->''"We now launch into a series of deleted scenes from the DVD, showing Anakin and Padmé visiting Padmé's family on Naboo. These scenes served no real purpose except to extend the development of the romance between the main characters. They also gave a chance for three more actors to have speaking parts in a Franchise/StarWars movie – only to be cut entirely from the script after filming their scenes. Imagine having that on your acting resumé: "Played Padmé's sister in [[Film/AttackOfTheClones Star Wars]], only you never got to see me on screen."''
-->-- ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'', [[https://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0265.html Episode 265: "Getting Familiar"]]

It can be nearly impossible to tell exactly what will happen between script and screen. Between casting, rewrites, various production quibbles and the like, the final product could easily be completely different than what the people involved thought they were working on. Editing can have a particularly dramatic impact, with the director and editor being able to shape the footage at their own whim. Occasionally, whole characters fall victim to cutting. This trope is what happens when a DeletedScene also removes an entire actor from the product.

In some situations, the actor may still be seen on camera and even credited but they are only in the background or even with a couple lines of dialogue, but the breadth of their intended involvement in the story is missing. It's like portraying a main character but being reduced to TheCameo, which is sometimes more notable because the role was cut rather than the importance of the role and performance itself.

For actors this can be extremely disheartening -- while they will generally still get paid, no one likes to see their hard work considered redundant to the finished product and removed, and it can have negative effects on their career due to their industry visibility being reduced and they were [[WaitingForABreak hoping this would be their big break]]. Occasionally the consequences can be tragic. At the same time, small roles such as this may lead to RetroactiveRecognition and those involved with the work had no idea they removed a future A-list actor.

Compare DemotedToExtra, when a character's screentime is cut to the point of insignificance. AscendedExtra may happen if the actor and role is remembered for the sequel and brought to prominence. Also compare RecastAsARegular.

If the role was replaced with someone else it's TheOtherMarty.

----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* An in-universe example in ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt''. Panty spends one episode preparing to debut as a movie star and tracks down all copies of an illicit porn tape on hers that was shown by accident during the premiere. When they try premiering it again, Panty reveals she had all of Stocking's scenes cut from the film, so the audience could see her more. In revenge, Stocking has the last remaining copy of the porn tape place on the Net to ruin Panty's reputation.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* In his only work for Disney (if you don't count ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''), Creator/MelBlanc originally recorded dialogue for Gideon the cat in ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}''. He was cut out not because the character was taken out but because they decided to keep him silent to capitalize on the popularity of the similarly-silent Dopey in ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''. A single hiccup is all that remains of Blanc's performance in the film.
* The perceived laziness in the plot of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' stems from the fact that a major character was removed from the film thanks to ExecutiveMeddling. The main villain of the movie was a human character named P.T. Boomer (played by Canadian actor Doug Lennox), who was the main driving factor to the concern felt by Burnett Stone in the movie. Thanks to the removal of Boomer, plots driven by him went unexplained. The reason for his removal was allegedly due to him being too '[[ThinkOfTheChildren scary for children]]' during the US test audience screenings, which is odd given that the secondary antagonist was an evil diesel with a claw! This cut was so close to the release of the movie that trailers and promotional material still alluded to him. Efforts to have his scenes restored are currently underway through fan communities.
* ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'' originally had a character named Sylvia, voiced by Kristen Johnston (Sally on ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''), a ClingyJealousGirl sloth whom Sid was trying to get rid of. She was cut for various reasons, mainly because she made Sid come off as a {{Jerkass}}.
* ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' originally had a minor villain named Captain Spoor voiced by Creator/KevinMichaelRichardson. One of his scenes can be seen in the theatrical trailer.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'' originally had a sequence where Mowgli and his friends meet a rhino named Rocky, and comedian Frank Fontaine recorded dialogue for it. However, Rocky's sequence would be cut for pacing reasons.
* Creator/IslaFisher, Creator/MinnieDriver, Erin Brockovich, and Creator/KelseyGrammer as Sideshow Bob recorded dialogue for ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie''. Their scenes were cut and have yet to be released to the public, although the filmmakers state that they may include them in a special edition DVD.
* The Disney movie ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'' originally had main character Rapunzel's father the King have a voiced role, played by Creator/JohnGoodman no less! His dialogue was cut from the final movie so although the king appears he doesn't speak.
* Creator/KelseyGrammer had all his dialogue recorded as Henry Waternoose[[note]](Original voice actor Creator/JamesCoburn had died in 2002.)[[/note]] for the prequel to ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc1'', ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'', but the character was removed post-production.
* In Disney's animated version of ''WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland'', the Mock Turtle and the Gryphon wound up having no further presence than storyboards, a CutSong, and a Jello commercial featuring characters from that film. The Jabberwock's appearance was cut from the final movie for being too creepy and surreal even by the film's standards, although it did show up in a children's book adaptation.
* ''WesternAnimation/SurfsUp'' originally had an interview scene with Big Z's former girlfriends, voiced by Creator/JaneKrakowski and Creator/MindySterling. The girlfriends still appear in the background, but nearly all of their dialogue scenes were cut. The scenes did later appear in a "documentary" in the DVD's special features.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' had Helen rent a plane from a friend and fly it herself to the island. Originally the friend was a pilot named Snug who would fly her to the island himself. The intention was that he would be the casualty from the missile strike, with a lingering shot of his ballcap as Helen and the kids figure out what to do next. It was determined they didn't have enough time to develop him into a MauveShirt and the sequence was simply more intense when Helen was the pilot. Storyboard footage was released where he was played by an unknown actor. In the movie itself a picture of him and Helen can be seen as she makes a call for the plane.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Creator/WilliamHartnell had all of his scenes cut from ''Film/TheAbominableDrPhibes'', which would have been his final movie role prior to his death. A young Creator/JoannaLumley appeared as a laboratory assistant, but her scenes were also cut.
* ''Film/TheAdjustmentBureau'': Creator/ShohrehAghdashloo portrayed [[{{God}} The Chairman]] in a scene that was deleted from the final film to make the Chairman's true nature more ambiguous.
* Creator/ChristopherLambert filmed scenes in ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'' that were cut from the final print.
* Music/EddieFisher's role in ''Film/AllAboutEve'' as the stage manager was cut, though he's still credited.
* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'':
** The first movie cast Annie Parisse and Miles Elliot as Curt Connors' wife and son, respectively. Both actors had all of their scenes deleted.
** Chris Zylka was supposed to reprise his role as Flash Thompson for [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2 the sequel]], but all his scenes were cut.
** Creator/ShaileneWoodley's role as Comicbook/MaryJaneWatson was also cut from the sequel, with plans for her to instead debut in a third installment [[AbortedArc that ended up not happening]].
* [[Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack Taylor Schilling's]] role as Tony Mendez's wife was cut almost completely out of ''Film/{{Argo}}'', leaving her instead with a brief appearance near the end.
* ''Film/AustinPowers'' had a RunningGag cut from the first film,[[note]]although it still appears in the international release prints[[/note]] which had several scenes showing the family and friends of FacelessMooks upon learning of their deaths: including Creator/RobLowe [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD3w_VdTG30 in this cameo]]. Rob was given an on-screen role in the sequel.
* The boy band [[Music/NSync *NSYNC]] had cameos as Jedi during the arena fight in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', but all of their scenes were cut during editing.
* Creator/JaneLynch's role as Amelia Earhart was cut from ''Film/TheAviator''.
* Creator/BrianBlessed was cut out of ''Film/BarryLyndon''.
* Deliberately done in ''Film/TheBatman2022'': Creator/BarryKeoghan's scenes as GCPD officer Stanley Merkel were cut (despite a few publicity stills showing him) to hide that [[spoiler:Keoghan's actual role is ComicBook/TheJoker]].
* ''Film/BeCool'' had a scene where Linda was interviewed by Music/PattiLaBelle for her radio show. However, the music legend's scene had to be cut for time.
