These Actors Made Insanely Unrealistic Demands On A Film Set
Have you ever suspected that famous movie actors could be brats behind the camera? The perks of casting a big name star come with the risk of entitlement, as these directors and films crews know all too well.
What do you do when your main actor stops all film production over a hat? Or when a big star won't step onto the set without a private garden and hot tub? At some point, the show must go on. Here are several actors who made wild, unrealistic requests on a film set--and got their way.
Ben Affleck Refused To Film Over A Hat
Ben Affleck is a well-known Boston Red Sox Fan. So it may not surprise people to learn that he stopped filming Gone Girl for four days over a hat. No, not a Red Sox hat--a Yankees hat. Director David Fincher wanted him to wear a Yankees hat during a scene, which Affleck refused to do.
After a fight that wasted four potential film days, the star and director eventually settled on a Mets hat. Affleck later described the hat brawl as a "legitimate fight."
Ever Wonder Why Cersei And Bronn Never Appeared Together?
Fans of Game of Thrones might know that Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn used to date. Although their dating timeline is murky, we do know that they experienced an acrimonious breakup. In both of their contracts for the show, they insisted that they never share a scene.
In particular, Headey asserted that she never stand in the same room as Flynn. Although their characters' arcs cross over several times, the two actors never appear in the same scene due to their contracts.
"I'll Only Shoot Ghostbusters If You Film My Movie First"
As Ivan Reitman cast actors for the 1984 hit Ghostbusters, he couldn't get Bill Murray on board. Instead, Murray wanted to act in a movie adaptation of The Razor's Edge by William Somerset Maugham. He loved the book so much that he wrote his own screenplay version of it that he aimed to star in.
Murray would only act in Ghostbusters if the studio paid for the creation of his version of The Razor's Edge. Murray even shot the latter movie first, so there wasn't any guarantee that he would film Ghostbusters. Of course, he did, and The Razor's Edge flopped.
No Boston Celtics Memorabilia On Set
When director Martin Scorsese began casting for his 2006 movie The Departed, he had a hard time convincing two-time Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson to join.To persuade the most nominated male actor in Academy history, Scorsese allowed Nicholson to set some unusual rules on the film's set.
To start, Nicholson changed his character from decent gangster to bad guy. He portrayed Costello as promiscuously evil, adding more graphic scenes and throwing handfuls of the white stuff around. To top it all off, he banned all Boston Celtics gear from the set, in support of his favorite team, the L.A. Lakers.
Harrison Ford Wanted To Kill Off His Character In Star Wars
In an interview on Conan, Harrison Ford revealed that he wanted his character, Han Solo, to die in Return of the Jedi. "I thought the best utility of the character would be for him to sacrifice himself to a high ideal," he said on the show. Solo's death would have concluded his character ark and made him stand out dramatically from the other main characters.
During the original trilogy, George Lucas avoided this request. But Ford seemed to receive his wish in The Force Awakens, drastically changing the new trilogy's storyline.
Paris Hilton Demands Lobsters
Model and socialite Paris Hilton was offered a small cameo in the 2010 movie The Other Guys. Her small role was cut in the final version, possibly due to her outrageous demands. For one, she asserted that live lobsters and Grey Goose Vodka be available in case she grew hungry.
Her entire list of demands spanned three pages, despite her only appearing on set for one day and playing herself in the movie. A Hilton representative denied the claims.
George Clooney Needs His Private Garden
Director Alfonso Cuarón allowed two-time Academy Awards winner George Clooney to make some personal demands while they filmed Gravity, but no one imagined how exorbitant his requirements would be. Clooney received a private landscaped garden, hot tub, custom-made beach hut beside his trailer, and basketball court.
His necessities pulled $125,000 out of the film's $100 million budget for his small role. Not only did it make other actors jealous, but it also attracted local kids who played on his no-longer-private basketball court.
Mace Windu's Purple Lightsaber
When Samuel L. Jackson played Jedi Master Mace Windu in the second Star Wars prequel Attack of the Clones, he laid out some demands for George Lucas. "I wanna be able to find myself in this big ol' scene," Jackson recalled. "So I said to George, 'You think maybe I can get a purple lightsaber?'"
Of course, Lucas pointed out that lightsabers traditionally come in red, blue, and green. Jackson responded, "Yeah, but I want a purple one. I'm like the second baddest Jedi in the universe next to Yoda." He got it.
