10 Actors Who Were Robbed Of Iconic Movie Roles By Injury

2. Nicole Kidman As Meg Altman - Panic Room

Panic Room Often thought to be one of director David Fincher's lesser films, Panic Room is - nonetheless - a tight and relentless thriller worthy of its runtime. The role of panicked mother Meg Altman brought a certain added resurgence to Jodie Foster's career when it was first released back in 2002, and the movie also starred a young Kristen Stewart as her daughter. Originally, though, the iconic part was supposed to go to another actress entirely - one Nicole Kidman! Unfortunately for Kidman, however, she sustained a knee injury whilst shooting Moulin Rouge!, which left her unfit to take up Meg in Fincher's movie. Looking back on Panic Room, then, it might have been interesting to see what Kidman would have done with the role, but we're somewhat convinced that Jodie Foster was actually better for the part. Indeed, the character was actually rewritten to be "stronger" when Foster came on board; Kidman's take was to be more "glamorous," apparently.
Contributor

Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.