History Trivia / Hook

* HostiltiyOnTheSet: By all accounts, Creator/JuliaRoberts made life on the set a nightmare. Already going through a messy breakup with her then-fiance Creator/KieferSutherland which led to her suffering from depression and caused her to go and hide out in Ireland ''in the middle of production'' and she only came back because Creator/StevenSpielberg threatened to fire her if she didn't. Upon returning, she proceeded to complain about everything from the script to her outfit (which at one point was to more closely resemble [[Disney/PeterPan Tinkerbell's]] appearance, complete with a blonde wig, only for it to be changed after she became furious with it.) Also, her final scene where she was full-size came about from a WagTheDirector moment where she demanded to appear onscreen with at least one other actor due to her frustration at having filmed all of her previous scenes in greenscreen. The end result lead to her career being stunted for a while, the crew to nickname her "Tinkerhell" and for Spielberg to vow never to work with her again.

* MidDevelopmentGenreShift: As mentioned above, this was originally a musical.

** This was intended to be a musical, but according to lyricist Leslie Bricusse, the filmmakers realized it would be both too long and too expensive, so most of the songs were cut ("We Don't Wanna Grow Up" and "When You're Alone" the exceptions). The happy instrumental theme that closes the film was originally the melody of a song called "Childhood", and a sheet music anthology of his work includes it, with the explanation that everyone loved it but couldn't think of a way to keep it in the film.

** In the original draft of the script, Peter and Moira were in their thirties as opposed to forties. Maggie was also younger, being only a child of five. Spielberg aged up the parents to reflect the feeling of the aging baby boomer generation. Maggie was bumped up to seven to match her actress Amber Scott's age.

** Creator/KevinKline was originally cast as Peter, but ''Soapdish'' reshoots scuppered this.
** Creator/StevenSpielberg was not the first choice to direct the film. [[Film/TheLastStarfighter Nick Castle]] had planned to direct and spent a year in pre-production writing the script and planning. Spielberg then became interested and Castle was paid to leave the director's chair. He still shares screen story credit, however.

* DawsonCasting: The majority of Lost Boys were played by kids of ten or eleven, with Rufio being played by a teenager to emphasize his role as the leader. However Creator/JamesMadio - who played Don't Ask - was actually fourteen and only a couple months younger than Dante Basco. Gwyneth Paltrow was also around eighteen when she played Wendy in a flashback to her childhood.

* UncreditedRole: Creator/CarrieFisher was an uncredited script doctor on the screenplay (she also had a cameo with Creator/GeorgeLucas).

** Creator/JosephMazzello auditioned for Jack, but he was determined to be too young for the part. Spielberg promised to cast him in a future project, which he fulfilled with ''Film/JurassicPark''.

* StarDerailingRole: Was a brief one for Creator/JuliaRoberts, along with ''Dying Young''. She was nominated for a Worst Actress Razzie award and didn't make another film for two years - save for a cameo in ''Film/ThePlayer''. When she returned to acting regularly, her films didn't do well until ''Film/MyBestFriendsWedding'' provided a CareerResurrection for her.

** In the original draft of the script, Peter and Moira were in their thirties as opposed to forties. Maggie was also younger, being only a child of five. Spielberg aged up the parents to reflect the feeling of the aging baby boomer generation. Maggie was bumped up to seven to match her actress Amber Scott's age.

* CriticalDissonance: The film was widely panned by critics but made $300 million worldwide.

* AllStarCast: Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Smith, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins and cameos from Phil Collins, Carrie Fisher, Glenn Close and George Lucas. And thanks to RetroactiveRecognition, Gwyneth Paltrow in a minor role.

* CreatorBacklash: Phil Collins had some about his cameo as the police officer - mainly because of the amount of publicity it was getting. He claims he feared at the time people would mistakenly think he had a bigger role, and would assume it was cut down because he wasn't good enough.
* CreatorBreakdown: Julia Roberts was going through a mental breakdown after her wedding to Kiefer Sutherland was called off. She reportedly fled California and hid out in Ireland until Spielberg himself threatened to fire her if she didn't return immediately. Additionally she had to be hospitalized at one point for nervous exhaustion. Her behavior throughout the shoot gave her the crew nickname of "Tinkerhell" and Spielberg said he'd never work with her again.

