This thriller would have been a very different film had casting choices worked out the first time.
The Big Picture Following the one-two punch of The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, M. Night Shyamalan's Signs had the unenviable goal of living up to the legacy that the young filmmaker was creating for himself in Hollywood, and it largely succeeded in doing so . The film, a modern classic in its own right, is part science fiction nightmare, part horror, part family drama, and part exploration of faith.
Mel Gibson Wasn't M. Night Shyamalan's First Choice for Graham Hess For the role of Graham Hess, M. Night Shyamalan had some specific criteria. The character was written as being older, which dictated the age of the actor Shyamalan was looking for. He was also supposedly looking for someone with "haunted eyes.
Before he finally turned to Mel Gibson, Shyamalan also turned to the esteemed Paul Newman for the role of Graham Hess. Newman had no scheduling conflicts but simply had no interest in the role. Looking at the film now, it's difficult to imagine Graham Hess as an older character. It would have changed the dynamic between the characters for sure, with Hess the elderly patriarch of a larger family, not the father figure.
Then just before production on Signs was to begin, Shyamalan was forced to find a new Merrill Hess. Actor Mark Ruffalo had been cast and was prepared to begin until a dream led him to believe he had a brain tumor. The scary thing is, he did. A CAT scan and an MRI revealed a mass the size of a golf ball behind Mark Ruffalo's left ear, diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a non-cancerous, benign brain tumor that had caused a 7% hearing loss in that ear.
Signs could have been a significantly different beast than what finally appeared on cinema screens, with each potential casting choice either adding an element that benefitted the film, or an element that negatively impacted it. The initial plan of a bigger family in the film wouldn't have allowed for the viewer to intimately know each character, and it's that intimacy with the characters that makes the film work.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Clint Eastwood Nearly Directed This Classic Remake 7 Years Before It Became An Oscar-Winning Movie Without HimA completely different remake.
Read more »
The Wisdom of Rudolph GiulianiClint Eastwood, Ben Affleck, Maury Povich, Ryan Reynolds, Cary Grant, whoever directed “Barbie”—Jewish, gay, nude, short? Ask Giuliani.
Read more »
Society is in 'very dangerous' place, Nobel scientist Paul Nurse warns'We live in an increasingly sophisticated society that depends a lot on science and technology..even scientists like me don't fully understand,' Nurse sa
Read more »
Dolly Parton debuts 'Let It Be,' reuniting Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in new recordingDolly Parton teamed up with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to record her own version of the Beatles hit 'Let It Be' for her upcoming album, 'Rockstar.'
Read more »
Paul Feig, Bridget Everett Pay Tribute to Lauri Carleton Who Was Killed After Hanging Pride Flag“If people don’t think anti-gay & trans rhetoric isn’t dangerous, think again,” Feig writes after his friend was shot and killed at her Lake Arrowhead store over the weekend
Read more »
Paul Feig Remembers Friend Who Was Killed for Displaying Pride Flag: “This Intolerance Has to End”Laura Ann Carlton, the owner of Mag.Pi clothing near Lake Arrowhead, California, was shot in her store on Friday after a disagreement ensued over a Pride flag.
Read more »