10 Times an Actor's Death Ended a Production

MsMojo

Sometimes, the loss of a beloved star brings everything to a halt. We're reflecting on unforgettable instances when an actor's passing led to the cancellation of a major film or TV project. From unmade sequels to halted adaptations, these stories highlight just how impactful certain talents truly were. Which project do you think could have worked despite the tragic loss? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Transcript

00:00Mrs. Doubtfire 2. No, there'll be no sequels. Watch. If there is one, you're going...

00:04You lie!

00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're examining the most well-known TV and film productions

00:10that were cancelled following the passing of an actor in real life.

00:15As you all know, since our last live show, we lost our friend and colleague, John Belushi.

00:21Raoul Julia. The Addams Family 3.

00:23Even decades after his last appearance as Gomez in 1993's Addams Family Values,

00:29no other actor has lived up to the lofty heights of the role that Raoul Julia set between two films.

00:36Woo her. Admire her. Make her feel like she's the most sublime creature on earth.

00:43During his last outing in the character, the actor had stomach cancer behind the scenes.

00:48In 1994, after further health issues, Julia sadly died.

00:53And in New York today, the actor Raoul Julia has died.

00:56He had an enormous range.

01:00His loss to the Addams Family franchise mixed in with an underwhelming response at the box office

01:05for the 1993 film saw a third instalment cancelled.

01:10Instead, a reboot was put together that became 1998's Addams Family Reunion,

01:15a direct-to-video movie featuring mostly new cast that was critically panned.

01:21What a glorious day!

01:25This will surely be the best investment that we have ever made!

01:31Alan Rickman.

01:32Galaxy Quest sequel.

01:33With a long history of serious roles, there wasn't much faith that Rickman would be able to leave a positive mark in a comedy film.

01:42But boy did he do it with 1999's Galaxy Quest.

01:46Are you enjoying your kept my blood tics, Dr. Lazarus?

01:49Just like Mother used to me.

01:50His dry comedic timing helped turn the picture into a cult classic.

01:55Over the years, a sequel has often been discussed, with Rickman's co-star Tim Allen, stating publicly that it was in the works.

02:04However, in 2016, after facing terminal pancreatic cancer in secret, Rickman sadly passed away.

02:11I was gonna do, yeah, the Amazon thing. All the stars were aligning to re-establish. Everybody said yes.

02:19I had some scenes with Alan. You know, I had a couple scenes with Alan, you know.

02:23Sam Rockwell claimed that the rest of the cast were ready to sign up for the sequel, until Rickman's passing influenced events.

02:31A Galaxy Quest TV show is being developed, yet little is known about it at the time of writing.

02:37By Grabthar's hammer, by the sons of Worven, you shall be avenged.

02:48Marilyn Monroe, Something's Got to Give.

02:51When she was working on Something's Got to Give in 1962, Monroe had been struggling with her mental health for years.

02:58The colour has deteriorated on much of the print, but Marilyn's performance has not, and it's easy to see why Fox rehired her to finish the film.

03:05The fact that she never did makes these raw fragments that much more fascinating and valuable.

03:11Reportedly, this impacted her work as she was fired from the production after calling in sick several times, delaying the filming schedule.

03:20Due to co-star Dean Martin having final approval and refusing to work with anyone else, Monroe was rehired, despite producers having hired Lee Remick as her replacement.

03:31That you would like, would you?

03:33Yes.

03:34Why?

03:36Well, I used to long for it.

03:38Sadly, shortly afterwards, Monroe passed away.

03:42With Something's Got to Give unfinished before her death, it was cancelled by 20th Century Fox.

03:48Instead, the production was reworked into the 1963 Move Over, Darling, with a mostly new cast.

03:55I don't think you remember me, but I remember you.

03:58Are you a lady or a man?

04:00I used to be a lady.

04:05Chris Farley, Fatty Arbuckle biopic.

04:08With an iconic run as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and a strong history of being in comedy films, Farley had the funny side of Hollywood in the palm of his hand.