* In ''Film/TheBigChill'', the friend who committed suicide, putting the entire plot in motion, was originally meant to be played in flashback by Creator/KevinCostner. Creator/LawrenceKasdan eventually decided his character didn't need to be seen, and all of Costner's scenes were edited out. The role isn't 100% deleted, though. The body being dressed at the beginning of the film? We never see the face, but it is Kevin Costner, all right.
* An early script of ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' had a random medieval guy tag along with all the historical characters. The end credits still mention James Bowbitch as "John The Serf".
* Creator/SiennaMiller's role as notorious gangster Whitey Bulger's girlfriend Catherine Greig in the movie ''Film/BlackMass'' was cut because director Scott Cooper thought her scenes (which focused on the period when Bulger was a fugitive) weren't dramatic enough.
* Creator/StanLee originally had a cameo in ''Film/{{Blade}}'' that was ultimately cut from the film. He played one of the cops that comes in to the blood club during the aftermath and discovers Quinn's body on fire.
* Creator/MacaulayCulkin had a small role in ''Film/BornOnTheFourthOfJuly'' that was cut.
* Creator/SummerGlau revealed that she had been cast in a supporting role for ''Film/BlackSwan''. However, before shooting began, the character was cut from the story while the screenwriters were still working on final drafts.
* Several staff members were cut out of ''Film/TheBreakfastClub'' before filming. Dr. Lange, a social studies teacher who dresses oddly, and Robin, a gym teacher. Robin helps Vernon on a few workout machines until Vernon injures his back, and she eventually visits the students while they are in their circle in the library. Carl was originally set to be a minor character with only two scenes, before some of Robin's scenes were given to him to make up for the cut.
* Crispin Bonham Carter, who had played Mr Bingley in ''Series/PrideAndPrejudice1995'' filmed a couple of scenes for ''Film/BridgetJonesDiary'' as a character called Greg -- but they were cut from the film. He can be glimpsed when Bridget quits her job and at the launch party.
* The script for ''Film/BruceAlmighty'' had the character of Bobby, who worked at the news station, selling snacks. He annoyed Bruce, who then proceeded to damn him, causing him to become demonically-possessed. Fortunately, Bruce eventually reversed it.
* La Toya Jackson had a scene in ''Film/Bruno2009'' in which the titular character invites her to [[BodySushi eat sushi off an obese naked man]] and practically begs her to call her brother Music/{{Michael|Jackson}} to join them. Unfortunately, hours before the movie's red carpet premiere in Los Angeles, Michael ''died'', and the scene was immediately cut.
* In ''Film/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Creator/SethGreen had a supporting role as Pike's friend who would later be turned into a vampire (he would've been the only cast member to have been in both the movie and the show), all of his scenes were cut but he can still be seen very briefly near the end among the vampires at the gym.
* Melissa Leo's role as Mamie Eisenhower was cut out of ''[[Film/TheButler Lee Daniels' The Butler]]''.
** Orlando Eric Street was cast as UsefulNotes/BarackObama, but his scene never made it into the final cut.
* Creator/RobinWilliams' first film was the erotic comedy ''Can I Do It 'Till I Need Glasses?'', but for whatever reason his scenes were removed from the first release. But shortly before ''{{Film/Popeye}}'' was released the film was re-released with Williams' scenes included, the advertising boasting about his inclusion. Some of the advertising even implied Robin was the star of the movie!
* Jasmine Guy filmed scenes for ''Film/Carrie2002'' as a psychic detective who would lock horns with Detective Mulcahey. They were all cut late in production.
* ''Film/CarryOnSeries'':
** ''Film/CarryOnNurse'':
*** The anesthetist played by Creator/JohnHorsley.
*** A guard with an Alsatian, the Home Sister, and a patient whose relationship was crumbling all didn't make it past the script stages.
** ''Film/CarryOnRegardless'':
*** Eleanor Summerfield as Mrs. Riley.
*** {{Creator/Lucy Griffiths|1919}} as Aunt Acid, who can still be glimpsed in the film for a brief second during Montgomery's scene at the Ideal Homes Exhibition.
*** Ian Whittaker as a shop assistant who sells Sam some cigarettes.
*** Ronald Adam also was cut out of the film.
** ''Film/FollowThatCamel'':
*** While still visible in the film, Creator/GertanKlauber's role as the spiv was cut down to a mere background extra.
*** Peter Jessen's role as Lawrence was cut.
** ''Film/CarryOnDoctor'':
*** Creator/PenelopeKeith's role as "Plain Nurse" ended up on the cutting room floor.
*** Jane Murdoch as a nurse.
** ''Film/CarryOnLoving'':
*** Lucy Griffiths remains in the credits, even though her performance as a woman watching Sidney through a window in her flat was cut.
*** Norman Chappell had a scene as Mr. Thrush that was also cut.
*** Creator/JamesBeck and Creator/YutteStensgaard had a scene as Mr. and Mrs. Roxby that was cut, although Beck is visible with his back to the camera when Sophie enters Mr. Snooper's office.
** ''Film/CarryOnHenry'':
*** A pre-fame David Essex was filmed as a young man at Speaker's Corner who interjects a comment ("I intend to!") when Lord Hampton suggests "having it off" during the anti-Sex Enjoyment Tax argument. However, his role was cut from the finished film due to a banner prominently visible throughout the scene reading "Ban S.E.T. Tax", which would have made it "Ban Sex Enjoyment Tax Tax". Creator/AnthonySagar's heckler, Creator/JohnClive's dandy and another dandy known as Cedric were also part of the cut scene.
*** Others who had parts cut from the film were Creator/BrianWilde as a warder, Creator/ValerieShute as a maid, and Jane Cardew as King Henry's second wife.
*** In addition to playing Cardinal Wolsey, Creator/TerryScott had a scene as Queen Marie's baby that was cut.
** ''Film/CarryOnAtYourConvenience'':
*** Terry Scott was set to appear as a trade unionist named Mr. Allcock and would've received ninth billing. His scene was filmed, but never made post-production. Creator/GeraldThomas wrote to Scott about the cutting of his entire performance in the film by writing in a personal note to him:
--->...this is in no way any reflection on you or your performance but the film finished 50 minutes over length and we felt rather than cut your sequence down so that you were only on the screen for a flash it would be kinder to remove the entire scene as really it had no effect one way or the other on the story, such as it is.
*** Creator/BillPertwee appeared as the Whippet Inn manager but his scenes were cut from the final film.
*** Jan Rossini had one scene as a "Hoop-la Girl" on the pier but was cut from the film.
*** Philip Stone as Mr. Bulstrode.
*** Alec Bregonzi as a beach photographer, alongside a happy couple (Creator/AlexandraDane and Douglas Ridley in {{Uncredited Role}}s) he was taking photos of.
** ''Film/CarryOnMatron'':
*** Laura Collins as Nurse Rose Knightley, although she can still be spotted in the back of crowd scenes with all the nurses.
*** Creator/MarianneStone as Mrs. Putzova.
*** Juliet Harmer as Mrs. Bentley.
** ''Film/CarryOnAbroad'':
*** Charles Makepeace, Lady Joan Baugham, her 17-year-old son, and the old captain never made it past the initial treatment, while Mr. and Mrs. Sockett stuck around for a few drafts before being dropped.
*** Creator/BillMaynard filmed scenes as Mr. Fiddler, the lecherous owner of Wundatours Limited. However, despite his scenes with Creator/KennethWilliams, Creator/PatsyRowlands, and Gail Grainger being filmed, over-running on the final print dictated Maynard's entire performance be cut from the released film.
*** Terry Scott had a cameo as an irate customer that was cut. It would have been his last film in the series.
*** Lindsay Marsh was cast as a hostess but had her only scene cut from the script just before filming. She still received her salary for her time.
