20 Wild Horror Movie Casting Choices We Almost Got

Richard Donner's The Omen sees Gregory Peck star as embattled protagonist Robert Thorn, and while it's fair to say that any number of middle-aged, revered Hollywood stars could've probably done the part justice, did anyone expect Donner to go after Dick Van Dyke for it?

Van Dyke, best known for his iconic musicals such as Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was certainly a left-field pick for Thorn, with a grisly horror film running counter to most everything he'd starred in previously.

And indeed, when producers reached out Van Dyke turned The Omen down, later reflecting that he was "pretty puritan at the time, a goody-two-shoes," and felt that the film was simply too off-brand for his tendencies.

While he doesn't regret refusing the role, he did call the decision "stupid" in retrospect, considering how well The Omen did and how brilliantly it showcased Gregory Peck's range as a performer.