Born on January 17th 1962, Jim Carrey has racked up an impressive collection of memorable roles over his career to date, including; Ace Ventura, Stanley Ipkiss, Truman Burbank, the Riddler, Lloyd Christmas, Bruce Nolan, Andy Kaufman and the Grinch!
But along the way he has come very close to playing a whole host of other famous characters. We've rounded up 10 of them below...
1. Ferris Beuller in Ferris Beuller's Day Off
Back in 1986 when John Hughes was casting the lead in this seminal teen comedy, John Cusack, Tom Cruise, Michael J. Fox., and Jim Carrey were all considered for the starring role of Ferris Beuller before Matthew Broderick’s eventual casting. Now I don't think I'd personally change a single moment or casting choice of Ferris Beuller's Day Off as it's one of my favourite films, but all credit to YouTuber oneduality who produced the amazing deep fake above to give us an idea of how a Carrey/Beuller might have been.
2. Rick Gassko in Bachelor Party
An early role for Jim Carrey could've come thanks to this 1994 comedy. Tom Hanks was eventually cast in the lead, and with Bachelor Party and Splash both hitting big in the same year it projected him into Hollywood A-list territory. I'm sure Carrey wasn't bitter at all!
3. Dr. Evil in Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery
Mike Myers personally sought out Jim Carrey to play Dr. Evil in the first Austin Powers film, as his initial plan wasn’t to play multiple characters in the series. Carrey was interested in taking the part but had a scheduling conflict with Liar Liar.
4. Gaylord "Greg" Focker in Meet The Parents
Although Meet the Parents came out in the year 2000, it had been in development for many years. Back in 1996 Jim Carrey was attached to star with, amazingly, Steven Spielberg directing. It was actually Carrey’s idea to have the main character’s last name be Focker, but after a period of development hell, Spielberg and Carrey both left the project and Ben Stiller took the lead role.
5. Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl
Michael Keaton, Christopher Walken, and Jim Carrey were all considered for the part of Captain Jack Sparrow. Carrey had to decline an invitation to discuss the role as the production schedule for the first Pirates film conflicted with Bruce Almighty, which he was already attached to star in.
6. Willy Wonka in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Capt Jack Sparrow was, of course, played by Johnny Depp, and another of his famous roles almost went to Jim Carrey. That of Willy Wonka in the Tim Burton 2005 remake.
7. Buddy the elf in Elf
Another film which Carrey was actually attached to star in if Elf had made it to cinemas in the early to mid 90s, as originally planned. But a decade of development hell saw Carrey withdraw from the project, making way for Will Ferrell's wonderful take on Buddy.
8. Walter Mitty in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty
Again, another project that Jim Carrey was originally attached to... and another that Steven Spielberg was lined up to direct... and another that eventually went to Ben Stiller. Before the Stiller version arrived in 2013, Owen Wilson, Mike Myers and Sacha Baron Cohen were all in talks for the lead role after Carrey's departure. Ron Howard was a potential director too, but Stiller made it something of a pet-project, both starring and directing.
9. Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story
Early in Toy Story’s development, producers wanted Paul Newman as Woody and Jim Carrey as Buzz Lightyear, with the two actors representing Old Hollywood and New Hollywood, respectively. Of course, we eventually got Tom Hanks and Tim Allen instead.
10. Edward Scissorhands in Edward Scissorhands
Long before Tim Burton considered Carry for Willy Wonka, he'd been up for the lead role in another Burton picture. Eventually it came down to experience, with Johnny Depp taking the part of Edward Scissorhands and starting a long relationship with the director.
Happy Birthday Mr. Carrey.
No comments:
Post a Comment