** ''Film/CarryOnBehind'': Creator/VivienneJohnson is included in the credits, and cast lists say she played "Freda", but she is seemingly absent from the film. In a 2018 interview, Creator/PatriciaFranklin confirmed that there were more scenes with the canteen girls, which would have included Freda, but they were cut. As a result, Freda is still in the film, but as little more than an extra. Another canteen girl, Lill, suffered the same fate, but her actress didn't make it to the credits.
* Creator/WoodyAllen cut all of Creator/VanessaRedgrave's scenes from his film ''Film/{{Celebrity}}''.
** He also cut all of the scenes involving Kim Rossi Stuart, Creator/LivTyler, and Creator/TraceyUllman from ''Film/EveryoneSaysILoveYou''.
* Music/PhilCollins claims he was one of the children storming the castle at the end of ''Film/ChittyChittyBangBang'', but was edited out because of a rather large and unsightly bandage on his head that was covering a cyst.
** He was also one of the fans in the performance of "You Can't Do That" in ''Film/AHardDaysNight'' that was cut from the film.
* A scene from ''Film/AChristmasStory'' where Ralphie has a fantasy about being in the ComicStrip/FlashGordon universe was cut, however the credits still list the actors for Flash Gordon and Ming The Merciless.
* Apollo and Athena had major roles in the original cut of ''Film/ClashOfTheTitans2010'', but the film was reworked. Apollo's role was heavily reduced, while Athena was almost cut completely. Additionally all the Gods originally had lines in the first scene on Olympus.
* Creator/SofiaVergara's role as a plane hijacker in ''Film/CollateralDamage'' was cut, as her scenes were [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents too uncomfortable post-9/11]].
* ''Film/{{Coneheads}}'': As Creator/ConanOBrien mentioned on his podcast, he was an extra in one scene (he played one of the Remulakans), but it wasn't used in the final film.
* Creator/MichelleMonaghan had a role as a half-breed demon who had a casual relationship with the title character in ''Film/Constantine2005'', but was cut because they wanted to greater emphasize his loneliness and her role conflicted with that.
* ''Film/TheConversation'' originally featured Abe Vigoda as Harry's lawyer and Mackenzie Phillips as his teenaged niece. Based on the stills of the deleted scenes with Harry's neighbors, it looks like one of them was played by Howard Hesseman.
* [[Music/BlondieBand Debbie Harry]] acted in ''Film/CopLand'', but was edited out in the final cut. She explained on a live television special that although she was cut, she still got paid.
* A young Creator/MelissaJoanHart had a brief role in ''Film/CrocodileDundee'' as a girl whose cut is magically healed, reportedly the scene was cut because the scene didn't fit into the movie's plot.
* Scenes featuring Creator/MichaelBerryman as the Skull Cowboy were cut from ''Film/TheCrow1994''. Most likely because Creator/BrandonLee's death meant that they couldn't film any more with his character.
* Creator/PatrickTroughton had a cameo in ''Film/TheCurseOfFrankenstein'' as a mortuary attendant. Although his name is credited on some early publicity material, his scenes were cut from the finished film.
* ''Film/{{Cursed|2005}}'' was very much a TroubledProduction, and as a result of ExecutiveMeddling, re-writes, and re-casting, many actors filmed scenes that were never shown. Among those who fell victim to the ''Cursed'' curse were Creator/SkeetUlrich (whose character was originally a central figure), Creator/IlleanaDouglas, Creator/HeatherLangenkamp, Creator/ScottFoley, Creator/OmarEpps, Creator/RobertForster, Creator/CoreyFeldman, and Creator/JamesBrolin.
* Creator/AndyGarcia's role as Creator/MichellePfeiffer's love interest in ''Film/DangerousMinds'' was left on the cutting room floor, thereby preventing a RomanticPlotTumor.
* ''Film/Daredevil2003'' originally had a subplot involving the titular hero having to prove the innocence of a client played by Music/{{Coolio}}, which was removed due to ExecutiveMeddling. It was later restored for the DirectorsCut.
* Creator/TraceyUllman was cast as a bartender named Toni in ''Film/DeathBecomesHer'', with her character intended to be the eventual love interest to Creator/BruceWillis' character Ernest. Due to lackluster test audience reception and the studio wanting the film retooled to be a pure black comedy, all of her scenes were cut (although she still appears in the theatrical trailer) and the ending was entirely reworked. [[note]]In the original ending, Ernest and Toni would be depicted as an old married couple vacationing in Switzerland. Madeline and Helen would have been shown to still be young and beautiful, but their immortality would have made their lives boring and meaningless. It was felt that the final sequence would work better if both jealous women would have let themselves decay over the years as consequence of being undead, while Ernest got to die of old age, having lived his life to the fullest.[[/note]]
* Creator/RonnyCox shows up very briefly in ''Film/DeepBlueSea'' as the company CEO in the beginning, where he doesn't even say anything. Presumably the footage was cut.
* Creator/SammyDavisJr filmed a cameo in ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'' that ended up on the cutting room floor.
* Tommy Cooper appeared in a scene in ''Film/DoctorInTheHouse1954'' that was left on the cutting room floor.
* Creator/ChristopherSabat, who voiced Vegeta and Piccolo in the original Funimation dub of ''Manga/DragonBallZ'', was cast as the voice of the Eternal Dragon in ''Film/DragonballEvolution'', but all of his dialogue was cut from the movie.
* Cheryl Smith had a sizable co-starring role in the original longer cut of ''Film/TheDriver'', but the subplot involving her character wound up being excised and subsequently all of her scenes got cut out as well. Creator/WalterHill regretted cutting these scenes and spoke favourably about Smith's acting skills.
* Steven [=McKinley Henderson=] and Creator/TimBlakeNelson filmed scenes for ''Film/DunePartTwo'', with Henderson reprising his role as Thufir Hawat from ''Part One'' and Nelson in an undisclosed role, but all of their scenes were deleted from the final cut.
* Creator/HarrisonFord originally had a scene in ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' where he played the school principal, but Creator/StevenSpielberg decided to cut it, not wanting to be accused of StuntCasting (even though Ford's face was never shown).
* Re-shoots to ''Film/EdgeOfTomorrow'' added in a role for Creator/JeremyPiven, but it was left on the cutting room floor.
* Creator/BenAffleck filmed a scene as Matt Murdock in ''Film/{{Elektra}}'', but it was cut.
* Many of the actors in the POW camp in ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'' had larger parts but those portions of the film were heavily cut down from what was shot. Robert Stephens and Creator/PaulMcGann claimed they filmed larger parts of the film, but most of their scenes were cut.
* ''Film/EmpireRecords'':
** A young Creator/TobeyMaguire's scenes as Andy were cut.
** Corey's sister Lily (Dianna Miranda) was cut from the film.
* ''Film/EscapeRoomTournamentOfChampions'' has a different "Extended Cut" in the home release that has a slightly different plot, with new characters added and others removed. In the theatrical version, Sonya is the unseen daughter of Amanda Harper, the Iraqi vet from the previous film, who is revealed to have survived her fall in the Escape Room, with Creator/DeborahAnnWoll reprising her role. In the extended cut, Sonya is the late wife of the creator of the Escape Room, an erstwhile new character named Henry. Their daughter, Claire, designed the challenges, basing them from her childhood memories. They are respectively played by Tanya van Graan, Creator/JamesFrain, and Creator/IsabelleFuhrman, all of whom were cut in the theatrical release, whereas Woll was cut in the extended release. On another note, the theatrical version has Zoey seeing a therapist (played by Lucy Newman-Williams) who is revealed to have colluded with the creator of the Escape Room, something that was also excised in the extended cut since it would have conflicted with the new plot.
* Creator/EllenPompeo had a scene in ''Film/EternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMind'' where she played an ex-girlfriend of [[Creator/JimCarrey Joel]] that was deleted from the final cut.
