All of us know that Avatar (2009) reigned as the highest-grossing movie of all time when it comes to box office triumph, or Black Panther (2018) blazed a historic trail as the first superhero film ever nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. However, there are some facts behind the scene that can take any hardcore fan by surprise. The world of cinema holds a treasure of lesser-known but equally captivating facts about famous films and beloved TV shows.
These facts possess the power to astonish even the most seasoned movie enthusiasts. We've gathered a selection of these extraordinary tidbits right here, ready to drop your jaw and transport you deeper into the enchanting universe of Entertainment.
#1. Jennifer Coolidge almost turned down her role in The White Lotus
Although show creator Mike White had written the role of Tanya with Coolidge in mind, she nearly turned down the opportunity, expressing her reservations about feeling physically prepared for the part.
#2. The father’s sweater in Coraline is paying homage to something
Source: Coraline / Focus Features
Take a closer look at the girl’s father, you can see he is wearing a sweater from Michigan State University. It’s interesting that the producer, Bill Mechanic is a proud alum of Michigan State.
#3. Margaret Atwood appeared in a brief scene in The Handmaid’s Tale
Many might not notice that Margaret Atwood, the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, appeared as an aunt for seconds in the first episode.
#4. Top Gun: Maverick is one of the sequels that has taken the longest to be released
Source: Top Gun / Paramount Pictures
36 years after the first film’s release, the second installment of Top Gun aired. In fact, it is one of the longest periods in history between a premiere and its sequel.
#5. It took Keira Knightley years of therapy to recover from Pirates of the Caribbean
At the age of 17, Keira Knightley first appeared as Elizabeth Swann which helped her achieve global stardom. However, she was shocked by the power of fame and it took her years of therapy to deal with it.
#6. The Mummy prop that went wrong
Source: The Mummy / Universal Pictures
Sandstorms and snakes caused many troubles for the cast and crew when they were working in Morocco and the Sahara. Actor Brendan Fraser had a bad experience when the stunt team tied the rope so tight that it choked him before he passed out.
#7. Billy Zane wore a wig in Titanic
Source: Titanic / 20th Century Studios
The fact that Billy Zane is bald comes to Titanic fans as a surprise. The director suggested the actor wear a wig because he thought that Rose’s posh fiancé needed a healthy head of hair to be more convincing.
#8. Hugh Jackman could have played the role of Captain Jack Sparrow
Screenwriter Stuart Beattie revealed that he created Captain Jack Sparrow based on actor Hugh Jackman. Even the name is made after the actor. However, he didn’t get the role because, at that time, he wasn’t internationally famous enough.
#9. Carol from Friends was replaced
Source: Friends / Warner Bros.
Jane Sibbett portrayed Carol in Friends from the beginning, appearing in a total of 15 episodes. However, not widely known, Carol's character looked slightly different in her initial appearance. In fact, the mother of Ben appeared in one of the episodes as actress Anita Barone.
#10. Iwan Rheon almost played John Snow on Game of Thrones
Source: Allpix Press / East News
Iwan Rheon nailed the role of Ramsay Bolton in the popular series Game of Thrones. Many might not know that he originally auditioned for the part of Jon Snow.
#11. Michael Jackson wanted to buy Marvel so he could act in Spider-Man
Source: everett225 / Depositphotos
Spider-Man was Michael Jackson’s dream role. That was why he intended to buy Marvel. However, he wouldn’t take this part even if he owned the company.
Which fact comes to you as a huge shock? Do you want to add something else to this list? We’d be pleased to hear from you in the comments!