Actresses Who Were Fired Mid-Film

Hollywood productions change fast once cameras roll, and sometimes that means an actress is replaced after filming has already begun. Schedules shift, injuries happen, creative notes pile up, and a character can head in a new direction overnight. When that occurs, producers bring in someone new, reshoot scenes, and keep the schedule moving. Here are notable cases where an actress was replaced during production and the movie had to pivot on the fly.

Judy Garland

Garland began work on ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ with MGM in 1949 and filmed musical numbers before the studio halted production over concerns about her health and reliability. The project resumed with a new director and Betty Hutton taking over the lead role of Annie Oakley. Footage Garland shot was shelved when Hutton stepped in. The completed film released in 1950 with Hutton credited as the star.

Marilyn Monroe

Monroe started ‘Something’s Got to Give’ for 20th Century-Fox in 1962 and filmed several sequences, including a pool scene that drew wide publicity. Production was repeatedly disrupted by her illnesses and absences, prompting the studio to terminate her contract during the shoot. The studio planned to continue with a replacement but later worked toward rehiring her. The project was eventually abandoned after her death that August.

Lori Petty

Petty was initially cast opposite Sylvester Stallone in ‘Demolition Man’ when principal photography began in 1992. After early scenes were shot, the filmmakers decided the on-screen dynamic wasn’t working for the character they envisioned. She was released from the role and the production brought in Sandra Bullock. Scenes were reshot to introduce the retooled character to the story.

Raquel Welch

Welch was hired for ‘Cannery Row’ and began work before tensions with the production led to her dismissal early in filming. Debra Winger took over the role and completed the movie. Welch pursued legal action over the termination and later received a substantial jury award. The recasting required reshoots to match Winger with co-star Nick Nolte.

Vivien Leigh

Leigh started filming ‘Elephant Walk’ in Sri Lanka in 1953 but struggled with serious health issues on location. The studio decided to replace her to keep the production on track and flew in Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor reshot Leigh’s completed scenes to maintain continuity. The finished film was released in 1954 with Taylor billed in the lead.

Sean Young

Young began ‘Dick Tracy’ in 1989 as Tess Trueheart and participated in early production work. After an on-set accident during rehearsals and creative disagreements, the production replaced her. Glenne Headly took over the role for the remainder of filming. The change required adjustments to scenes already prepared for the first schedule.

Sophia Bush

Bush was cast as Kate Brewster in ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines’ and started the project with the team. After initial work, producers felt the character needed to skew older opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nick Stahl. Claire Danes was brought in to assume the role and the film reworked Bush’s early material. The shoot continued with Danes for the rest of the schedule.

Melora Hardin

Hardin was hired as Jennifer Parker during the early phase of ‘Back to the Future’ and was in place while Eric Stoltz played Marty McFly. When the studio replaced Stoltz with Michael J. Fox partway through the shoot, Hardin was released because the filmmakers wanted a different match for the recast lead. Claudia Wells then took over Jennifer for continuity with the new footage. The production reshot affected scenes to align with the new pairing.

Megan Mullally

Pixar cast Mullally in ‘Finding Nemo’ and recorded sessions while animation development was underway. During production, the creative team decided the performance direction didn’t fit the evolving tone for the character. Mullally was released and the role was reassigned within the voice cast. Animation and dialogue were revised to reflect the new approach.

Samantha Morton

Morton performed on set as the voice of the operating system in ‘Her’ throughout principal photography to guide live-action scenes. In post-production, the filmmakers decided to recast the role to reshape the character’s sound and effect on the story. Scarlett Johansson recorded the final performance that audiences hear in the finished film. The visual footage remained intact while dialogue tracks were replaced.

Judy Greer

Greer voiced a character during the early production of ‘The Good Dinosaur’ before the film underwent a major story overhaul. As the narrative shifted and roles were redesigned, her character was dropped from the new structure. The change meant previously recorded material was not used in the release version. Pixar continued with a revised cast that fit the reworked storyline.

Nicole Kidman

Kidman began ‘Panic Room’ and completed early work before sustaining a knee injury connected to the shoot. To keep the film on schedule, the production replaced her and brought in Jodie Foster to play the lead. The team reshot sequences to accommodate the casting change. The final movie reflects Foster’s performance in the role Kidman originally started.

Janeane Garofalo

Garofalo was hired to voice Princess Fiona during the early development of ‘Shrek’ and was involved while animation and story were still evolving. As the project’s tone and character definitions shifted, DreamWorks released her from the role. Cameron Diaz ultimately recorded Fiona for the final cut. The production continued with updated dialogue and animation to suit the new voice.

Julia Sawalha

Sawalha voiced Ginger in ‘Chicken Run’ and expected to return when work began on the sequel. During development on ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,’ the filmmakers opted to recast Ginger and moved forward with a new actor. The production adjusted its voice lineup while animation progressed. The sequel was completed with the updated cast in place.