Shrek Originally Had A Canadian Accent
All seemed to go smoothly when Mike Myers recorded his lines for the 2001 movie Shrek. But when the crew finished all the voice acting recording, Myers decided that he didn't like the accent he used. He re-recorded all of his lines, costing the studio an extra $5 million.
Originally, Myers claimed that he used a Canadian accent, poking fun at his Canadian heritage. "The Scottish accent just felt right," he later said in an interview.
Will Smith Had Three Rooms For Men In Black 3
By the time the third Men in Black movie rolled around, the famous actor would only come on board if his demands were met. He had one trailer to get his makeup done, another marble-floored trailer to consult with his personal writers and a $25,000/month Bond Street apartment nearby.
Smith also proposed a "must hire" list for the crew, including personal bodyguards and members of his entourage. He also wanted to replace the movie's writers halfway through, even bringing in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air writer Michael Soccio.
Steve McQueen Wants More Lines
Steve McQueen was excited to co-star with Paul Newman in The Towering Inferno. However, he insisted that he receive 12 additional lines in his role. To make matters worse, McQueen's character first appeared 43 minutes into the movie. By that time, Newman had already recited about half of his lines.
This enforcement created a rivalry between the two actors. Reportedly, Newman regretted his decision to co-star with McQueen. To top it off, Irwin Allen originally wanted McQueen to play the part of architect Doug Roberts, but McQueen fought for the role of chief firefighter instead.
Edward Norton Transformed The Plot Of The Incredible Hulk
Officially, Edward Norton revealed that he wouldn't play the Hulk in The Avengers because it would take too much time. However, a look into his demands while filming The Incredible Hulk explains why Marvel may have wanted to discontinue him. Norton only agreed to come on the movie if he could fiddle with the screenplay.
This sounds reasonable in theory, but it got to the point where his co-star Tim Roth wouldn't even bother looking at the script until he was in the makeup chair. Norton consistently rewrote the movie, and even made it 20 minutes longer with his additions.
Jamie Foxx's Perfectionism Comes In Hot
Jamie Foxx had high demands on set even before winning an Academy Award. In filming Miami Vice, Foxx insisted that he receive a bigger paycheck than his co-star Colin Farrell. The studio obliged, but that wasn't the end of it.
Foxx showed up on set with his entire entourage and asserted that he get a private jet. While in the Dominican Republic, Foxx left the film studio and got into a gunfight with a Dominican military security guard.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Controlled The Entire Terminator Set
Before stepping onto the set of Terminator 3, Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote a 33-page contract outlining several demands. Notable demands included a private trailer stocked with gym equipment, a three-bedroom deluxe suite, and a team of bodyguards to accompany him wherever he was filming.
On top of the contract, Schwarzenegger personally selected the director, co-stars, crew, drivers, hair stylists, makeup artists, and even chefs. To say that Schwarzenegger carried the movie would be an understatement.
Shannen Doherty Caused Continuity Errors To Get Free Clothes
Shannen Doherty made a peculiar demand for acting in Kevin Smith's Mallrats. She wrote a contract which stated that she could keep all the clothes after filming. After Smith agreed, Doherty insisted that her character have no fewer than three wardrobe changes. That sounds a lot less reasonable when you realize that the entire plot takes place over one day.
Smith revealed her plot to acquire some mid-90's styles in the DVD commentary for the movie. Keep an eye out for how many outfits she wears next time you watch Mallrats.
Daniel Day-Lewis Remains In Character Off The Set
Daniel Day-Lewis prepared in every way possible to play his role as a cerebral palsy victim in My Left Foot. He spent eight weeks in Dublin learning to speak as his role model, Christy Brown, and write and paint with his left foot. But his work continued even between shots, where he remained in his wheelchair behind the camera.
The movie's crew had to feed Day-Lewis and wheel him around the set so that he could stay in character. His method worked wonders. In 1990, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in his role as Christy Brown.
Tom Cruise Requires Custom-Made Thongs
Tom Cruise is well-known for performing his own stunts in movies such as Mission Impossible and Edge of Tomorrow. To do so, though, he needs a custom-made thong made from skretchy and soft material that allows him to move unrestricted.
