8 More Famous Actors Forced Into Roles They Never Wanted

3. Marlon Brando - Désirée

It might have been nominated for two Academy Awards in 1954, but it's rare you hear but about Marlon Brando's historic drama Désirée these days because it's not considered one of this best. It's not even one of his middling films, really.

It's set in 18th century France and stars Brando alongside Jean Simmons and was a pretty big hit for 20th Century Fox, which is pretty good for them considering they were forced to FORCE Brando to star in it.

Basically, Brando broke his contract with Fox by walking off the set of The Egyptian pretty much straight after showing up, which is the sort of behaviour you'd expect of someone known to be a... bit of a character. Naturally, Fox sued him for $2 million and their settlement included a demand that he appear in Désirée as Napoléon Bonaparte, no less.

Brando felt he was wrong for the part, but the studio persisted when Montgomery Clift turned it down.