Kurt Russell’s Past Disney Experience Almost Derailed Robin Williams’ Career, Nearly Replaced Late Comedian in $262M Iconic Movie

After making his acting debut with the TV show The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, Kurt Russell signed a ten-year contract with The Walt Disney Company and reportedly became its top star during his time with the studio. He slowly gained stardom with his incredible range, effortlessly transitioning between action-packed roles and his comedic and dramatic performances. However, sometimes he also lost roles that could have been a great addition to his career.

One of these includes the 1995 film Jumanji. Russell was expected to portray the role of Alan Parish, which was portrayed by the late actor and comedian Robin Williams.

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Kurt Russell Almost Starred in Jumanji (1995)

The 1995 film Jumanji follows two siblings who come across a magical board game, after which they release a man, who helps them to finish the game. It featured a huge star cast, including Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, and Bonnie Hunt.

Jumanji (1995)

Robin Williams portrayed adult Alan Parish, who had been trapped in the game for 26 years and is still among some of the fan-favorite performances of the late actor. However, actor Kurt Russell almost took over his role in the film, considering his history as a Disney star who featured in multiple family movies.

The makers of the 1995 film reportedly wanted Russell to star as Alan Parish in the film, as they considered him perfect for the role. However, things did not work out, and the part eventually went to Robin Williams, adding to some of the great performances of his career.

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Iconic DC Roles That Kurt Russell Almost Played

Kurt Russell has been in the film industry for decades. While he has brought some iconic characters to life on-screen, there are certain characters that he almost played in the DC films. The Sky High actor, who joined the MCU as Star-Lord’s father, Ego, was reportedly being considered a replacement for Michael Keaton’s Batman.

Later, the director of the Dark Knight trilogy, Christopher Nolan, wanted to cast Russell as Commissioner Jim Gordon. However, he reportedly denied the offer, and the role went to the Harry Potter actor Gary Oldman.

Russell once again got the opportunity to star in the 2013 Zack Snyder film as Clark Kent’s adoptive father, Jonathan Kent. Although he was considered for the role, the makers found Kevin Costner more suitable for the part, and he eventually landed the role in the 2013 film, Man of Steel.