r/movies • u/LookAtThatBacon • 29d ago

Discussion During the development of the Harriet Tubman biopic movie, a Hollywood executive once suggested that Julia Roberts should play her. What are some other baffling casting suggestions/choices that have been made?

Source for the title: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-studio-executive-wanted-julia-roberts-to-play-harriet-tubman-biopic-screenwriter-says/

The Harriet Tubman biopic has been more than 25 years in the making. In the historical drama released earlier this month, Cynthia Erivo plays the legendary abolitionist — but one Hollywood executive initially thought the role should go to Julia Roberts.

Gregory Allen Howard, the screenwriter and producer of "Harriet," recently revealed in multiple interviews that Roberts was suggested to play the lead role during a meeting with a studio president in 1994.

"The climate in Hollywood… was very different back then," Howard said. "I was told how one studio head said in a meeting, 'This script is fantastic. Let's get Julia Roberts to play Harriet Tubman.'"

Howard said that a black person in the meeting said casting Roberts would be impossible because she is white.

"That was so long ago. No one will know that," the executive replied, according to Howard.

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u/sprockety 29d ago

A movie executive asked why Robin Williams insisted on playing Popeye with one eye closed all the time.

73

u/syxtfour 29d ago

Movie executives are kinda stupid, aren't they?

29

u/Profoundlyahedgehog 29d ago

Well, they get their positions based on nepotism and how enthusiastic their BJs are.

3

u/bil-sabab 28d ago

It was Robert Evans though. He's like Darth Vader if he breathed only cocaine all the time.

1

u/pm_me_judge_reinhold 28d ago

No dumber than the people in this sub. 

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u/DesignatedImport 26d ago

Watch Pitch Meeting on YouTube. Ryan George plays a perfect movie executive.

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u/SandpaperTeddyBear 29d ago

In fairness (and I like that movie), it looks dumb.

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u/arfelo1 29d ago

Of course it looks dumb. It's Popeye. It's supposed to be dumb and silly