For major names in Hollywood, opportunities tend to find them more than some would think. Offers start coming their way, and because of this, movies almost look a whole lot different.
Previously, we've talked about stars missing out on major roles and projects. Whether it was Sandra Bullock turning down The Matrix, Eddie Murphy nearly starring in The Grinch, or Amanda Seyfried turning away the MCU, some blockbusters were almost a whole lot different.
The Notebook might have had Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, but it nearly had to other stars, and we have the details below!
'The Notebook' Made A Fortune At The Box Office
In 2004, The Notebook made its way into theaters, and it quickly became one of the most popular romantic dramas of its era.
Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as the film's main love interests, the film was not exactly an awards contender in the eyes of critics. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has just a 53% with critics. However, it has an 85% with audiences, who loved what the movie did with the source material.
Lack of critical acclaim aside, the movie was able to rake in over $100 million at the worldwide box office. Given its relatively small budget, it was a financial win for the studio, and to this very day, it has maintained a lasting legacy. This is partly due to the fact that this movie had all the right ingredients during production.
Everything eventually fell into place perfectly for this movie, but the truth is that it was a work in progress for years. At one point, the cast almost looked a whole lot different, including a major A-list star, as well as a gigantic pop star playing the lead roles at various point during the process.
Tom Cruise Nearly Played Ryan Gosling's Noah
According to E! Online, "Can you imagine Tom Cruise as Noah? Well, it almost happened. After the rights to the novel were snagged by New Line back in 1996, Steven Spielberg expressed interest in directing the movie. And his pick for his leading man was Cruise. Alas, scheduling conflicts got in the way, as they always do, and the project was left for years before director Nick Cassavetes came on."
The thought of Cruise playing Noah is wild, but context matters. He was a much younger man in 1996, and though '80s Cruise would have likely been more appropriate, he was youthful enough in the '90s to have pulled this off.
Once Cassavetes was on board, however, he pushed to get his pick in front of the cameras.
"When I told [New Line Cinema] I wanted to hire Ryan for the lead, they kind of looked at me like I was out of my mind," he said.
His persistence paid off, and eventually, Ryan Gosling earned his place in the movie.
Now, circling back to the casting changes, we also need to take a look at the role of Allie, and the singer who nearly played her.
Britney Spears Nearly Played Rachel McAdams' Allie
Before Rachel McAdams secured the role, Britney Spears was a top contender!
Though she had relatively little big screen experience, her name power alone could have been huge for the film. Alas, it was not meant to be, and soon enough Rachel McAdams was discovered.
"We found Rachel through an audition process and she was wonderful. A lot of studios wouldn't have had the courage to put two relatively unknown people in a movie like this. But they did and, gosh, weren't they terrific," Cassavetes said of finding McAdams.
Jessica Biel was another strong contender for the role of Allie, but despite getting the audition, she was not able to make it happen.
"That's one that I wanted so badly. I was in the middle of shooting Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and I auditioned with Ryan Gosling in my trailer—covered in blood. Nick Cassavetes put me through the wringer in an interesting, excitingly creative way. But there's a million that get away. We're gluttons for punishment. It's just rejection," said Biel.
Again, the right people got the right roles. Gosling and McAdams were electric together in the film, and their chemistry is what helped propel it to the status that it enjoys now. Sure, they had some serious tension, but like true professionals, they gave an outstanding collective performance, and gave people insane expectations for love and relationships.