* Both Creator/LiamHemsworth and Creator/BrittanyMurphy were cut from ''Film/TheExpendables'' following script rewrites; Creator/SylvesterStallone later gave Hemsworth a part in the [[Film/TheExpendables2 first sequel]] (Murphy, who would have appeared as Creator/MickeyRourke's girlfriend, passed away before the first film's release).
* Creator/JamesGandolfini shot scenes as a man who meets Creator/SandraBullock at grief counselling in ''Literature/ExtremelyLoudAndIncrediblyClose'', but they were cut after negative reactions at test screenings.
* Kidada Jones filmed several scenes in ''Film/TheFaculty'' portraying a girl called Venus, who was advertised in TV previews and a tie-in Tommy Hilfiger commercial. Most of them were cut and she can only be seen in the science class scene, standing next to Gabe (Usher's character).
* Creator/NicolasCage had one of his first roles in ''Film/FastTimesAtRidgemontHigh'', as "Brad's Bud", but nearly every one of his scenes were cut. You can still see him for a couple seconds working the grill at the American Burger, and he's also seen as one of the spectators at the Ridgemont vs. Lincoln football game, in which star player [[Creator/ForestWhitaker Charles Jefferson]] leads the Ridgemont team to a major lopsided victory.
* Creator/LaraFlynnBoyle's first film part was a small role in ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'', but none of her scenes made it into the final movie.
* Music/MickJagger was supposed to appear in Creator/WernerHerzog's ''Film/{{Fitzcarraldo}}'', but various troubles with the production (along with Jagger's commitment to Music/{{The Rolling Stones|Band}}) led to his character being removed.
* Margaret Nolan appeared as one of Rusk's potential victims in ''Film/{{Frenzy|1972}}'', though her footage was cut from the film.
* In the 2005 remake of ''Film/FunWithDickAndJane'', there was a deleted scene in which Dick and Jane rob a toy store, where Dick encounters the store's elderly security guard played by James Whitmore, in what ended up being Whitmore's final film role before his 2009 death.
* Creator/FarrahFawcett's character was cut entirely out of the Creator/GeneWilder movie ''Funny About Love''. Creator/RogerEbert described this as [[TakeThat "One of the biggest breaks in Farrah Fawcett's career."]]
* Harriet Walter filmed several scenes for a prominent role in ''Film/TheFrenchLieutenantsWoman'' that ended up cut completely.
* Creator/BenStiller had cameo in ''Film/GetShorty'' as the director of one of Harry's low-budget B-movies. It was cut from the film because it didn't suit the flow of it. Even though Creator/BarrySonnenfeld thought it was funny (maybe the funniest scene in the movie) it did nothing to advance the plot so it had to go.
* The original five-hour cut of ''Film/GodsAndGenerals'' (now available on Blu-Ray) featured a subplot following the life and career of John Wilkes Booth. It was cut due to ExecutiveMeddling.
* Serafina's daemon Kaisa doesn't appear in ''Film/TheGoldenCompass'', but photos exist of him with Creator/EvaGreen.
* Creator/JessicaWalter apparently played a character named Melody in the 1979 film ''{{Film/Goldengirl}}''. She does not appear in the final film nor is she listed in its credits.
* A weird example in ''Film/AGoodDayToDieHard''. Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead reprised her role as John [=McClane=]'s daughter in the theatrical version, but for some reason all scenes featuring her were cut in the Extended version for the home release. These not only include her physical appearances but also scenes where her voice is heard. The ending, where she prominently appears, had to be changed.
* Nick Jones filmed a cameo as John Stewart in the ''Film/GreenLantern2011'' movie, which ended up being deleted.
* Creator/DolphLundgren's role in ''Film/HailCaesar'' was almost entirely deleted for time reasons, and he only appears as a silhouette.
* Creator/AdrienneBarbeau had a small role in ''Film/Halloween2007'' that was cut. Ironically she was once married to Creator/JohnCarpenter, the director of the [[{{Film/Halloween 1978}} original film]].
* ''Film/HaroldAndKumarGoToWhiteCastle'' originally ended with Harold meeting Maria's brother, played by Creator/LuisGuzman, who Harold initially mistakes for her boyfriend, and learns from him that Maria has gone to Amsterdam. As humorous as it was, WordOfGod decided it'd be better having Harold actually see Maria one last time before she goes to Amsterdam.
* The ''Film/HarryPotter'' films:
** In ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'', the late Creator/RikMayall filmed scenes as Peeves the Poltergeist. Test audiences didn't like the CGI effects of the design so the character was cut and none of the scenes have ever been released.
** In ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', Sir Cadogan, played by Paul Whitehouse, was cut almost completely out of the film. You do still see Sir Cadogan jumping through several paintings behind Ron, Harry and Hermione during the Fat Lady's disappearance, and he appeared in the DVD special features.
** ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' had a sub-plot about Jacob getting dumped by his fiancée Mildred (played by Sinead Matthews) cut entirely from the final product. However, Matthews is credited for her role in it.
** Several minor characters got the cut in ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald''
*** When the casting call went out for teenaged Newt and Leta, there was another character listed named Sebastian who doesn't appear in the film. According to the actor who was cast, "Sebastian" was a codename for protagonist Newt's brother Theseus but the scene was cut.
*** According to a UK extra database, Kendra Dumbledore was also cast in the film but didn't make it into the final product.
*** Three years after the film’s release, the [=MuggleNet=] fansite was given costume test and set photos of Ariana Dumbledore. She was wearing two different outfits in the photos which imply she was in multiple flashback scenes. Their source told them that the scenes were cut to focus more on the main plot, which had enough going on already.
* Creator/JonathanBrandis had a role as Private Lewis P. Wakely in the 2002 film ''Film/HartsWar''. Already struggling with depression over his career waning after ''Series/SeaQuestDSV'' being cancelled and being typecast as a child/teen actor, he had hoped ''Hart's War'' would be [[CareerResurrection his comeback role]]. Instead, his role ended up cut entirely, ultimately worsening his depression to the point that it's thought to have been a contributing factor behind his suicide in 2003.
* Creator/FrankieHowerd (as Sam Ahab) and Creator/WendyRichard had a cameo in ''Film/{{Help}}'' that was left out of final editing owing to its length. However, the sequence was left in the film novelisation.
* Creator/ChrisCooper filmed scenes for ''Film/Her2013'' that were cut.
* Hope Lange was cast as a love interest for Creator/GeorgePeppard's character in ''Film/HowTheWestWasWon'', but her scenes were cut from the final print of the film. She portrayed young Julie Stuart, the daughter of Creator/HenryFonda's character. After Lange's scenes were deleted from the film, Julie was later portrayed by Creator/CarolynJones.
* Creator/HaroldRamis originally had a scene as Creator/JohnCusack's father in ''Film/HighFidelity'', but it was cut. Beverly D'Angelo was also in a scene in the film, based on the scene in the book where Rob is buying records off of someone whose husband ran out on her.
* In ''Film/TheHobbitTheDesolationOfSmaug'', Creator/PeterJackson was to play Basketman, the Lake-town spy who emerges from a basket. Basketman's scene was cut after a complaint from Peter Jackson's wife.
* Creator/MattSmith filmed a cameo for ''Film/InBruges'' as a younger version of Harry Waters, the character played by Creator/RalphFiennes. The scene went rather viral after Smith was cast in ''Series/DoctorWho''.
* Creator/DaisyRidley had a small part in ''Film/TheInbetweeners2''. After unexpectedly getting cast in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', her filming schedule suddenly made it impossible for her to do reshoots, so it was decided that the easiest solution would be to just cut her role entirely.
* Creator/BrandonRouth was cast as a vampire in Gregor Jordan's film adaptation of Creator/BretEastonEllis’ short-story collection ''Literature/TheInformers'', but all of his scenes were removed before the film's release.
* ''Film/IngloriousBasterds'':
** Creator/MaggieCheung was cast as the former owner of Shoshanna's movie theatre, but all of her scenes were cut from the final release.
