One early idea for the Jaws ending involved not one shark, but several. After the first was killed, Brody would’ve seen more fins approaching, hinting the threat wasn’t over.

Another scrapped version, closer to the novel, had the shark sink away after being harpooned, leaving Brody alone at sea. Both endings were dropped in favor of the explosive finale we know today.

Image: Karen Zhang

Claire Danes, known for Romeo + Juliet, turned down the role of Rose in _Titanic_—and says she has "no regrets." It’s tough to picture anyone but Kate Winslet in that part.

Matthew McConaughey also came close to playing Jack. He was confident he had the role, but Leonardo DiCaprio ultimately got it.

Image: Edwin Petrus

These days, many assume Alfred Hitchcock shot Psycho in black and white for artistic or symbolic reasons. Turns out, it was just a budget issue.

Paramount found the concept too "distasteful," so Hitchcock financed the film himself. Despite its now-legendary status, the studio initially gave it only a limited release.

Image: Maxime Roedel

Director Rob Reiner started When Harry Met Sally after a divorce, feeling cynical about love. Originally, the film was written so that Harry and Sally would remain just friends.

But during production, Reiner fell in love again—and changed his mind. The ending was rewritten so the two characters end up together, giving the rom-com its iconic, heartwarming finish.

Image: Nur Fadhillah Fajarudeen

Believe it or not, John Travolta was originally offered the role of Forrest Gump—but he turned it down, and the part went to Tom Hanks instead.

Still, Travolta went on to star in Pulp Fiction, which became a huge hit, so in the end, it worked out for everyone.

Image: Yosuke Ota

The original Pretty Woman script—titled _3000_—was a dark drama about sex work, ending with Edward leaving Vivian. It had little romance or humor and was meant to serve as a cautionary tale.

Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer once auditioned, but things changed after Julia Roberts and Richard Gere were cast. Their charm shifted the tone, and rewrites led to the romantic ending we know today.

Image: Krists Luhaers

Will Smith was originally offered the role of Neo but turned it down. He has since praised Keanu Reeves' performance in The Matrix and admitted he would've ruined the film.

Smith's a great actor, but it's tough to picture anyone but Reeves as Neo, dodging bullets in slow motion.

Image: Markus Spiske

Screenwriter James Dearden disliked the changed ending to Fatal Attraction. Originally, Alex framed Dan for her murder, but test audiences didn’t like it.

So, the team reshot the ending, giving Alex a more conclusive fate. The new version offered clearer consequences and closure, making it more satisfying for viewers.

Image: Pawel Janiak

Dan Aykroyd’s original Ghostbusters concept—called _Ghost Smashers_—was a wild sci-fi adventure with time travel and dimension-hopping.

Filmmakers decided to simplify the story, focusing on ghost-catching instead. That shift turned it into the hilarious, iconic classic we know today.

Image: Viktor Forgacs

Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly in Back to the Future and even filmed several scenes. However, director Robert Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg felt that Stoltz didn’t embody the comedic, fun-loving spirit they were looking for.

As a result, Michael J. Fox was brought in as the iconic Marty—and the rest is history. It’s hard to imagine the film without Fox’s perfect balance of humor and charm.

Image: Roger Ce

Al Pacino nearly missed out on playing Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Director Francis Ford Coppola had doubts about Pacino’s fit for the powerful role, and stars like Jack Nicholson and Robert Redford were considered.

Luckily, Pacino was cast, and his intense, layered performance became iconic. His portrayal added depth that helped make the film a lasting classic.

Image: Enrique Bancalari

Gone With the Wind began filming without a lead actress, and Clark Gable wasn’t thrilled when Vivien Leigh was finally cast as Scarlett.

The production faced creative clashes, including pushback on the film’s tone and even Rhett’s famous line. Luckily, "Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn" stayed in.

Image: micheile henderson