We all know that a movie successful is the result of careful preparation of everything, especially the casting process. It takes directors months or even years to find the right person for each role in their film. However, that's not always the case.
In fact, many famous directors like George Lucas of "Star War", and David Crane of "Friends" was quick to cast new actors (some of whom had never even studied acting) for weird reasons. And the result was completely unexpected, both the film and the actor became famous. For example, Harrison Ford landed the iconic role of Han Solo in "Star Wars" while working as a carpenter. Or the late James Michael Tyler got the role of Gunther in "Friends" because he was the only one who knew how to use a coffee machine at that time.
That might sound crazy, but that's not even the most bizarre instance! Scroll down to see 17 unique reasons the actor landed his iconic role. And if you're struggling with your dream of becoming an actor, check it out because maybe you'll be one of them.
#1 Tom Hardy turned up at the director’s house at midnight the night before his audition for "Warrior"
Source: Lionsgate
We can all agree that this move was bold. Tom Hardy was meant to check into a hotel when he arrived in the US for his "Warrior" movie audition. Instead, he arrived at the director's home around midnight and spent the next five days there.
#2 David Boreanaz was walking his dog past a friend of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" writer
Source: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
This may sound strange, but Marti Noxon, the creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", knew she wanted to cast someone who was impossibly handsome. And Boreanaz just happened to be walking by with his dog and then he was called in for an audition. Apparently, David had a special attraction to women.
#3 Director Wes Craven’s daughter thought Johnny Depp looked ‘beautiful’ enough to be cast in "Nightmare on Elm Street"
Source: Nightmare on Elm Street
On casting for "Nightmare on Elm Street", Depp’s performance wasn't overly impressive and it made him nervous. But Wes Craven's daughter thought was suitable for her dad's film because he was attractive. She made a wise decision because Depp now has established himself as an accomplished actor with a very varied career.
#4 George Lucas spotted Harrison Ford and offered him a part in "Star Wars" while Harrison worked as a carpenter
Source: Paul Harris / Getty Images
Harrison Ford collaborated with George Lucas on the movie "American Graffiti" (Harrison Ford as Bob Falfa). After that, Ford continued to work as a carpenter full-time to support his family. One day, Ford was hired to build a door at the offices where the casting of "Star Wars" was happening. He met Lucas again and the rest is history.
#5 Rosario Dawson got her role in "Kids" while sitting on her front-porch
Source: Shining Excalibur Films
Rosario Dawson was relaxing outside her house when the scriptwriter saw her and believed she would be ideal for the part. Then, at the age of 15, Dawson went to the audition and launched a successful acting career that is still going on now.
#6 Tim Roth was drunk at "Reservoir Dogs" casting
Source: Miramax Films
Tim Roth declined to read for the role of Mr. Orange because he was bad at auditioning. Quentin Tarantino took Roth to a pub and the two continued to drink there. While drunk, they “proceeded to read the entire script… every part in it about 10 times because we were hammered by then. And that’s how I got the job.”
#7 Jason Momoa practiced the Haka for his "Game of Thrones" audition
Source: HBO
If you’re a big "Game of Thrones" fan, you probably know how talkative Khal Drogo is. Like Billy Elliot, Momoa conveyed his messages via dancing. With a very minimal script and knowing that Khal Drogo didn't speak much, he decided to do the Haka. The production staff was impressed by his performance.
#8 In his "Game of Thrones" audition, Rory McCann lost his cool because he didn’t have the right lines
Source: HBO
Rory McCann's sister accidentally printed out the opening lines by mistake, so the actor had to wait for four hours to learn his lines. McCann said ‘When I walked into the room, I knew I had to go crazy, so I unleashed all of this’. And he was chosen to play Hound in "Game of Thrones"
#9 Ryan Gosling was cast in "The Notebook" because he wasn’t considered good-looking
Source: New Line Cinema
Now, most of you probably think that Ryan Gosling's good looks helped him get some of the roles he has. Nick Cassavetes, director of "The Notebook", didn't seem to think so. He told Ryan Gosling that ‘‘You’re not handsome, you’re not cool, you’re just a regular guy who looks a bit nuts.’’
#10 Wayne Knight got his role in "Jurassic Park" because of THAT "Basic Instinct" scene.
Source: TriStar Pictures
Wayne Knight skipped the audition of "Jurassic Park" because Steven Spielberg had seen his now infamous role in "Basic Instinct". Spielberg looked at
Sharon Stone and imagined Stone as a dinosaur and acted out the scene where he nervously watches a dinosaur. Knight then went straight to the first day of filming.
#11 After a public argument with a bank teller, Charlize Theron was chosen for her role in "Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest"
Source: Universal Pictures
Theron became upset and had a very public argument with a clerk when she was refused to pay her check. Her boom at the bank caught the attention of talent manager John Crosby who then became her manager. Then, she would play the lead in "Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest", for which she won an Oscar.
#12 Samuel L. Jackson smashed the Pulp Fiction audition because he was so angry when being mistaken for Lawrence Fishburne.
Source: Miramax Films
It's hard to imagine anyone other than Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield. Jackson travelled to Los Angeles for a second audition after being on the verge of losing his position to another actor, and he was addressed wrongly as Lawrence Fishburne. Jackson got angry and showed it in "Pulp Fiction" audition.
#13 Kit Harington got punched in the face and had a role in "Game of Thrones"
Source: HBO
Things rapidly became nasty for Kit Harington and his date while they were in a McDonald's. After a fight, Haringtonwas gifted a black eye. Ironically, when he turned up to his audition, Harington believed that his black eye had helped him get the role
#14 John Roberts got spotted for Bob’s Burgers because he impersonated his mum on Youtube
Source: Getty Images
You won't believe how John Roberts got the role of Linda Belcher. Roberts recorded a video on YouTube where he dressed up as his mother and spoke in her distinct voice. Creator Loren Bouchard saw this, and the rest is history.
#15 Sylvester Stallone took the easy route and just wrote the script for Rocky himself – in three and a half days. And then cast himself.
Source: Rocky
After seeing Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner's championship match, Sylvester Stallone decided to write his own story. Although the producers and studios accepted his script, they were hesitant to hire an unproven actor in the lead. Stallone persisted and eventually assumed the part of "Rocky", for which he later rose to fame.
#16 The late James Michael Tyler landed his role in "Friends" because he knew his way around an espresso machine
Source: NBC
Knowing how to use a coffee machine was a blessing for James Michael Tyler at that time. Despite not having a line until the show's 33rd episode, it's safe to say that he quickly won over viewers.
#17 Harvey Stephens played Damien in "The Omen" because he kicked the director in the balls
Source: 20th Century Fox
Harvey Stephens' acting in "The Omen" played an important factor in making the movie really horrifying. After two days of auditioning, Richard Donner, the director, changed it up. Young Stephen was instructed to attack the director at his audition in the same way the character does in the film. Stephens took this seriously, kicked him in the balls and scratched at his face.