10 Best Last Minute Replacements For Actors In Major Movies

5. Mickey Rourke Over Nicolas Cage (The Wrestler)

The Wrestler Nicolas Cage Mickey Rourke
Fox Searchlight & Buena Vista

For Darren Aronofsky's gritty drama about the professional wrestling industry, he chose Nicolas Cage to play Randy "The Ram" Robinson, but roughly six weeks before shooting began, he was replaced with the director's original choice, Mickey Rourke.

Reports vary on exactly how Cage exited the role: Aronofsky says he stepped aside for Rourke, while Cage claims he dropped out because he couldn't attain the correct physique in time without steroids.

Either way, Rourke went on to play Randy The Ram, scoring himself a Best Actor Oscar nomination - which he should've won, in honesty - and rejuvenating his career in the process...for about a year, anyway.

It's incredibly difficult to imagine Cage, a wonderful actor in his own right, pulling this off as well as Rourke did. Rourke's beaten-up face and own iffy stature in Hollywood at the time made him a naturally better fit for this down-and-out role, and let's face it, how many times have we ever been able to take Cage seriously with long hair?

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.