00:00The Shawshank Redemption, IMDb's top-rated movie of all time, almost had an entirely
00:04different cast behind those legendary bars.
00:07What do you really want to know?
00:13After Frank Darabont adapted Stephen King's novella, the script got hot and director Rob
00:18Reiner, on fire from Misery and a Few Good Men, offered $3 million to buy it and make
00:24it with Tom Cruise as Andy Dufresne and Harrison Ford as Red.
00:27Cruise even did a table read for producers, but Darabont turned down the offer and chose
00:32to direct himself.
00:34In here, he's an important man.
00:36In the book, Red is a middle-aged Irishman with graying red hair, so Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall,
00:42Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood were considered.
00:45However, Darabont wanted somebody with a godlike voice who could also narrate.
00:50I'm God.
00:51Sidney Partier reportedly passed and Morgan Freeman was asked to audition,
00:55although he wasn't told for which role until later.
00:57Freeman won the job and Darabont kept in this line as a joke.
01:01Maybe it's because I'm Irish.
01:03For Andy, Tom Hanks was offered the role but passed to make Forrest Gump, for which he won an Oscar.
01:08My name is Forrest, Forrest Gump.
01:10As did Kevin Costner, who was busy working on Waterworld.
01:14Charlie Sheen reportedly pleaded for the part, offering to film a test reel and work at an
01:18actor's minimum wage.
01:19But Darabont went in another direction.
01:21He considered some of the top actors at the time.
01:24Jeff Bridges, Nicolas Cage, and Johnny Depp.
01:27But decided on Tim Robbins, whom Freeman claims he suggested and who won the Golden Globe for
01:32his role.
01:33I just don't understand what happened in there.
01:35That's all.
01:35Brad Pitt was attached to the role of Tommy Williams for a short time but left for the much bigger
01:40role
01:40leading Interview with a Vampire.
01:42And up and comer Gil Bellows took over.
01:44Just give me that chance.
01:46Jon Favreau has said he read for Fat Ass but described it as his worst audition ever.
01:51And the part went to another relative newcomer, Frank Medrano.
01:55I don't belong here.
01:56And finally, James Gandolfini was offered the role of Boggs but passed to do True Romance instead,
02:02paving the way for Aliens' Mark Ralston.
02:04It's your world, Boggs.
02:07The Shawshank Redemption had a modest theatrical bow 25 years ago but picked up steam
02:11during awards season and has lived on massively since.
02:15If you're busy living, you'll get busy dying.
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