“They canceled the production, burned the sets”: Robin Williams Cost Disney Thousands of Dollar After Refusing to Work With Director Who Wanted Liam Neeson for $235M Movie

Actor and comedian Robin Williams was an exceptional talent. He exhibited a seamless ability to switch between humorous and dramatic roles, which allowed him to entertain a broad spectrum of viewers. His skills were best showcased in endeavors like Good Will Hunting, Jumanji, and Mrs. Doubtfire. The actor’s performances in these movies were the subject of extensive praise from reviewers and the general public.

Read also: Dead Poets Society: Ethan Hawke Was Irritated By Robin Williams’ Acting

When we talk about Williams, we cannot go without mentioning one of his most memorable initiatives, i.e., the emotionally engaging tear-jerker Dead Poets Society. We can confidently assert that the actor’s portrayal of John Keating was essential in making the film a grand success.

What many, however, don’t know is that the comedian was initially hesitant to partake in the iconic film. There could’ve been a possibility of the audiences never witnessing Williams’ glory in the 1989 movie. The reason for his lack of commitment to the pursuit was quite intriguing. Take a look.

Robin Williams Declined To Work With One Of The Initial Directors Of The Film

Before Australian filmmaker Peter Weir came into the picture, the initial director appointed to direct Dead Poets Society was Jeff Kanew. As stated by screenwriter Tom Schulman in a conversation with University of California Television, the Jumanji actor was hesitant to be involved in the movie and collaborate with Kanew. It appears that the director also held reservations about Robin Williams, as he favored Liam Neeson for the role of John Keating.

However, Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, the production company behind the project, was determined to secure Williams’ involvement.

Following was Schulman’s recollection of the incident:

“The studio wanted Robin Williams. Robin wouldn’t say no, but he wouldn’t say yes to working with that director [Jeff Kanew].”

Ultimately, the Good Will Hunting alum’s reluctance had negative consequences for Disney, as they had proceeded with the production in an attempt to coerce the comedian into participating. The subsequent events that unfolded were bizarre and resulted in substantial financial loss for the production company.

Sets Were Burned And The Production Was Cancelled!

In the same interview, Dead Poets Society screenwriter Tom Schulman noted how choosing to move forward with the production of the film resulted in further chaos. Anticipating Robin Williams’ presence on the first day of filming outside of Atlanta, Disney was met with disappointment as the comedian, reportedly unenthusiastic about collaborating with the original director, failed to make an appearance.

Schulman described the aftermath of the incident:

“We prepped the movie, we built the sets. It was gonna be shot outside of Atlanta and Robin just didn’t show up for the first day. I mean, he never said he would, but Disney kept trying to pressure him by moving forward. After the first day he didn’t show up, they canceled the production and burned the sets. We actually have dailies of the sets burning!”

Talk about an unfortunate start. Schulman continued to explain that an alternate director was brought in to replace Jeff Kanew, but due to a conflict about the commencement date, even the new director was subsequently debarred from helming the project.

After a while, it was with the efforts of Peter Weir that Dead Poets Society found a revitalized hope for its production. As rightfully affirmed by Schulman, “Fortunately for me, Peter [Weir] was available.” The arrival of the new director paved the way for Robin Williams to become involved. He had formally agreed to take on the role. And the rest is history.

The 1989 Weir-helmed pursuit garnered an impressive $235.9 million in box office revenue, and critics lauded the coming-of-age storyline with high acclaim. In an all’s well that ends well fashion, the film transcended beyond its initial obstructions and became one of Robin Williams’ most memorable projects.

Dead Poets Society is available on Amazon Prime Video via buying/renting.