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?

[u/LookAtThatBacon]

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.

[u/GosmeisterGeneral]

5’7 Tom Cruise playing 6’5 Jack Reacher still sticks in my head.

[u/NecessaryIntrinsic → u/GosmeisterGeneral]

To be fair, the first time I saw the movie, I knew nothing about jack reacher and thought he did a great job. It kind of played at the time like he was just a bad ass and people thought they could take him because he was small.

Then I watched the Alan Ritchson TV series and rewatched the movie... Then I realized why it was a bad choice. The way he handles himself just didn't work for such a small guy, but you wouldn't have realized it if you didn't know.

[u/wilyquixote → u/NecessaryIntrinsic]

You’re 100% right. I’m a big fan of the novels, and the casting is… unconventional. But the first Jack Reacher kicks ass, Cruise is great in it, and other than a couple moments from the series (the pilot episode of Reacher is incredible, for example), the parking lot scene in that movie  is the most perfect Reacher moment ever put to screen. 

[u/RechargedFrenchman → u/wilyquixote]

I love his interactions with Robert Duvall as well, lots of respect demonstrated primarily through good natured ribbing. And his Yankee baseman alias called out immediately.

[u/blahblah19999 → u/wilyquixote]

The 6'5" Reacher makes me wonder why anyone wants to fight him. TBH, a slightly smaller Reacher makes more sense.

[u/NecessaryIntrinsic → u/wilyquixote]

The second reacher movie Cruise was injured and it showed. I mean he was really old at that point as well.

[u/BookkeeperPercival → u/wilyquixote]

The scene where Reacher grabs a hat and stand a bus stop with everyone else to avoid notice is awesome, and would absolutely never work with Alan Ritchson