04:18Being responsible, not only to myself, but to the people around me.

04:22That means you guys.

04:24I think it's time to quit goofing around.

04:27I think it's time to grow up, fellas.

04:29I want you to know everybody's going to be okay.

04:30However, he wanted to test his acting abilities in a more serious role.

04:34So, he spoke to legendary playwright David Mamet about being in a biopic about Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle, which would have been Farley's first dramatic role.

04:45I don't know, but I gotta do something, and I don't know what.

04:52Man, do I sound like an idiot.

04:53Arbuckle was best known for being a comedy silent film star whose life fell into controversy when he was accused of assault and manslaughter in the death of Virginia Rappe in 1921.

05:06However, in his personal life, Farley was struggling with health issues and substance use, leading to his unfortunate passing away in 1997.

05:14Comic actor Chris Farley was found dead Thursday afternoon in a Chicago apartment.

05:19There have been reports that the 33-year-old Farley died of a heart attack, but Chicago police say they will announce the official cause of death on Friday.

05:26Marlon Brando, Big Bug Man.

05:29But in his last movie, which has not yet been released yet, he played a role that will surely surprise.

05:36Donna Tatro has the story of the Marlon Brando you didn't know.

05:40Despite being known as one of the leading figures of method acting and a legend in the industry, there was something Brando always wanted to do.

05:49Voice acting as a woman in an animated film.

05:52And he got that chance when he was cast as Mrs. Sauer in Big Bug Man, after originally being offered the role of Nicholas Dunderbeck.

06:01Brando had always wanted to play a woman, according to his agent, and just three weeks ago, he finally did.

06:07In his first and only role as a woman, the Hollywood icon became Mrs. Sauer.

06:13Applying his method acting ways, Brando reportedly wore a wig and drag as he recorded his lines.

06:20The actor stated it was the most fun he'd had since being in 1953's Julius Caesar.

06:25According to co-director Maurice Tobias, he didn't miss a beat.

06:29In fact, he told her it was the best time he had had professionally since filming Julius Caesar.

06:35However, in 2004, after several health issues, Brando sadly passed away.

06:41Big Bug Man was slated for release in 2006.

06:45However, it never came out.

06:47Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter.

06:50Many animal lovers can point to the work of Irwin for getting them passionate about all creatures great and small.

06:56His joyous enthusiasm for every critter that roams, crawls, flies, and swims on the planet was infectious.

07:03They're very fast, highly toxic venom.

07:08If you don't get the serum, you've got a good chance of dying.

07:11A snake this size would kill you.

07:13Best known for his work on The Crocodile Hunter, while the main series ended in 2004, Irwin presented standalone specials connected to the franchise afterward.

07:23In 2006, he was filming the special Ocean's Deadliest at the Bat Reef off the coast of Australia when tragedy struck.

07:32While filming a new documentary, the Animal Planet star ran into trouble when a stingray approached.

07:37Irwin was stung in the heart by one of the sharp, toxin-filled barbs protruding from the tail.

07:42As he was recording a stingray, Irwin was attacked, sadly resulting in his death.

07:48As a result, after multiple specials celebrating Irwin's life, The Crocodile Hunter and The Crocodile Hunter Diaries came to an end.

07:55Here's the other one.

08:07Bill Paxton, Training Day.

08:1015 years after the film's events, Training Day, the TV series, selected Paxton to play the role of the morally questionable police detective, Frank Rourke.

08:19Kicking ass? I'm seriously thinking about kicking yours.

08:22You're pissed. Okay, that's okay.

08:24Damn straight, I'm pissed.

08:29With a celebrated acting career with roles in Twister, Hatfields and McCoys, and Apollo 13, the show was in quality hands with the Emmy and Golden Globe nominee.

08:40Shortly after it debuted in 2017, Paxton underwent heart surgery to fix an issue caused by a childhood disease.

08:48However, complications arose.

