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- The Boys
- Amazon Prime
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- The Empire Strikes Back
- 20th Century Studios
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- The Devil Wears Prada
- 20th Century Studios
An actor's job is to bring the script to life, but that doesn't mean every actor loves the script they're given. Many actors have pushed back against lines, suggested changes, or even said something unscripted at the last minute. Some of these script changes were minor, such as removing a line or changing one word, but in other cases, an entire script was rewritten to meet the actor's preferences.
Famous actors usually get their way when requesting script changes, and in many cases, the lines become popular because of the updates. For example, The Avengers used to have a boring line for the end of the film, but the famous shawarma dialogue was added to the script because of Robert Downey Jr.'s input. In The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep changed one word in the final line to make it more memorable.
Here are several moments when actors refused to say a line or requested a major change to their script.
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- The Empire Strikes Back
- 20th Century Studios
1It Was Harrison Ford Who Wouldn't Say 'I Love You' In 'Empire Strikes Back'
Original Line: “I love you too.”
Replacement: “I know.”
Reason For The Change: It has been confirmed that one of the most iconic Star Wars lines was improvised. In the original script, Han Solo was supposed to say “I love you too” in response to Princess Leia's “I love you.” While that would've been a more heartfelt response, it was simple and didn't fit Han Solo's character. So, Harrison Ford said “I know” on the spot, which seemed to fit Han Solo's cocky personality better. Now, it's one of the memorable lines from the series, so changing it was a good choice.
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2Alan Rickman Edited 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves' Because The Script Was Terrible
Original Line: Multiple lines that Alan Rickman deemed “terrible.”
Replacement: Rickman rewrote many of his lines in the script.
Reason For The Change: Alan Rickman has never been one to star in a role he wasn't proud of. So, when he read the script for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and found it terrible, he didn't hesitate to step in. Rickman asked director Kevin Reynolds if he could make changes to the script, and Reynolds gave the actor the ability to alter the script however he wanted.
Rickman didn't want the film to feel like it was lecturing anyone or taking itself too seriously. It was a Hollywood version of the legend of Robin Hood, and Rickman knew exactly how to play it that way. To ensure the screenplay was interesting, Rickman asked his friend, Peter Barnes (a playwright and screenwriter) to help him brainstorm. Rickman recalls:
He said 'well, here where it says you're coming down the corridor and you're wiping the scar off of the statue - you should have a wench in a doorway, and then you should say, 'You. My room, 10.30,' and then turn to the other wench and say, 'You, 10.45'.
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3Meryl Streep Changed Her Last Line In 'The Devil Wears Prada' During The Table Read
Original Line: “Everybody wants to be me.”
Replacement: “Everybody wants to be us.”
Reason For The Change: During the table read for The Devil Wear Prada, Meryl Streep wasn't afraid to let her thoughts be heard. Her character, Miranda, had the last line of the film, and Streep decided to make a small change during the table read. She changed ‘me’ to ‘us,’ and it immediately stuck. Even though only one word is different, it was an important change that created an iconic ending line. When looking back on that table read, Anne Hathaway said:
I think we all had an idea of what Miranda would sound like. It was a strident, bossy, barking voice. So when Meryl opened her mouth and basically whispered, everybody in the room drew a collective gasp. It was so unexpected and brilliant.
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- Charlie's Angels
- Sony Pictures
4Crispin Glover Got Rid Of All Of His Lines In 'Charlie's Angels'
Original Line: All the character's lines.
Replacement: None - the character was written as a mute.
Reason For The Change: Crispin Glover originally turned down the role for the Thin Man in Charlie's Angels. He claimed the villain's dialogue was terrible, so he didn't want to be part of it. He didn't like how the dialogue was all expositional, but he had plenty ideas on how to improve it. He suggested that the villain should be a mute instead, and the director ended up agreeing with that. So, Glover accepted the role and played the character wonderfully without saying a word. In an interview, Glover said:
In the case of Charlie’s Angels, it was a very active character that had to do with a lot of physicality. When I read the screenplay, it was quite expositional, it didn’t need to be said. So it made it much stronger for the character not to say anything.