Costume and wardrobe staff usually make over 50 thongs since Cruise wears a new one every time. No need to search for these thongs in the next Cruise film, although we won't blame you for trying.
Samuel L. Jackson Must Play Golf Twice A Week
For every movie he's been in, Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson inputs a clause that allows him to play golf twice a week. "Generally they either move me onto a golf course or I join a club so I can play there," Jackson told Living Golf on CNN.
When he's not on in front of the camera, he golfs every day. So five days a week of sacrificing his practice seems sufficient, although it does result in two less days for filming.
Gary Busey Doesn't Think That's What Heaven Looks Like
By the time the crew began filming the heaven scene of Quigley, they were three days behind. Still, Gary Busey walked onto the set and said, "I can't play this scene." Busey had reportedly experienced a near-death experience after crashing his motorcycle in 1988. He changed the entire set to reflect what he saw in the afterlife.
"It was ridiculous," co-star Curtis Armstrong told A/V Club Toronto. "He was completely nuts about the design of heaven." Armstrong detailed that Busey said, "I've been to heaven and it doesn't look like this"--that heaven doesn't have that particular sofa or any mirrors.
Jennifer Love-Hewitt Demanded That Her Boyfriend Be Cast
Jennifer Love-Hewitt signed on to play a former beauty queen in the T.V. show The Client List at the wrong time. She was visibly pregnant, and studio staff ran in circles trying to work that into the plot. To "solve" the issue, Love-Hewitt demanded that the baby's father, Brian Hallisay, gain a leading role in the series.
The studio didn't want to submit to Love-Hewitt's demands because they couldn't rewrite the story to have a family managing a massage parlor. They entered a stalemate. Brian Hallisay did eventually play the part, but the show was canceled soon after.
Johnny Depp Had His Lines Read To Him
While acting as Captain Jack Sparrow in The Pirates of the Caribbean, it appears that Johnny Depp wasn't very into learning his lines. He figured that they were a waste of time to memorize so he created his own system so that he didn't have to.
He had a sound engineer read him his lines that were connected to an earpiece hidden beneath all of his hair. It's safe to say that this was annoying to everyone involved in the film, as it's not a very efficient system.
Sharon Stone Wanted Producer Credits
It's no secret among filmmakers that Sharon Stone isn't the easiest actress to work with on films. She makes more than her fair share of demands, but one movie takes the cake. While filming the Italian comedy A Golden Boy, she really went all out.
It is said that she required a personal limousine to chauffeur her wherever she went. That wasn't even the worst part. She also demanded producer credits so she could charge all of her character's clothing to the film studio.
Wesley Snipes Was Antisocial
While filming all of the Blade trilogy, Wesley Snipes has been described as completely antisocial. Apparently, he would only arrive at the studio to film the necessary close-up shots before retreating back to his trailer.
There, he wouldn't talk to anyone, making things incredibly difficult for the director by only communicating with him via Post-It notes. By bringing in a lead actor that wouldn't talk to anyone, the director caused some serious problems on set.
Robert Downey Junior Was Not A Fan Of The Iron Man Suit
There's no denying that Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man suit was incredible to look at. However, while filming for the Iron Man films, he became tired of wearing the suit, no matter how light they made it.
His solution was to not wear the suit at all in any of the scenes when he should have. Instead, he had the special effects team digitally add it onto him when needed. Not only does this cost a lot of time, but even more money.
Eddie Murphy Doesn't Use Things Twice
Eddie Murphy has been difficult in all of his films for one simple reason. He refuses to reuse anything when filming a movie. We're not sure if this is a quirk or he does it simply because he can. This means he doesn't reuse socks, underwear, toothbrushes... anything!
As you can imagine, all of these things add up immensely not just in the garbage, but on the production's credit card as well. Somebody should notify Murphy about the dangers of global warming.
Ariana Grande Gets Sore Feet
When shooting music videos, pop star Ariana Grande usually makes a pretty bold request, and it requires a big strong man to do it. Believe it or not, when going from place to place, she actually prefers to be carried around.
Someone literally has to pick her up with their arms and carry her where she needs to go. Supposedly, the shoes that she wears for the videos are extremely uncomfortable and make her feet hurt. Maybe get her a golf cart?
