Most actors consider the given scripts as a strict set of rules to fulfill the scenes of their characters. They follow the script to the letter and make themselves the scriptwriter’s medium to express their art. However, some movie stars don’t see the script of their characters this way.
In fact, some iconic lines from popular movies are not actually in the original scripts because actors change them on their way. They bring their own flair and personality to their character, even if it means straying from the script. It is a surprise that the movies get better.
Below are 11 times that actors refused the script, and promoted their own ideas but made the movie better.
#1 Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
Source: The Devil Wears Prada
In “The Devil Wears Prada”, Meryl Streep played Miranda Priestly, a powerful fashion magazine editor. When the actress read the script for the movie, she had some suggestions to round out her character. She suggested that in a conversation with Andy about her divorce, the character shouldn’t wear makeup.
#2 Henry Cavill in “The Witcher”
Source: The Witcher
Many fans of ‘The Witcher” hoped for a reunion for Geralt and Jennifer in the second season. After the end of the scene, the actor convinced producers to revisit it and suggested that the characters just kissed in the scene.
Source: Fast and Furious
Michelle Rodriguez, the lead actress in “Fast and Furious” refused to act in the scene where her character cheated on her boyfriend with another man. She believed the scene was inappropriate.
#4 Samuel L. Jackson in "Pulp Fiction"
Source: Pulp Fiction
Hairstyle is very important to Samuel L. Jackson for his role, Jules, in “Pulp Fiction”. Samuel L. Jackson changed the look of his character by wearing a
funny wig, even though he had an argument with Tarantino, the director of the movie.
#5 John Krasinski in “The Office”
Source: The Office
John Krasinski refused to shoot a scene in “The Office” that would have depicted his character Jim cheating on his wife Pam (Jenna Fisher) during the show's eighth season. He made sure that this plot twist would alienate the audience.
#6 Morgan Freeman in “The Shawshank Redemption”
Source: The Office
The Shawshank Redemption is one of the most famous movies of all time, but the final scene of “The Shawshank Redemption” almost looked very different. The Oscar-winning actor, Morgan Freeman, who played Red, revealed that he disagreed with director and writer Frank Darabont about the iconic ending scene where Andy Dufresne and Red reunite on a beach in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. While Frank thought the character Red should blow harmonica, the actor described the idea as a sort of cliched.
#7 Crispin Glover in “Charlie’s Angels"
Source: Charlie’s Angels
Crispin Glover, who portrayed the Thin Man in “Charlie’s Angels” thought that his lines were a bit frilly, so he convinced the filmmakers cut them out. The director agreed with his idea and decided to make the character silent.
#8 Witherspoon in “Four Christmases”
Source: Four Christmases
Despite the success of “Four Christmases”, viewers noticed that there was no chemistry between the two actors Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn. Reese Witherspoon refused to film a sex scene with Vince Vaughn because she hated him so much. Eventually, this scene was removed from the script.
#9 Samuel L. Jackson in “Snakes on a Plane”
Source: Snakes on a Plane
Samuel L. Jackson revealed that he jumped at the chance to star in “Snakes on a Plane” because of its name. However, the filmmaker renamed the movie “Pacific Air 121” and the actor didn’t like it. Jackson gave them an ultimatum: either the creators keep the original name, or he leaves the project.
#10 Tony Stark in “The Avengers”
Source: The Avengers
In the original script, after fighting the Chitauri and falling to Earth, Iron man, played by Robert Downey Jr., awakens with a start and asks “What’s next?”. The actor felt that line could be something snappier and offered to fine-tune the script a bit.
#11 Dacre Montgomery in “Stranger Things”
Source: Stranger Things
Dacre Montgomery lobbied "Stranger Things" creators Mark and Ross Duffer to make Billy more of a tragically flawed human being than an out-and-out villain. The actor wanted the audience to understand that no one becomes bad for no reason and the directors agreed with his idea.