15 Times The Actor Refused to Do What Was Written
Actors don’t always agree with the scripts they’re handed, and sometimes they’re willing to argue about it. A joke might feel wrong for the character, a romantic storyline might come out of nowhere, or a single line might be so ridiculous that nobody wants to say it out loud. Some performers have pushed back over major plot points, while others have fought over details most viewers would never notice. And occasionally, they’ve been right. Several well-known scenes turned out differently because someone on set decided the original idea wasn’t working. Here are 15 times actors refused to follow what was written, ranging from small dialogue changes to entire storylines that never made it to the screen.
Jenna Ortega Didn’t Like Wednesday’s Dialogue
Jenna Ortega thought some of Wednesday Addams’ lines sounded completely wrong for the character. She pushed back during filming, even changing dialogue without consulting the writers first.
Harrison Ford Didn’t Want Han Solo to Say the Obvious
Han Solo was originally supposed to answer Leia’s declaration of love with something much more conventional. Harrison Ford helped replace the scripted response with the simple “I know.”
John Krasinski Refused to Have Jim Cheat on Pam
During the final seasons of The Office, the writers considered having Jim kiss another woman. John Krasinski objected, believing it would ruin the audience’s relationship with the character.
Christina Ricci Didn’t Buy the Uncle Fester Twist
The original ending of The Addams Family revealed that Uncle Fester wasn’t really Fester. Christina Ricci questioned the decision, and director Barry Sonnenfeld eventually changed the ending.
Anna Kendrick Didn’t Want Another Romance
Anna Kendrick objected to a proposed romance between Beca and a music executive in Pitch Perfect 3. She also rejected a farewell kiss that wasn’t in the original plan.
Matthew Perry Hated a Chandler Storyline
One proposed Friends episode had Chandler visiting a male strip club just because he liked the sandwiches. Matthew Perry thought the idea was ridiculous and asked the writers to scrap it.
Kane Hodder Drew the Line at Kicking a Dog
A scene in Friday the 13th Part VIII originally called for Jason Voorhees to kick a dog. Kane Hodder refused, arguing that Jason wouldn’t behave that way.
Angela Kinsey Wouldn’t Say the Joke
Angela Kinsey refused to deliver a line involving a joke about Oscar’s sexuality and Christianity in The Office. She raised her concerns with Greg Daniels, who agreed to remove it.
Mike Myers Wouldn’t Give Up Queen
The studio wanted a different song for the famous car scene in Wayne’s World. Mike Myers insisted on using Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and reportedly threatened to leave the production.
Crispin Glover Had His Character’s Lines Removed
The Thin Man in Charlie’s Angels originally had dialogue. Crispin Glover disliked what he’d been given and asked to play the entire role without speaking instead.
Tessa Thompson Didn’t Want Someone Else’s Catchphrase
Tessa Thompson was asked to say a familiar Will Smith line in Men in Black: International. She refused, pointing out that Agent M wasn’t supposed to be Agent J.
Glenn Close Refused to Cry on Command
In Air Force One, Vice President Kathryn Bennett was supposed to break down during the crisis. Glenn Close objected, believing the character would handle the situation more professionally.
Robert Reed Had a Problem With Strawberries
Robert Reed once refused to deliver a line in The Brady Bunch about the smell of cooking strawberries. He argued that strawberries didn’t produce the aroma described in the script.
Michelle Rodriguez Wouldn’t Accept Letty’s Love Triangle
An early version of The Fast and the Furious involved Letty becoming romantically entangled with Brian. Michelle Rodriguez objected so strongly that she threatened to quit the film.
Christopher Lee Refused Dracula’s Dialogue
Christopher Lee disliked the dialogue written for Count Dracula in the 1958 film, finding it too awkward to deliver. He refused to say the lines, leaving Dracula almost entirely silent.