* DoingItForTheArt: Dustin Hoffman was apparently on set two months before he needed to be, just so he could get completely immersed in the role.
* DyeingForYourArt: Robin Williams had his infamously hairy body shaved completely for this film.
* EnforcedMethodActing: Only Robin Williams and Steven Spielberg knew who Peter [[spoiler:would give his sword to at the end]], so the reactions of the Lost Boys are genuine.
* FakeBrit: Gwyneth Paltrow as the young Wendy in a flashback.
* FanNickname: Julia Roberts actually had one amongst the crew because of how she treated everyone: "Tinkerhell".

* OldShame: ''Hook'' came out during a period where Spielberg was desperately trying to invoke TomHanksSyndrome, and prove he could be a serious director. ''Hook'' ended up being the most critically derided movie on his resume, so Spielberg doesn't reflect on it too well. He does say he's still glad he made the film though, as it's how he met Robin Williams.

* PlayingAgainstType: Maggie Smith - who up to that point usually played mean old ladies - as a sweet grandmotherly type.
* PlayingGertrude: Maggie Smith was fifty six playing Wendy at ninety two. She does appear without ageing make-up in the flashback to Peter meeting Moira, when Wendy's age matches Smith's.
* RealLifeRelative: All of Dustin Hoffman's children have cameos in the film. Max Hoffman plays Peter at five years old. Jake Hoffman is a little league player at Jack's game. And Rebecca Hoffman plays Jane in the play at the start.

* ShoutOut: Appropriately for a hero clad in green (like Link from Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda), Peter's first overt act of badass is a sword spin.
* StarDerailingRole: Was a brief one for Julia Roberts, along with ''Dying Young''. She was nominated for a Worst Actress Razzie award and didn't make another film for two years - save for a cameo in ''Film/ThePlayer''. When she returned to acting regularly, her films didn't do well until ''Film/MyBestFriendsWedding'' provided a CareerResurrection for her.

* WagTheDirector: The scene where Tinkerbell grows to human size was written to appease Julia Roberts - who demanded that she have at least one scene with another actor (having to act alongside green screen for the whole film).

** One of the original ideas for the film in TheEighties was a musical remake of the Disney animated version of the original play starring Michael Jackson. Supposedly, Jackson never forgave Spielberg for not casting him in this version.
** Kevin Kline was originally cast as Peter, but ''Soapdish'' reshoots scuppered this.

** Creator/StevenSpielberg was not the first choice to direct the film. [[TheLastStarfighter Nick Castle]] had planned to direct and spent a year in pre-production writing the script and planning. Spielberg then became interested and Castle was paid to leave the director's chair. He still shares screen story credit, however.

* CreatorBreakdown: Julia Roberts was going through a mental breakdown after her wedding to Kiefer Sutherland was called off. She reportedly fled California and hid out in Ireland until Spielberg himself threatened to fire her if she didn't return immediately. Additionally she had to hospitalised at one point for nervous exhaustion. Her behavior throughout the shoot gave her the crew nickname of "Tinkerhell" and Spielberg said he'd never work with her again.

* DawsonCasting: The majority of Lost Boys were played by kids of ten or eleven, with Rufio being played by a teenager to emphasise his role as the leader. However Creator/JamesMadio - who played Don't Ask - was actually fourteen and only a couple months younger than Dante Basco. Gwyneth Paltrow was also around eighteen when she played Wendy in a flashback to her childhood.

* PlayingAgainstType: Maggie Smith - usually mean old ladies - as a sweet grandmotherly type.

* ColbertBump: The film was already fairly well-known, but it gained even more recognition and popularity after a.) ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' made a RunningGag out of the film and the character of Rufio and b.) WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic reviewed it.

* AllStarCast: Most of the adult performers.