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5Tony Stark Got A 'Snappier' Final Line Thanks To Push Back From Robert Downey Jr.
Original Line: “What's next?”
Replacement: “And then shawarma after?"
Reason For The Change: At the end of The Avengers, Tony Stark is unconscious but suddenly wakes up to say, “what's next?” However, that didn't seem quite right for his character, so Robert Downey Jr. requested that they make the line “snappier.” Several new ideas were written down. Stark starts by saying “please tell me nobody tried to kiss me.”
Then, he asks about shawarma, which leads to him asking if they can go out for shawarma after. An end credits scene was later added to the movie, showing everyone grabbing food after their adventure. All the lines that were added in made the film's ending much more amusing and memorable, so Downey made a good call.
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6Patrick Warburton Refused To Make A Reference To Christ's Crucifixion On 'Family Guy'
Original Line: Patrick Warburton said: "the episode was so offensive I can't repeat it now. It had to do with Christ on the cross but there was no humor in it and it was just so, so horribly offensive.”
Replacement: This line was scrapped.
Reason For The Change: While Family Guy is a show that's often filled with raunchy, offensive jokes, the actors can still draw the line on some concepts. Patrick Warburton, who voices Joe Swanson, said that this was the only time he was so offended by a joke that he wouldn't record it. Not only did he find the joke offensive, but he didn't even think people would find it funny. He pointed out that it was the type of joke that could cause them to lose viewers. He explained:
It wasn't a Joe line but I said, 'Guys, I can't participate in this episode if that line is in it. It's a personal thing.' I know what I signed up for. I signed up for a really offensive show and it is satire and there are different rules that govern satire - there are, because of what they've gotten away with.
Warburton didn't want to get in the way of production, but he personally didn't want anything to do with the episode. After he stated how he felt, the producers agreed that the joke would never get approved anyway.
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- Three's Company
- ABC
7Joyce Dewitt Wouldn't Say A Line On 'Three's Company' Even If They Put A Gun To Her Head
Original Line: In an episode where people mistook Chrissy for a prostitute because of her prostitute friend, the friend was supposed to call Chrissy “priceless.” Janet's response was supposed to be, “and she's going to stay that way.”
Replacement: The line was removed.
Reason For The Change: Joyce Dewitt, who played Janet on Three's Company, put up quite a fight when she first heard this line. She told producers that it didn't match Janet's character, especially since Janet had no problems with Chrissy's prostitute friend earlier in that same episode. Her co-star, John Ritter, offered to have his character take the line instead, but no one changed the script. When it was time for Dewitt to read the line, she refused because she had already repeatedly told producers she didn't like it. She recalled:
I leaned back in my chair and took the deepest breath. And instead of answering this idiotic question. I said, 'Mickey, I'll tell you what the deal is with this line. You can come out with a gun during the five-thirty show and hold it to my head and I still won't say that line for you. Is that clear enough?' That's why it took.
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- The Boys
- Amazon Prime Video
8Jansen Ackles Won't Even Reveal What Was Too Offensive To Say On 'The Boys'
Original Line: A scene that the cast refuses to share the details of.
Replacement: A compromise was created to make everyone happy.
Reason For The Change: When actor Jansen Ackles started working on The Boys, he knew it was a show that pushed the limits as much as possible. However, he didn't know what his personal limits were until he came across a scene that he didn't feel comfortable filming. He called showrunner Eric Kripke and told him his concerns about the scene. Ackles explains:
As a father of three, and a son and a husband and a self-respecting human being, I can't do this. I didn't know where my line was, but you found it.
Neither Ackles nor Kripke will share what the deleted scene was about. Yet, Kripke said that the compromise they settled on portrayed what was needed without having to hurt Ackles's soul.
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- Friends
- NBC
9Matthew Perry Nixed A Strip Club Scene On 'Friends'
Original Line: An episode about Chandler going to a male strip club.
Replacement: The episode never aired.
