The Invisible Stars: 12 Actors You Won’t See in Post-Production

1. Death Becomes Her 1992，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 132957, ID: 0104070
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In ‘Death Becomes Her’, a dark comedy about two women who are granted immortality through a magical potion and fight fiercely for it. The original cut had several scenes that were omitted to accelerate the film’s pacing and eliminate extraneous jokes. Notably, Tracey Ullman, who played a bartender and girlfriend to Ernest, was cut out of the picture along with six or seven other actors due to changes in the story.
2. The Thin Red Line 1998，IMDB Rating: 7.6, IMDB Votes: 200958, ID: 0120863
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‘The Thin Red Line’ is a war movie about the experiences of soldiers at the Battle of Guadalcanal, several actors fell victim to the final cut. Notably, Mickey Rourke had a role as a scout sniper that was cut, leaving only a minute of his performance viewable. Bill Pullman and Lukas Haas also had their roles completely cut from the theatrical release.
3. The Avengers 2012，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 1469064, ID: 0848228
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In ‘The Avengers’, director Joss Whedon revealed that his original cut ran for more than three hours. Several scenes were cut from the final release, including a scene where Captain America learns more about the modern world in his apartment.
4. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2014，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 543460, ID: 1872181
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In ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’, Shailene Woodley, who plays Mary Jane Watson (MJ), originally had a couple of scenes in the movie, but they were completely removed in post-production. There were plans to reintroduce MJ’s character in the third installment, but plans for this were eventually shelved due to the movie’s mediocre reception.
5. The Godfather Part III 1990，IMDB Rating: 7.6, IMDB Votes: 427159, ID: 0099674
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In ‘The Godfather Part III’, it is about the efforts of an aging Michael Corleone to try to legitimize the family out of the mafia world. Actress Winona Ryder was originally cast but dropped out of the film. Her role of Mary Corleone was then played by Sofia Coppola. This change happened before the film’s shooting, not in post-production.
6. The Bourne Identity 2002，IMDB Rating: 7.8, IMDB Votes: 580816, ID: 0258463
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The Bourne Identity diverged from the studio in terms of creative direction and production schedule, and the film underwent several reshoots and script revisions, particularly involving key scenes such as the farmhouse showdown. The movie follows Jason Bourne, an amnesiac CIA assassin who becomes involved in a life-and-death chase as he tries to recover his identity.
7. The Dark Knight Rises 2012，IMDB Rating: 8.4, IMDB Votes: 1844311, ID: 1345836
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The Dark Knight Rises is a masterpiece in the superhero genre. It is about Bruce Wayne who, after years of retirement, re-cloaks himself in the Batman suit to fight his powerful enemy Bane and ultimately save Gotham City. Interestingly, there were plans to include a scene with William Candy, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it was cut out in post-production. Despite this, the film’s compelling narrative and memorable performances make it a standout.
8. Back to the Future Part II 1989，IMDB Rating: 7.8, IMDB Votes: 578503, ID: 0096874
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Back to the Future Part II is a classic sci-fi comedy. Notably, Crispin Glover and Claudia Wells did not return for the sequel, and Glover’s character was minimized and recreated with another actor. Despite these changes, the film’s humor and innovative storytelling make it a timeless watch.
9. Alien³ 1992，IMDB Rating: 6.4, IMDB Votes: 322362, ID: 0103644
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Alien³, a gripping science fiction horror film, underwent significant changes during its production. It is about Alan Ripley who must face a new variant of Alien after he crash lands on an abandoned prison planet. It’s worth noting that the movie was released in both edited and uncut form, with some scenes having undergone post-production changes.
10. The Hateful Eight 2015，IMDB Rating: 7.8, IMDB Votes: 666435, ID: 3460252
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The Hateful Eight, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is a film that had an interesting post-production change. The character Six-Horse Judy was largely cut out of the final film. Despite this, the film still delivers a captivating story with its ensemble cast. It’s a reminder of how the final cut can significantly alter a character’s presence.
11. The Grand Budapest Hotel 2014，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 894601, ID: 2278388
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Directed by Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel follows the adventures of Gustav, a hotel concierge, and Zero, a young doorman, as they navigate their way through World War I and World War II. However, it is worth noting that the extensive post-production work created a unique aesthetic for the movie. The film is a testament to the power of post-production in shaping the final look and feel of a movie.
12. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues 2013，IMDB Rating: 6.3, IMDB Votes: 193425, ID: 1229340
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Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, there were indeed instances where actors were cut. For example, Amy Poehler, who had a small part, joked that her part might be cut, which did happen. This is because director Adam McKay shot multiple versions of many scenes with different jokes and expressions, which gave them flexibility in the editing room.