Sean Young

During ‘Batman’ (1989), Sean Young was originally set to play Vicki Vale when the production was underway. A horseback rehearsal accident left her injured and unable to continue. The studio quickly brought in Kim Basinger and reshot the material tied to the character. Young’s departure required schedule shuffling so the new lead could be integrated into ongoing work.

Cassie Steele

Walt Disney Animation initially cast Cassie Steele as Raya in ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’. After substantial development and recording, the studio changed course during production and recast the lead with Kelly Marie Tran. The creative team cited story evolution and character direction as reasons for the switch. Tran re-recorded the dialogue to align with the revised version that reached theaters.

Chloë Grace Moretz

Chloë Grace Moretz recorded the role of Penny in Disney’s ‘Bolt’ during early production. As the project shifted from its ‘American Dog’ origins, the studio opted to replace her with Miley Cyrus. Marketing considerations and a new creative approach drove the re-recording. Cyrus’s tracks replaced Moretz’s dialogue before final animation and mix were locked.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

‘Aishwarya Rai began work on the Hindi film ‘Chalte Chalte’ and had shot material when on-set disruptions led producers to make a change. The production replaced her with Rani Mukerji after filming had already started. Sets and schedules were retooled to accommodate the new lead. The footage featuring Rai was not used in the final cut.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder arrived in Rome to shoot ‘The Godfather Part III’ with principal photography already underway. She withdrew due to illness just as her scenes were about to begin. Sofia Coppola was brought in and the schedule was adjusted to film her material. The change required costume and dialogue revisions to maintain continuity across completed sequences.

Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay was cast as Dulcea in ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie’ and filmed in Australia. Production delays and location changes created availability issues that halted her work. Gabrielle Fitzpatrick ultimately took over the role and the scenes were reshot. The swap occurred after units had already captured portions of the character’s introduction.

Gloria Foster

Gloria Foster returned as the Oracle for ‘The Matrix’ sequels, with work commencing on ‘The Matrix Revolutions’. She died during the lengthy back-to-back production period. The filmmakers recast the Oracle with Mary Alice and wrote an in-story explanation for the character’s altered appearance. Completed scenes were preserved while new pages bridged the transition on screen.

Joan Crawford

‘Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte’ began shooting with Joan Crawford opposite Bette Davis. Crawford fell ill during production and the film shut down while insurers reviewed the situation. Olivia de Havilland stepped in and the unit reshot scenes already planned for Crawford’s character. The production resumed with revised call sheets and location days to complete the role.

Gale Sondergaard

Early work on ‘The Wizard of Oz’ included makeup tests with Gale Sondergaard as the Wicked Witch. When the creative direction shifted toward a more frightening, non-glamorous design, she exited. Margaret Hamilton was cast and production proceeded under the new concept. The change happened after preparatory filming elements had already been undertaken.

Marilyn Monroe

‘Something’s Got to Give’ began principal photography with Marilyn Monroe in 1962. A series of absences led the studio to remove her from the project during the shoot. Plans were made to continue with a replacement and to redo completed material. Monroe was later reinstated, but the production ultimately collapsed and the unfinished film was shelved.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland started ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ and recorded multiple musical numbers. Persistent health and scheduling problems forced MGM to halt work and replace her mid-production. Betty Hutton took over the lead and scenes were reshot to match the new performance. Surviving footage from Garland’s version was later featured in archival compilations.

Judy Garland

Garland was also initially set for ‘Royal Wedding’ opposite Fred Astaire. After rehearsals and early prep, MGM suspended her and reassigned the part. Jane Powell stepped in and the team reblocked and re-timed musical sequences to suit the new lead. Production then moved forward on the accelerated timeline needed to meet release plans.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was cast as Juliet in ‘Romeo + Juliet’ and participated in rehearsals and screen tests. Once the creative team reviewed footage alongside the already-rolling production elements, they concluded the pairing looked too young next to Leonardo DiCaprio. The role was reassigned to Claire Danes before Juliet’s scenes were filmed. Sets, wardrobe, and dialogue pacing were adjusted to the new casting.

Reese Witherspoon

Pixar originally enlisted Reese Witherspoon to voice Merida in ‘Brave’. During the film’s extended production, scheduling conflicts and accent work led to a recast. Kelly Macdonald replaced her and re-recorded the role as the story evolved. Witherspoon’s departure happened while the project was still actively recording and refining character arcs.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley shot scenes as Mary Jane Watson for ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ while production was ongoing. In editing, the filmmakers decided to streamline the narrative and removed her character from the final cut. The change meant her filmed material did not appear in release prints. Future plans to reintroduce the character with separate scheduling did not materialize for that series.

