himself with the 2012 film, which left out Rachel Weisz, Michael Sheen, Amanda Peet, and Jessica Chastain.
#10 Robert Pattinson, Vanity Fair
Source: STEPHANE CARDINALE – CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES
Robert Pattinson was cast as Reese Witherspoon‘s son in Vanity Fair before making his screen debut in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If Pattinson doesn’t appear in the movie, it’s because his part was eliminated from the finished product.
#11 Ricky Gervais, The Muppets
Source: RICH FURY/GETTY IMAGES
The actor Ricky Gervais was supposed to appear alongside Kermit and Miss Piggy in the 2011 film The Muppets, but his scenes were omitted from the theatrical release. Billy Crystal, Rob Corddry, and Danny Trejo were also cut from the film, so he wasn’t alone in this.
#12 Shailene Woodley, The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Source: STEFANIA D’ALESSANDRO/GETTY IMAGES
Marvel fans were eager to see how The Amazing Spider-Man 2 incorporated Mary Jane Watson from the comic books; they became even more excited when Shailene Woodley was cast in the role. Instead of including the character, the director opted to concentrate on the love story of Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone.
#13 Tim Roth, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Source: TIM P. WHITBY/GETTY IMAGES
We wish we could have seen Tim Roth in Quentin Tarantino‘s film—the British actor filmed scenes as Jay Sebring’s butler. However, due to time constraints, Tarantino had to cut Roth’s storyline, but we may see his performance in an extended version of the film someday.
#14 Tobey Maguire, Life of Pi
Source: SONIA RECCHIA/GETTY IMAGES
Tobey Maguire was dubbed “too famous” for his role in Life of Pi and was later cut from the film after it was completed. Maguire’s scenes were reshot with a lesser-known actor, Rafe Spall.
#15 Uma Thurman, Savages
Source: DANIELE VENTURELLI/GETTY IMAGES
The cast of Oliver Stone’s 2012 thriller included Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek, and initially Uma Thurman. However, the Kill Bill actress’s role as Blake Lively‘s mother was cut due to time constraints.
