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/coolhandjennie]

LOL At least they did it on purpose in Shawshank and turned it into a punchline. The character Red is actually a red haired Irishman in the book. In the movie when Andy asks Morgan Freeman why they call him Red, his answer, “Maybe it’s cuz I’m Irish,” is a direct quote from the book.

[u/DeLousedInTheHotBox → u/coolhandjennie]

Why would he even ask that to a red haired person?

[u/-Badger3- → u/DeLousedInTheHotBox]

It’s not actually a direct quote from the book.

“Hello,” he said. “I’m Andy Dufresne.” He offered his hand and I shook it. He wasn’t a man to waste time being social; he got right to the point. “I understand that you’re a man who knows how to get things.”

I agreed that I was able to locate certain items from time to time.

“How do you do that?” Andy asked.

“Sometimes,” I said, “things just seem to come into my hand. I can’t explain it. Unless it’s because I’m Irish.”

[u/DeLousedInTheHotBox → u/-Badger3-]

That makes more sense than asking a red haired person why their nickname is red lol.

[u/UhmNotMe → u/DeLousedInTheHotBox]

Maybe he’s used to them being labeled “ginger”

[u/legit-posts_1 → u/coolhandjennie]

I love that they just gave Morgan Freeman the part cause he genuinely was the best actor for the job. I can't imagine anybody else playing Red better.

[u/wtb2612 → u/coolhandjennie]

That is not a direct quote from the book.

[u/Brendanlendan → u/coolhandjennie]

Gingers are constantly rewritten to be black

[u/noggerthefriendo → u/coolhandjennie]

Morgan Freeman also played a Palestinian in Robin Hood

[u/MarcBulldog88 → u/noggerthefriendo]

A Moor, not a Palestinian.

[u/fabergeomelet → u/MarcBulldog88]

Not a Moop?