20 Things You Didn't Know About Alien 3
2. Richard E. Grant Nearly Starred
Throughout Alien³, Ripley is belittled, beaten, and nearly raped by the other inmates. One of the only convicts who shows her kindness from the beginning is the prison doctor, Clemens, portrayed by Charles Dance.
But if David Fincher got his way, the role would have gone to Eswatini-born Richard E. Grant. Fincher adored Grant's chaotic performance as Withnail in the dark comedy, Withnail & I, and pushed for him to feature in Alien³. (It also would've been nice to see Grant reunite with Paul McGann and Ralph Brown, who also starred in Withnail & I.)
Sadly, the powers-that-be vetoed this request, reasoning Grant was too gentle for the role. It goes without saying that anyone who thinks Richard E. Grant can't play an unstable character clearly hasn't seen Withnail & I.