Reason For The Change: During an interview with Andy Cohen, Matthew Perry revealed that there was a storyline he didn't approve of on Friends. He said the episode involved Chandler going to a male strip club because he liked the sandwiches. After reading the script, Perry didn't hesitate to share his thoughts:
And I called up, and I said: “Let's not do this one.”
In the end, Perry prevailed because that plotline never made it into an episode of the famous sitcom.
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- The Walking Dead
- AMC
10Tom Payne Couldn't Get On Board With Killing Negan On 'The Walking Dead'
Original Line: “Yeah, we will.”
Replacement: The line was cut.
Reason For The Change: Tom Payne, known for playing Paul “Jesus” Rovia in The Walking Dead, revealed in an interview that he had some issues with his character's lines shortly before his character was killed off. At the end of season 8, Payne was supposed to agree to getting revenge on Negan, but he felt that didn't fit his character's personality.
So, he ended up saying the line “yeah, we will" in a hesitant, casual tone to make it seem more true to his character. Production wasn't happy with that though, so they cut the line. Payne explained:
I had spent the whole season being kind of anti killing Negan and anti killing people and anti all that kind of stuff.
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- Grace and Frankie
- Netflix
11Jane Fonda Drew The Line At Saying 'Jesus Christ' On 'Grace & Frankie'
Original Line: “Jesus Christ”
Replacement: The line was removed.
Reason For The Change: Marta Kauffman, the co-creator of Grace and Frankie, shared that the script once had Grace, Jane Fonda's character, say “Jesus Christ.” Fonda quickly informed the creators that she wasn't comfortable saying that because of her Christian faith. Kauffman agreed to remove the line after Fonda made her stance clear. Kaufmann said that she's happy to make changes to the script for the main four actors. She explained:
These four actors are the most professional, glorious people I’ve ever worked with. I love them. So when they have an issue, it’s not that they’re being divas. It’s not that they’re being self-important. They have a real issue.
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- Ted Lasso
- Apple TV+
12Former Footballer Ian Wright Wouldn't Praise Tottenham On 'Ted Lasso'
Original Line: “You know, it’s gonna be a tough game for Richmond because Tottenham are a great side.”
Replacement: The line was removed.
Reason For The Change: Famous soccer player Ian Wright made an appearance on Ted Lasso. Despite having a minor role, actor Phil Dunster revealed in a podcast that Wright refused to say one of his lines. The line required him to praise Tottenham, a rival of Arsenal, the team Wright played for. He flat-out told producers that he wouldn't say it and apologized. He joked that he couldn't go back to north London if he said the line. Dunster recalls:
And he was really lovely. He was just like, “You’re going to have to change it because I can’t say that.”
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- The Brady Bunch
- ABC
13Robert Reed Refused To Give False Information About Strawberries On 'The Brady Bunch'
Original Line: Mike Brady stated that the house smelled like “strawberry heaven.”
Replacement: “I do believe I've died and gone to strawberry heaven.”
Reason For The Change: Robert Reed, who played Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch, often fact-checked the script to ensure everything his character said was accurate. In one episode, Carol Brady and Alice are cooking with strawberry preserves. When Mike entered the room, he was supposed to say that the house smelled like strawberry heaven.
However, after doing some research, Reed discovered that strawberries don't smell like anything while being cooked. So, he didn't feel comfortable saying that line because it was incorrect. This created an argument about whether or not cooking strawberries emits a scent. A producer even tried cooking strawberries in front of Reed to show him that they smelled like something. Yet, Reed wouldn't budge on his stance, so the line was slightly altered in a way that he was comfortable with.
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- The Andy Griffith Show
- CBS
14Frances Bavier Wouldn't Say 'Underwear' On 'Andy Griffith'
Original Line: “Always wear clean underwear."
Replacement: The line was removed.
Reason For The Change: In the book Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show by Daniel de Visé, the author revealed that actress Frances Bavier was easily bothered by certain lines. Specifically, he mentioned how she didn't want to say “always wear clean underwear” in Return To Mayberry, a TV movie sequel to the classic sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Bavier said:
I will not say underwear. I have never said underwear, and I will not say underwear now.
A quote from Dean Hargrove revealed that the actors and crew weren't too bothered by her request.
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