No Germs Allowed
Although Mary J. Blige has established herself as one of the biggest icons in the genres of hip-hop and soul, she might be a little over her head with her demands. Besides all of the typical requests that uber-famous people make, there's one thing that she does that goes above and beyond.
She requires that new toilet seats are installed in every dressing room that she uses. Looks like Blige doesn't trust the hygiene of other stars who have been there before her.
"I'm Gonna Need That Ironed"
Although it's no surprise that rapper/producer Kanye West has a lot of needs, considering his ego, some of them are straight up outlandish. Of course, he probably has countless little needs that aren't worth discussing, but one request tops them all.
Whenever he is performing or is going to make a television appearance, he expects that the carpet in his dressing room is properly ironed. Yes, that's right, ironed. We can only imagine who has that unfortunate task.
Katy Perry Is Better Safe Than Sorry
Katy Perry may seem like a happy-go-lucky pop artist, and she more than likely is. She has never seemed incredibly high maintenance, although it has never particularly made clear. However, there is one issue that she clearly is picky about, and that is who drives her around.
In order to be selected to be her driver, one must sign a 45-page contract. Who knows what's in the contract, but she must have had some terrible experiences in the past to have such an extensive screening process.
Never Missing A Game
One would imagine that Jay-Z is a pretty down to earth guy coming from rags to riches. However, it seems that he also isn't afraid to take advantage of his wealth or popularity either. Being a massive sports fan, he makes sure that every flight he's ever on has Direct TV.
This way, if there is ever a game on when he's flying there isn't a chance he will miss it. We're sure that it would be quite the experience to watch Jay-Z watch his favorite sports teams thousands of feet in the air.
Lea Michele Was A Diva On The Set Of Glee
Naya Rivera starred alongside Lea Michele in Glee and the pair didn't get along. Rivera recalled a time that their co-star Chris Colfer wrote an episode and brought some dogs with him to the set.
While Rivera didn’t name names, people knew who she was talking about when she wrote in her book that one particular Glee star decided to "amp up her.... factor" by making “a huge deal about the dogs, and demanded hand sanitizer any time one came near her.” The tension between the two women got so bad, that their feud may have even cost Rivera her job.
Chevy Chase Was A "Vicious" Put-Down Artist On The Set Of SNL
Chevy Chase is notoriously hard to work with, according to many who've starred alongside the actor or directed him. In the book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, the writers note that Chase was known as "a viciously effective put-down artist, the sort who could find the one thing somebody was sensitive about — a pimple on the nose, perhaps — and then kid about it, mercilessly."
Chase would also mock the writers, telling them that their ideas weren’t very good. He gave little credit to his colleagues during interviews, ordered people around and bragged about his fame.
Jennifer Lopez Has A Reputation For Being A Diva
Jennifer Lopez reportedly has a long list of demands movie execs must comply with if she stars in a film. She's also been known to have a fit if things don’t go her way. She told the Hollywood Reporter in 2016:
"I was always fascinated by how I could see (a man) being late or being belligerent to a crew and it being totally acceptable. Meanwhile, I’d show up 15 minutes late and be berated. Like, we’re not allowed to have certain opinions or even be passionate about something, or they’ll be like, 'God, she’s really difficult.’ It’s like, ‘Am I? Am I difficult because I care?’"
Russel Crowe Is "Rowdy"
Although Russel Crowe is known as a powerhouse actor, starring in action-packed yet tasteful films such as Gladiator, Master, and Commander: Far Side of the World and more. Apparently, all of his energy and bruteness doesn't just stay behind the camera. He has been known to get quite rowdy on and off of the set of his films.
He is no stranger to physical altercations and other emotional behavior. On the set of Gladiator, he even got so upset with film producer Brank Lustig, that he wanted out of the production for fear of his own life.
Gwyneth Paltrow Is Cold And Demanding On Set
Gwyneth Paltrow has had an impressive career over the last 20 years. She's starred in the Oscar-winning Shakespeare In Love, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Se7en, just to name a few. There’s no doubt that the star is talented, but she isn’t the most liked star either.
On multiple occasions, it’s been said that Paltrow isn’t easy to work with due to her coldness and demanding nature on set. According to IMDB, "Paltrow is said to be ultra-competitive and can be unfriendly to people she sees as rivals. She apparently refused to speak to Scarlett Johansson on the set of Iron Man 2."