* DawsonCasting: The majority of Lost Boys were played by kids of ten or eleven, with Rufio being played by a teenager to emphasise his role as the leader. However Creator/JamesMadio - who played Don't Ask - was actually fourteen and only a couple months younger than Dante Basco.

** Tootles shouts "Seize the day!" in the final scene, a reference to ''DeadPoetsSociety'' and Robin Williams' character.
** And also Smee shouting "GOOD MOOOOOOOORNING NEVERLAND!", in reference to ''GoodMorningVietnam''.

** Apparently, Creator/TomHanks and DavidBowie were considered as choices for Peter and Hook respectively (the latter turned it down). Carrie Fisher was also the original choice for Tinkerbell. She ended up doing some uncredited rewrites of the script and cameoed alongside George Lucas as the kissing couple on the bridge as Tink and Peter fly above them.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Gwyneth Paltrow as young Wendy.
** Creator/DanteBasco (Rufio) went on to voice [[WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong Jake Long]] and [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Prince Zuko]]. This also makes ''ButImACheerleader'' a hell of a lot more funny.
** The guy who played [[Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit Eddie Valiant]] and [[Film/SuperMarioBros Mario]] is British?!
** Apparently [[TheGraduate Benjamin Braddock]] picked a career in piracy, instead of plastics.
** Um, hello? Dame Maggie Smith as older Wendy -- it's [[Film/HarryPotter Professor [=McGonagall=]!]]
*** Even more impressively, [[ClashOfTheTitans the goddess Thetis!]]
** That flying couple appearing as Tinker Bell sends Peter to Neverland? It's [[StarWars George Lucas and Carrie Fisher]]!!
** PhilCollins as the police detective.
** [[spoiler: Glenn Close]] as Gutless, the Boo Box pirate. [[UnsettlingGenderReveal No, really.]]
** Toodles is [[Film/MaryPoppins Mr. Dawes, Jr.]]
** One of the pirates dropping scorpions into the boo box is played by Tony Burton who is first Apollo Creed's and then Rocky Balboa's Trainer.
** Don't Ask eventually left Neverland to [[Series/BandOfBrothers join the 101st Airborne and fight in World War II]].

** Creator/DanteBasco (Rufio) went on to voice [[AmericanDragonJakeLong Jake Long]] and [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Prince Zuko]]. This also makes ''ButImACheerleader'' a hell of a lot more funny.

** Apparently, Creator/TomHanks and DavidBowie were considered as choices for Peter and Hook respectively (the latter turned it down). Carrie Fisher was also the original choice for Tinkerbell. She ended up doing some uncredited rewrites of the script however.

* CreatorBreakdown: Julia Roberts was going through a mental breakdown after her wedding to Kiefer Sutherland was called off. She reportedly fled California and hid out in Ireland until Spielberg himself threatened to fire her if she didn't return immediately. Additionally she had to hospitalised at one point for nervous exhaustion.

* OldShame: ''Hook'' came out during a period where Spielberg was desperately trying to invoke TomHanksSyndrome, and prove he could be a serious director. ''Hook'' ended up being the most critically derided movie on his resume, so Spielberg doesn't reflect on it too well.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Apparently, Creator/TomHanks and DavidBowie were considered as choices for Peter and Hook respectively (the latter turned it down). Carrie Fisher was also the original choice for Tinkerbell. She ended up doing some uncredited rewrites of the script however.

** Jack was, according to rumours, originally meant to be a fat kid. An obese pre-teen who loved baseball and had grown fat after his father had grown distant from him and he'd turned to food; the original beginning was meant to show Jack struggling to get into trousers and the ending was supposed to show him skinny (well, skinnier!) enough to get into them and that Neverland had brought Jack and Peter together and allowed Jack's life to improve.

* ActorAllusion: Tootles shouts "Seize the day!" in the final scene, a reference to ''DeadPoetsSociety'' and Robin Williams' character.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Apparently, Creator/TomHanks and DavidBowie were considered as choices for Peter and Hook respectively (the latter turned it down).