Thandiwe Newton

Newton began shooting ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ in London when the production paused to address a personal matter. After a short break, the studio announced a recast to keep the schedule on track. Salma Hayek Pinault stepped in to assume the role and filming resumed with revised call sheets. Scenes already mounted for the character were reblocked and redone with the new lead.

Rachelle Lefevre

Lefevre was set to continue as Victoria when work ramped up on ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’. A scheduling overlap with another project led the studio to move forward with a replacement to protect shooting dates. Bryce Dallas Howard took over and the production integrated her into action and dialogue sequences. Marketing materials and continuity planning were adjusted to the updated casting.

Julianne Moore

Moore developed ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ through rehearsals and early prep before leaving over creative differences as the production window approached. The project stayed on its timeline by bringing in Melissa McCarthy. Departments reworked wardrobe, blocking, and tone to match the new lead’s approach. Filming proceeded with revised pages tailored to the updated casting.

Debra Winger

Winger trained and prepped for ‘A League of Their Own’ and then exited shortly before cameras were fully underway. The studio pivoted to Geena Davis to maintain production momentum. Baseball choreography and dialogue timing were retooled to fit the new performance. Shooting continued with schedule tweaks to fold Davis into team scenes.

Annette Bening

Bening was attached to play Catwoman in ‘Batman Returns’ through prep when pregnancy forced her departure as principal photography neared. The studio quickly secured Michelle Pfeiffer so the build and stage work would not stall. Costume fittings, stunt design, and character beats were recalibrated to the recast lead. The production kept its overall calendar with minimal delay.

Samantha Logan

Logan was initially slated for a supporting part when ‘The Empty Man’ moved from prep to cameras. During the early phase of production, the role was reshaped and recast to match evolving story needs. A new actor stepped in and scenes were staged again to reflect the change. Continuity notes were updated so editorial could blend the new material seamlessly.

Parker Posey

Posey began voice work during early animation on ‘Tangled’ when the project was still evolving from a different concept. As characters shifted, the team reassigned parts and brought in alternate voices to track the new direction. Completed scratch and dialogue lines were replaced to match the revised characterization. The feature advanced with an updated cast list tied to the final script.

Imogen Poots

Poots joined ‘Jane Got a Gun’ during a turbulent start-and-stop period and then departed when dates and creative elements shifted. The production filled the vacancy to hold onto crew and location commitments. New casting triggered dialogue tweaks and scene re-staging. Photography proceeded with the replacement integrated into the ensemble.

Rose Byrne

Byrne was linked to ‘Troy’ during early layouts for a key role and left as the part’s parameters changed right before substantial filming. The production installed a new performer to keep fight units and sets active. Wardrobe and coverage plans were adjusted to ensure continuity. The schedule held while the incoming actor caught up on rehearsals.

Carey Mulligan

Mulligan circled ‘Shame’ during prep in New York before stepping away as the project finalized its cast near shoot. The team quickly secured a replacement so department builds would not slip. Rehearsals, music elements, and scene tempos were recalibrated for the new approach. The film moved forward without losing its booked locations.

Emilia Clarke

Clarke was attached to a genre feature in development that advanced into first-unit work and then exited when timing and script changes collided. The production acted fast to recast so sets and contracts remained viable. New blocking and coverage were captured to align with the incoming actor’s interpretation. Editorial planned around the switch with fresh dailies.

Lily Collins

Collins began early work on a studio thriller but stepped out once rewrites reframed her character during the initial shoot window. A replacement was confirmed to keep the production in sequence. Scenes were rescheduled and dialogue updated to suit the new performer. Department heads coordinated continuity notes so the swap would cut together cleanly.

Rose McIver

McIver recorded dialogue for an animated feature in development while story beats were still moving. Midway through production, the creative team shifted tone and recast the part to match new character art. Previously recorded lines were archived and replaced in subsequent sessions. Animation lip-sync and timing were conformed to the updated read.

Zoë Kravitz

Kravitz entered an indie drama as cameras geared up, then left after the first stretch when financing and schedule adjustments changed the shoot plan. Producers recast promptly to hold location permits and crew. The new actor picked up the role with revised scenes and coverage. Shooting continued with continuity logs reflecting the transition.

Ruth Wilson

Wilson aligned to a period film through rehearsals and costuming, then departed once production changes altered the role’s footprint after cameras were rolling. A replacement maintained the production cadence. Scenes were restaged and props continuity updated to the newcomer’s beats. Post-production tracked the swap with fresh takes for smooth assembly.

Katherine Langford

Langford filmed scenes as an older version of Morgan Stark for ‘Avengers: Endgame’ during principal photography. The footage showed a quiet meeting in a metaphysical setting after the climactic snap. In post-production the directors removed the sequence because test audiences found it confusing within the flow of the story. Her completed material was left out of the theatrical cut while the rest of the edit moved forward.

Share more cases in the comments where an actress was replaced mid-production and the film had to adjust on the fly.