** Creator/ClorisLeachman was in a flashback scene as The Bear Jew's grandmother that got cut. Her scene would have explained how The Bear Jew got his bat.
* Ghostface Killah of Music/WuTangClan was supposed to have a cameo in ''[[Film/IronMan1 Iron Man]]'', but his sequence was cut from the final film.
* An unidentified actress was cast to play Tony's dead mother for a {{Flashback}} sequence in ''Film/IronMan3'', but the scene was never finished.
* Creator/SamRockwell had a DeletedScene in ''Film/{{Jarhead}}'' where he played Creator/JakeGyllenhaal's uncle.
* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse:
** The theatrical cut of ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' has several missing characters compared to the Ultimate Edition, including a CIA team at the beginning in Nairomi, S.T.A.R. Labs secretary Jenet Klyburn (Creator/JenaMalone), the girlfriend of criminal Cesar Santos and a tramp who talks to Clark Kent about Batman being on a hunt.
** Due to the original plans for the movie having been heavily altered (and in some cases outright dropped) after the responses to ''Batman v Superman'', ''Film/{{Justice League|2017}}'', which had a TroubledProduction as a result, has multiple instances of this:
*** The movie originally featured appearances from Creator/WillemDafoe as Nuidis Vulko (to tease ''Film/{{Aquaman|2018}}'') and Creator/KierseyClemons as Iris West (to tease ''Film/{{The Flash|2023}}''), including a scene where Barry would've used his powers to save Iris from a car accident. Both of these parts were cut, even though part of the car accident scene was used [[MissingTrailerScene in the trailer]].
*** Creator/RobinWright was originally set to reprise her role as General Antiope from ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'' in a {{Flashback}}, but this too was cut.
*** Other deleted flashback scenes would've served an origin story for ComicBook/{{Cyborg}}, with Creator/KarenBryson playing his mother, Elinore Stone. Said deleted flashbacks also included a scene with Cyborg helping a StrugglingSingleMother played by C. Amanda Maud.
*** Other deleted scenes featured [[ComicBook/TheAtom Ryan Choi]], one of the scientists at S.T.A.R. Labs.
*** Audiobook reader and BitCharacter actor Creator/RayPorter was cast as ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}, who was supposed to lead the invasion to Earth in ancient times before his role was written out and replaced by Steppenwolf in said ancient times.
*** ComicBook/MartianManhunter (revealed to be [[spoiler:Calvin Swanwick and played by Creator/HarryLennix]]) was also cut, his scenes couldn't be filmed.
** ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' is an inversion -- all of the aforementioned missing characters are featured in this version. However, it also has a straight example, as Snyder cast Wayne T. Carr as the John Stewart version of ComicBook/GreenLantern in a cameo, only for the studio to request that the scene be cut.
** After previously having returned to the role of ComicBook/{{Superman}} for the first time since 2017 in 2022's ''Film/BlackAdam2022'', Creator/HenryCavill filmed a similar cameo appearance for ''Film/TheFlash2023'' during reshoots. However, the scene showing Superman alongside other members of the Justice League was cut by the new heads of Creator/DCStudios, who announced that Superman would instead be recast with a younger actor (eventually revealed to be Creator/DavidCorenswet) in the character's next solo film.
** Likewise, ''Film/AquamanAndTheLostKingdom'' was originally supposed to feature an appearance from Batman, with Creator/MichaelKeaton reprising his role from ''The Flash''. However, due to scheduling changes that pushed ''Lost Kingdom'' before ''Flash''[[note]]It would later change release dates ''again'' not long after, rendering the Batman reshoots pointless[[/note]], the scenes featuring Batman were reshot with Creator/BenAffleck in the role for continuity purposes. After the decision was made to end the current DCEU in favor of a reboot, Batman was dropped from the film entirely, with neither actor's footage being used.
* Creator/MichaelJaiWhite originally had a cameo in ''Film/KillBill'' as a martial artist with a score to settle with Bill. A rather awesome fight scene was sadly cut.
* ''Film/KillingThemSoftly'' originally had cameos by Garrett Dillahunt and Bella Heathcoate that apparently wound up on the cutting room floor; the two had to settle for a "Thanks To..." mention in the end credits.
* Creator/LizaMinnelli filmed a scene in ''Film/TheKingOfComedy'' where she played herself on Jerry Langford's talk show and sang "New York, New York" but it didn't make the final cut. Minnelli only appears in the finished film as a life-size cardboard cutout, a guest on Rupert Pupkin's basement talk show.
* In the theatrical release of ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'', Sibylla's son does not appear, as the arc involving his character was cut for time. He does appear in the directors' cut.
** Several minor characters from Balian's village in France were also cut or DemotedToExtra for the theatrical release.
* ''Film/AKnightsTale'': Creator/OliviaWilliams filmed a scene as Geoffrey Chaucer's wife Phillipa which didn't make it into the final cut of the movie.
* ''Film/LAStory'': Both Creator/JohnLithgow and Creator/ScottBakula filmed scenes that were later cut during the editing process. Lithgow's character Harry Zell is mentioned by other characters in a couple of scenes.
* Creator/ToriSpelling had a cameo as herself in ''Film/LastActionHero'', but it was eventually left on the cutting room floor.
* ''Film/TheLastAirbender'' cut an extra twenty minutes with [[AmazonBrigade the Kyoshi Warriors]]. This makes a bit of sense, since introducing [[BadassNormal Suki]] might have been weird given that [[TheSmartGuy Sokka]] has [[ILetGwenStacyDie Yue]] as a LoveInterest in this film. Unfortunately, most of the film's ''other'' artistic choices were bad enough that we'll never see her or the others introduced in a sequel.
* ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen:'' A character named Eva Draper (Winter Ave Zoli), the daughter of German scientist Karl Draper, was removed during editing but remained in some of the promotional material. Eva had appeared in two scenes: one ended up on the cutting room floor, and she was digitally replaced with a different character in the other. A brief fight scene featuring Tom Sawyer and the replacement character was rotoscoped into the film. The deleted scenes which feature Draper appear on the DVD.
* ''Film/LiarLiar'' had a deleted scene with Fletcher defending his client, Skull (played by Randall "Tex" Cobb), and his actor is listed in the opening credits. In the finished film, all we get of this character is a brief scene with him thanking Fletcher and a name mention when he calls Fletcher in need of legal advice.
* Supermodel Claudia Schiffer was originally cast in ''Film/LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels'' as Eddie's girlfriend. She completed filming but was later edited out after negative test screenings.
* Dewey Martin was originally cast in ''Film/TheLongestDay'' as Lt. Wilder, whose role was deleted from the final cut.
* From ''Film/TheLordsOfSalem'':
** Creator/UdoKier had a role as a horror movie character in a ShowWithinAShow that was cut from the final cut.
** Originally, Richard Lynch played Jonathan Hawthorne and Creator/AndrewPrine played a character called Judges Samuel Mather. Due to Lynch's worsening health condition, Creator/RobZombie reshot Hawthorne's most important scenes and filmed new shoots for the burning scene with Prine as the reverend and omitted the judge.
* Creator/KellyJoMinter as Maria was cut from ''Film/TheLostBoys''. The only true appearance she makes is over Lucy's shoulder in the video store, yet she still received billing in the film's opening credits.
* British comedian Creator/OmidDjalili got prominent billing in ''Film/TheLoveGuru'', despite his one scene as Guru Satchabigknoba being removed from the theatrical cut, but it was included as a deleted scene on the Blu-ray release.
* Creator/SarahJessicaParker's role as feminist crusader Gloria Steinem was cut out of ''Film/{{Lovelace}}''.
* ''Film/{{Machete}}'' had two examples, one very straight and one rather more unusual. Both appear in deleted scenes on the DVD release.
** Creator/RoseMcGowan would have played a sexily deranged female sidekick to the hitman Osiris, called Boots [=McCoy=]. Originally, she and not Von Jackson would have shot Luz in the eye.
