10 Things You Didn't Know About Poltergeist
8. Drew Barrymore Was Considered For Carol Anne
Drew Barrymore swiftly became a child star when she appeared in “E.T. the extra-terrestrial”, released the same year as Poltergeist and also produced by Steven Spielberg.
Barrymore was considered for the role of Carol Anne, but the director wanted something more angelic. However, based on the strength of her acting in the Poltergeist audition, she landed the role of Gertie in Spielberg’s E.T. movie.
In the end, Heather O’Rourke was chosen for the film when she eating lunch with her mother and sister at an MGM commissary. She initially failed the screen test because she wouldn’t stop laughing in moment when she was supposed to be scared. Spielberg recognised something special in her, and brought her back for another audition to which she then landed the character of Carol Anne.
Still, imagine if Drew Barrymore had been the one to say the infamous “they’re here” line.