9 Directors Who Really F**ked Up The First Day Of Filming

by Jack Pooley

1. Jeff Kanew Made Robin Williams Pull A No-Show - Dead Poets Society

Dead Poets Society Robin Williams
Buena Vista Pictures

Right up until the original first day of filming, the Robin Williams-starring classic drama Dead Poets Society was to be directed by Jeff Kanew, best known for helming 1984's hit sexy comedy Revenge of the Nerds.

However, Williams wasn't terribly keen about letting Kanew take the helm, and so just...didn't turn up for shooting, despite intense pressure from Disney and the cast and crew already being assembled on location with fully built sets.

This resulted in the original production being scrapped, the sets being burned down and Kanew leaving the project. Shooting eventually restarted with final director Peter Weir, and the rest is Oscar-winning history.

Though on one hand Kanew can't be entirely blamed for Williams' absence here, the fact that the production was getting ready to kick off without first securing its leading man is just insane.

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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.