** Sartana would have had a slutty, drug-addicted twin sister, who would also have been played by Creator/JessicaAlba using split-screen. She would have been killed by Boots.
* In ''Film/{{Magnolia}}'', Creator/OrlandoJones' role, as "The Worm"--the father of the rapping boy and also the murderer of the man in the closet--was left on the cutting room floor. This makes Dead Guy In Closet's Murder an Unreveal and makes the boy's presence in the film more or less random. In the final cut Jones appears only as the mysterious hooded pedestrian that Officer Jim chases before losing his gun.
* [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in ''Film/TheManWhoWouldBeKing''. Creator/JohnHuston considered cutting out the Creator/RudyardKipling character (played by Creator/ChristopherPlummer) and probably would have, had star Creator/SeanConnery not decided to WagTheDirector.
* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** Creator/MichaelKWilliams was supposed to have a significant cameo in ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008'', which Creator/EdwardNorton wrote for him because he's a huge fan of ''Series/TheWire''. It got severely cut down in the editing room, so in the finished movie, Williams basically shows up (completely out of nowhere) for a few seconds during the final battle.
** Creator/TomHiddleston was meant to return as ComicBook/{{Loki}} for Thor's nightmare sequence in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''. However, test audiences found the nightmare sequence confusing (apparently some thought that Loki was controlling ComicBook/{{Ultron}}, and the fact that the scepter he used in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' to induce mind control is a MacGuffin in ''Age of Ultron'' probably didn't help), so it was drastically shortened, removing Loki's appearance in the process.
** Lulu Wilson filmed a few scenes as ComicBook/DoctorStrange’s sister Donna for his [[Film/DoctorStrange2016 solo movie]] but they didn't make it into the final product. She’s briefly mentioned in the sequel.
** Creator/NathanFillion was originally going to make an unorthodox cameo appearance in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'' as [[ComicBook/WonderMan Simon Williams]], but with the twist that he'd only appear on a series of in-universe movie posters at a film festival. The scene with the film festival was cut from the finished movie, removing the easter egg in the process. Jennifer Sharp also filmed a flashback scene as [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Mantis]]' mother, which ended up being deleted.
** Creator/KatherineLangford was to make an appearance in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' as [[spoiler:an adult Morgan Stark, whom Iron Man meets after snapping Thanos and his forces out of existence in a CallBack to a similar scene in ''[[Film/AvengersInfinityWar Infinity War]]'' where Thanos met young Gamora after decimating the universe]]. Her role, along with the scene she was featured in, was ultimately dropped from the film due to said scene confusing test audiences.
** Lexi Rabe had stated on Instagram that she was supposed to reprise her role as Morgan Stark in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'', yet it was cut.
* Jennifer Ehle was cast as Creator/GeorgeClooney's love interest in ''Film/MichaelClayton'', but all of her scenes were cut (save for a brief, out-of-focus appearance in the background of one shot). Clooney personally apologized to her for the exclusion.
* Edward Herrmann originally appeared in ''Film/MissCongeniality'' as Gracie's father, but his part was cut.
* Music/GeorgeHarrison originally had a larger role in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', but it got cut to him just being introduced as the manager of the Mount and saying "Hello." Pilate's wife, only mentioned in the final cut, was to have been played by Burt Case, a very tall actor who had another bit part that remained in the film.
** Also, a scene setting up Otto and the Judean People's Front was deleted, so their BigDamnHeroes ({{Subverted}}) moment at the end comes out of nowhere.
* Creator/JulianneMoore, Creator/TonyShalhoub and Creator/AntonYelchin star in deleted sketches from ''Film/Movie43''.
* ''Film/MrAndMrsSmith2005'':
** Estella Warren planned to make a big comeback with a supporting role, but her part -- she and Adam Brody play a husband and wife who get wrapped up in the film's plot -- was deleted from the final print (although Brody remains in the movie).
** Creator/KeithDavid & Creator/AngelaBassett were cast as the bosses of the title characters, but only their voices remained in the final movie.
** Creator/TerenceStamp and Creator/JacquelineBisset also appeared in a subplot as terrorists that got cut.
* ''Film/TheMuppets2011'' originally had cameos by Creator/SteveCarell, Creator/BillyCrystal, Creator/WandaSykes and Creator/DannyTrejo. Sykes and Trejo's scenes [[MissingTrailerScene appeared on one of the trailers.]] (Trejo ''does'' appear in ''Film/MuppetsMostWanted''.)
* Famous bodybuilding siblings David and Peter Paul had a scene in ''Film/NaturalBornKillers'' where they were interviewed by the Creator/RobertDowneyJr character because despite having their legs hacked off by the main characters, they can't help but be impressed by their charisma. Director Oliver Stone, despite praising their scene as the best-written one in the movie (whose screenplay was written by Creator/QuentinTarantino), couldn't fit it into the final cut.
** Creator/AshleyJudd also had a part that was cut, where she had a 9-minute scene as a courtroom witness. Creator/DenisLeary appeared in a cameo as a conspiracy theory-obsessed prisoner that was cut.
* Creator/SamWaterston played CIA director Richard Helms in Creator/OliverStone's ''Film/{{Nixon}}'', but after public outcry from Helms' children over how his character was portrayed, his scene was cut from the film. It was later reinstated for the home video DirectorsCut.
* Creator/LouiseFletcher appeared in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInAmerica'' as the director of the cemetery Noodles visits in 1968. She appears only in the restored version.
* Lionel Stander's entire scene as the bartender in ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'' was cut from international prints, but he remained on the credits.
* Hugh Herbert filmed scenes playing Mercury in ''Film/OneTouchOfVenus'', but they were deleted.
* Curly Howard of Film/TheThreeStooges fame was cast as a Confederate soldier in the 1934 Civil War drama ''Operator 13''. Most of his scenes were cut, however, and he can only be seen briefly in a crowd. The Stooges as a group would later parody the movie in their short film ''Uncivil Warriors''.
* ''Film/OutlawKing'' originally included a scene where William Wallace met Robert the Bruce while on a hunting trip. Wallace called Bruce a coward and a traitor, but Bruce helped him escape from an English search party regardless. In the final film, Wallace is still [[TheGhost referenced]] as keeping the fight offscreen and his [[PosthumousCharacter severed head and arm]] appear in a couple of scenes set after his execution.
* Leni Zieglmeier was cast as Wendy Darling in ''Film/{{Pan}}'', but her scenes were cut from the final film.
* Creator/JaredLeto had a cameo as an actor in ''Film/PhoneBooth'' that was cut as it didn't fit the film's tone. However, the cable version adds this scene back in to pad the film's run time.
* Creator/ElizabethBerkely had a small scene in ''Film/PointBreak1991'' that was cut.
* Julie Brown was going to appear in ''Film/PoliceAcademy2TheirFirstAssignment'' as Mahoney's second love interest, a seamstress named Chole Daniels, only to find out later that all her scenes, bar two nearly cameo apearances, were cut from the final print.
* ''Film/ThePrivateLifeOfSherlockHolmes'' was originally envisioned as a three-hour movie composed of four semiconnected stories. However, the studio pressured Creator/BillyWilder into removing the first and third segments, completely cutting Inspector Lestrade (played by George Benson) and other characters played by the likes of Noel Johnson, Nicole Shelby, and David Kossoff from the movie.
* This trope explains why the end credits for ''Film/ProblemChild'' include several characters who don't appear in the film.
* From ''Film/PromNight1980'':
** After the family visits Robin's grave, Mr Hammond takes his wife to visit Dr Fairchild. The men would talk briefly in the hallway, where it would be revealed that Robin and Alex were twins.
** Mr Sykes would be shown witnessing Wendy's murder. In the theatrical cut, he can still be seen during her chase.
** The girls would be passing notes in class, which was Jude telling them about Slick. Kim would be caught with the note and forced to read it aloud to the class. This is why Mr Weller calls Kim "the literary Ms Hammond" when she arrives at the gym late.