08:50That unfortunately resulted in his death.

08:53The sudden death of beloved actor Bill Paxton. In a statement, the 61-year-old's family says he died due to complications from heart surgery.

09:01Due to this, Training Day came to an end after one season. Paxton's family later sued the hospital and surgeon for wrongful death, which was settled in 2022 for undisclosed fees.

09:13Such a great body of work and such a sudden death.

09:16It's just one of those people you look at him and it's like his face matches the kindness that he exuded. It's just really sad.

09:23River Phoenix, Broken Dream.

09:24After a rapid rise in Hollywood, especially due to his Oscar nomination for 1988's Running on Empty, Phoenix was set to enjoy a long-storied career in the industry.

09:35I fell apart. It didn't make any sense. Without us, you can't keep it going. He needs us to hold him up.

09:45As such, he was connected to many projects in the early 90s, one of which was Broken Dream, also known as Broken Dreams.

09:53However, with a history of substance use, Phoenix sadly passed away in 1993.

09:58At this point in time, the exact cause of death is still under investigation.

10:02Los Angeles homicide detectives say an autopsy will take place in the next few days and should reveal what caused the young actor's death.

10:09This saw Broken Dream being shelved. However, in 2011, news emerged of a resurrection of the project and again the following year.

10:18Ben Kingsley, John Hurt and Caleb Landry-Jones were all reportedly on board.

10:24However, with no news since, followed by Hurt's passing in 2017, the project has seemingly been cancelled once more.

10:32Oscar-nominated British actor John Hurt has died at the age of 77.

10:36John Belushi, John Candy and Chris Farley.

10:40A Confederacy of Dunces film adaptation.

10:44Considered one of the funniest American novels and one of the best books ever,

10:48A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Tool even won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1981.

10:56A Confederacy of Dunces, the 1981 Pulitzer Prize winning book by John Kennedy Tool.

11:01In the novel, Ignatius J. Reilly goes to work selling weenies for the fictitious Paradise Vendors.

11:07Despite this mammoth success, no film adaptation has been created.

11:12According to some, it could be cursed.

11:15John Belushi was reportedly in line to star before he unfortunately passed away in 1982.

11:21The staff backstage and the crew here in the studio, hundreds of people who knew and worked with John.

11:27We mourn his death and we miss him very much.

11:31John Candy was then in talks to take on the lead role before he sadly passed away in 1994.

11:38Finally, there was Chris Farley, who was also tied to the A Confederacy of Dunces production

11:44before his untimely demise in 1997.

11:47Farley's body was discovered yesterday in his luxury apartment in Chicago's John Hancock Center.

11:54Police say there was no sign of foul play.

11:56Since then, there have been further reports of a film adaptation coming, but nothing has materialized yet.

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12:17Robin Williams, Mrs. Doubtfire 2

12:20Robin Williams is reportedly attached.

12:23The script is being developed right now.

12:25But look what we dug up.

12:26Robin back in the day talking about a possible sequel.

12:30If you want a funny feel-good movie to cheer you up, we'd always recommend 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire.

12:37With Williams in his prime, the film was not only a smash hit at the box office, but also became beloved by fans.

12:43Over the years, there were reports of a sequel coming, but they failed to come into being for one reason or another.

12:51It took just 20 years, but Robin Williams is ready to don that famous outfit, that wig once more.

12:55In 2014, we got our biggest sign that this was to happen, when it was announced that the sequel was in development at Fox.

13:04However, several months later, news broke that Williams had sadly passed away.

13:08Robin Williams has been confirmed dead. He was 63 years old.

13:13As a result, the Mrs. Doubtfire follow-up was cancelled.

13:16Director of the original, Chris Columbus, has since spoken against making a sequel without Williams' involvement.

13:23Don't blame yourself.

13:26Just because they don't love each other anymore, doesn't mean that they don't love you.

13:31What other production that was cancelled after an actor's passing did we miss?

13:34Let us know below.

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