* In ''Film/PulpFiction'', there was originally a scene with Creator/DickMiller as Monster Joe, the owner of the car place where Winston Wolf leaves Jules and Vince. Creator/QuentinTarantino has since said that this would have made it in if it weren't for pacing reasons.
* Creator/BruceCampbell had a cameo in ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'' that was cut out in the final edit. His name still appears in the final credits.
* In ''Film/RatRace'', Owen caught a ride on a moving house only to discover it was not quite empty when he walked in on Kimberly Page in her underwear, causing her to scream. This leads to Wrestling/DiamondDallasPage showing up and beating up the former referee. The scene was cut from the final film for time purposes.
* Nina Siemaszko played a detective named [=McCluskey=] in ''Film/ReservoirDogs''. The scene was cut because it revealed too much about Creator/HarveyKeitel's character.
* Played with in the Special Features of ''Film/{{Resolution}}'' where several gag scenes maintain a fiction that there used to be a third main character at the cabin, but that all of his scenes were cut.
* Creator/ChrisCooper originally had a role in ''Film/TheRing'' where he played a SerialKiller who tried to convince Creator/NaomiWatts to petition for his early release. Had his scene remained in the movie, she would have [[spoiler:delivered the killer tape to his cell at the film's end.]]
* Although Harry Carey Jr. was listed in the credits for ''Film/RioBravo'' on-screen, he does not appear in the picture. Carey had a drinking problem at the time. He called Creator/HowardHawks "Howard" instead of "Mr. Hawks" on one of his first days on the set, infuriating Hawks. His contract, including his pay and his screen credit, was honored, but his part (a townsman) was cut.
* [[Series/WithoutATrace Anthony [=LaPagila=]]] filmed a single scene as UsefulNotes/AlCapone for ''Film/RoadToPerdition'' and it was cut out. However, like Creator/JaredLeto in ''Film/PhoneBooth'', his scene is thrown into TV showings. Interestingly, Creator/AlfredMolina was the producers' first choice to play Capone but couldn't due to schedule conflicts.
* Megan Park filmed some scenes in ''Film/{{Room}}'' as Joy's high school friend, but they were all cut.
* Creator/UmaThurman filmed scenes as Creator/BlakeLively's mother for Creator/OliverStone's ''Film/{{Savages}}'', but they were cut from the final film.
* Creator/DanCastellaneta filmed a scene in ''Film/SayAnything'' when he played Mr. Deegan, a teacher who tries to hit on Diane at the party, but it was cut (though it's included as a DeletedScene on the DVD).
* Creator/SofiaVergara reprised her role as Odile in a scene filmed for ''Film/TheSmurfs2'', but was eventually dropped from the theatrical release.
* Jean Yoon played Knives' mother in a deleted scene in ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'' which recreates the scene of Scott and Knives' meeting from the comic.
* But for a single shot in the montage that closes the movie, this is Creator/JeaneaneGarofalo's fate in ''Film/SouthlandTales''. Brian O'Halloran (Dante Hicks from ''Film/{{Clerks}}'') was also rumored to have been cut.
* ''Film/SpiceWorld'' originally had cameos from Creator/JasonIsaacs and Music/GaryGlitter that were eventually cut. The latter case is very well [[JustifiedTrope justified]], as the singer was arrested for possession of child pornography shortly before the film's release.
* Adrian Lester filmed a cameo as a scientist that Marko visits in ''Film/SpiderMan3'' that was cut.
* Creator/MichaelDorn (best known for playing Worf in ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''[[note]] and who not only also appeared as [[IdenticalGrandson Colonel Worf]] in the aforementioned ''Star Trek VI'', but was even a key part of one of the scenes that cut Colonel West from the theatrical release[[/note]]) was offered a cameo role in ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'', but it was eventually cut because the filmmakers didn't want "to mix the old with the new".
* ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' was supposed to have a scene with Creator/WilWheaton as Wesley at Troi and Riker's wedding, but it was cut, leaving him with only a brief, dialogue-free appearance in the film.
** Steven Culp was supposed to appear as Commander Martin Madden, Picard's new first officer, in the end, but he got cut out. Culp would later play MACO Major Hayes on ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise''.
* The ''Franchise/StarWars'' saga has several interesting examples of this.
** Declan Mulholland was cast in ''Film/ANewHope'' as Jabba the Hutt, who was conceived to be a portly human crime boss who wore a shaggy fur coat and was very receptive to Han Solo's offer to settle his debts. His role was deleted from the final product, due to Creator/GeorgeLucas apparently being unsatisfied with this version of the character, which was reworked in ''Return of the Jedi'' as a giant slug-like alien portrayed by animatronic. The footage was later reworked to replace Mulholland with a CGI Jabba for the ''Special Edition'' releases.
** The actors who played Luke's friends at Tosche Station in the original film (Camie, Fixer, Deak and Windy) had their roles cut prior to release, with the sole exception of Garrick Hagon (who played Biggs), who saw his role cut down to just appearances on Yavin 4 and the Death Star assault.
** The character of Shaak Ti (played by Orii Shorshan) appeared in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', but most of her role in the latter was deleted from the final print. She was intended to be killed in the film (first via a sequence on the Droid Control Ship where General Grievous executes her in front of Anakin and Obi-Wan, and then via a scene where she would be killed by Anakin during Order 66). Both of these sequences were cut, though the former is included on the DVD as a deleted scene. Her role in ''Sith'' was eventually pared down to a shot of her in hologram.
** Creator/GenevieveOReilly was intended to play the character of Mon Mothma in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''. The scene she appeared in (showcasing the unofficial formation of the Rebel Alliance) was cut from the finished product and she isn't seen in the theatrical film, save one brief establishing shot (though her scenes were included as a DeletedScene on home media releases). However, she was later cast as the same character in ''Film/RogueOne'' and the ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' animated series, which more or less makes those scenes in ''Sith'' canonical.
** ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' was originally supposed to feature a character named Constable Zuvio, the Kyuzo militia leader of Niima Outpost on Jakku. The character was cut from the movie but an action figure was released anyway. Creator/ChristinaChong was also announced to be in the cast, but all her scenes were deleted.
** The much-ballyhooed cameos by Princes Harry and William ended up being cut from the theatrical release of ''Film/TheLastJedi'', as did another one from Creator/TomHardy (which, as a fully suited Stormtrooper, would have been yet ''another'' role where his face is covered up).
* Maggie Stiff filmed a scene in ''Film/StopLoss'' as the assistant to the senator, meeting Brandon in his office. It's deleted from the film, and she's only heard over the phone.
* Creator/JamesVanDerBeek was cut out of Creator/ToddSolondz's ''Storytelling''. It's not known exactly who he was playing, but rumors say that he played a gay football player whose part included an explicit sex scene.
* Tom Hedden's family were originally given roles in ''Film/StrawDogs1971'', but they were either cut or never filmed. June Brown was cast as Hedden's wife, together with Chloe Franks as their daughter Emma, and a scene was scripted featuring both in their home doing laundry with Susan George. However, although the scene was included, it was never filmed. Michael Mundell was originally cast as Cawsey the rat-catcher but was later switched to the role of Bertie Hedden in a scene featuring the village children. However, this entire scripted role was also never filmed because the scene was canceled due to time and budget constraints.
* A variant happens in the movie ''Film/SuckerPunch''. While Creator/JonHamm does make an appearance at the end as [[spoiler:the doctor who performs a lobotomy on Baby Doll]], a deleted scene also had him appear in the bordello fantasy, as [[spoiler:the High Roller. In the scene, it would have been revealed that the High Roller had no intention of raping her, and asks for love between a man and a woman, in exchange for setting her free. Baby Doll consenting leads to her seeing the lobotomy as her freedom in the real world.]] Apparently the scene was cut because ExecutiveMeddling kept whittling it down, until [[spoiler:[[UnfortunateImplications it began to look like Baby Doll wasn't entirely consenting to the sex]].]] Since that ruined the entire point of the scene, it was cut and [[spoiler:the High Roller remained an unseen character.]]
* Creator/MattDamon had a cameo in ''Film/TheSumOfAllFears'' as a waiter, but it was cut from the final film.
* Eric Christian Olsen filmed a few scenes in ''Film/SunshineCleaning'' as Randy, one of Norah's booty calls. Most of his scenes are deleted, except for the one where Norah sees a report about an ambulance crash while on the couch with him.
* ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'': In the original cut, there were two Nuclear Men made by Lex Luthor, and Mark Pillow's Nuclear Man was actually the ''second'' incarnation. The original Nuclear Man, played by Clive Mantle, was much less intelligent, akin to Bizarro from the comic books, and had a confrontation with Superman before being defeated by [[CriticalExistenceFailure being electrocuted into ashes]]. Thus, the "dirt" that Lenny Luthor adds to the capsule with Nuclear Man's protoplasm was really the remains of the original Nuclear Man, and [[GeneticMemory Nuclear Man II inherited Nuclear Man I's memories of crossing paths with Lacy Warfield]], [[OrphanedReference which was why he was seeking her in the climax]]. Nuclear Man I's scenes were cut after a poor test screening, and director Sidney J. Furie apologized to Mantle about taking his scenes out. Creator/TheCannonGroup considered using ''Superman IV'''s 45 minutes of cut scenes in a potential fifth Superman film, however, those plans got scrapped after this film bombed in theaters.
* Creator/TimBurton decided to drop the [[CrowdSong Crowd Songs]] partway through filming ''Film/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'', feeling they were uncinematic. This resulted in performers Creator/ChristopherLee and Creator/AnthonyStewartHead being cut from the movie (even though the latter has a single line cameo following "The Contest").
* At the Turner Classic Movies 2010 Classic Film Festival, screenwriter and actor Buck Henry revealed that he was an extra in ''Film/SweetSmellOfSuccess'' in the scene when Falco gets his hand caught in the door. Unfortunately, said Henry, he ended up on the cutting room floor.
* Sub Girl originally played an integral part in ''Film/TankGirl'', but the studio cut her role down to a cameo.
* Creator/MichaelBiehn was supposed to reprise his role as Kyle Reese in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', but his scene was cut. It was, however, reinstated for the DirectorsCut.
** In the original cut of the movie Miles and Tarissa Dyson had a daughter as well as their son, Danny. The only scene where the daughter appeared was cut, and one of Tarissa's lines referring to her in a later scene was removed as well. Both of these edits were reinstated for the Director's Cut.
* Speaking of ''Terminator'', Creator/TerryCrews was originally going to play one of the Resistance soldiers in ''Film/TerminatorSalvation''. However, almost his entire role was cut, so he only shows up in a single scene as a dead body. Due to Crews being a fairly recognizable actor, this unintentionally makes his appearance as a corpse seem like a [[DeathByCameo humorous cameo]].
* Creator/TerrenceMalick is notorious for this. He manages to bring an AllStarCast and they don't make it to the final cut or are reduced to a few minutes due to the fact that he shapes his films as he is making them.
** The most famous case was his 1998 war epic ''Film/TheThinRedLine''. Creator/BillyBobThornton, Creator/MartinSheen, Creator/GaryOldman, Creator/BillPullman, Lukas Haas, Creator/ViggoMortensen, and Creator/MickeyRourke were cut out completely, and others such as Creator/GeorgeClooney, Creator/JohnTravolta and Creator/AdrienBrody (who was originally supposed to be the ''lead'') had their screen time drastically reduced to one or two scenes each.
** Creator/SeanPenn famously complained that his role in ''Film/TheTreeOfLife'' had been so drastically reduced that he wondered why Malick had kept him in at all.
** ''Film/ToTheWonder'' had roles by Creator/RachelWeisz, Creator/JessicaChastain, Creator/MichaelSheen, Creator/MichaelShannon, Creator/AmandaPeet, and Creator/BarryPepper that were cut out of the final product.
** ''Song to Song'' had roles played by Creator/ChristianBale and Creator/BenicioDelToro, and cameos by the indie rock groups Music/ArcadeFire and Music/FleetFoxes, cut from the film.
* Joe Bob Briggs had a deleted cameo as a victim in ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre2''.
* Catherine Keener was cast as Detective Slocumb's wife in ''Film/ThelmaAndLouise'', but her scene was cut. It's included on the Special Edition DVD.
* ''Film/ThirteenWomen'':
** Marjorie Gateson was cast to play Martha, the woman Hazel was implied to be having an affair with in ''Thirteen Women''. The Hays Office objected to the film depicting a lesbian relationship, so all of Gateson's scenes ended up being deleted.
** Phyllis Fraser and Betty Furness were cast as the Twelfth Woman and the Thirteenth Woman, respectively, but had their roles removed to shorten the film's runtime. This resulted in the movie having an ArtifactTitle.
** John Armess was also edited out of the film just before its release.
** Peg Entwistle, who jumped to her death a month before the film's release, had her screentime drastically reduced to four minutes.
* ''Film/{{Titanic|1997}}'':
** The film was first written as a ''four'' hour-long movie with ''three'' main couples that were a {{foil}} to each other in some way: Rose and Jack, who crossed social barriers; the [[HistoricalDomainCharacter historical]] film pioneer Daniel Marvin and his wife Mary, who travelled in First Class; and Jack's friend Fabrizio and a Norwegian immigrant named Helga, who travelled in Steerage and chose to stay with her parents instead of going with him during the sinking. Of these, the Marvins never made the transition to film (with only one, nameless cameraman appearing in one scene that was later cut); while Helga was DemotedToExtra in the cutting room, leaving no hint of her romance with Fabrizio in the released film (excluding a brief shot of them dancing at a party).
** A deleted scene showed the SS ''Californian'' radio operator Cyril Evans and third officer Charles Groves reacting to the ''Titanic'' operator [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom Jack Phillips]] telling them to "shut up". The final film makes no reference to the other ship.
** ''Titanic'''s gym instructor Thomas [=McCawley=] appeared in two scenes that were cut: one where he showed Rose's family the gym machines, and another where he [[TooDumbToLive refused to wear a life vest]], claiming that it'll just "impede [his] stroke". [[SquashedFlat His death]] in the original script was given to [[spoiler:Fabrizio.]]
** A scene showing the so-called "first victim" of the sinking, Junior Assistant 2nd Engineer Jonathan Shepherd (who asked to be left behind in a flooding boiler room after falling and breaking his leg) was scripted and shot, but ultimately cut.
* Creator/JudyGreer's role as Casey's Mother in ''Film/{{Tomorrowland}}'' was denoted to a flashback home video and is missing from the present day time period. WordOfGod is that Casey's Mother (along with members of Casey's extended family) were [[http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Judy-Greer-Was-Almost-Completely-Cut-Out-Tomorrowland-71536.html cut to streamline the story]]. Casey's mother appears in the present time period in the Junior Novelization. Some of their scenes are among the deleted scenes on the Blu-ray release.
* Adriana Barraza had a role as the owner of a diner in ''Film/{{Thor}}'' that was cut for time, though she is still listed in the end credits. The director ended up sending her a letter of apology.
* Philip Bosco's scenes as the Dean in ''Film/TheTimeMachine2002'' were cut from the final print.
* Creator/JackBlack appears in a scene in ''Film/TrueRomance'' as a movie theatre usher that was cut from both the theatrical and director's cuts. Creator/TonyScott later regretted cutting the scene.
* ''Film/TurboAPowerRangersMovie'' was originally three hours long, and featured many characters who were either cut out or removed from the script through rewrites. Former rangers Billy, Trini, and Zack were all supposed to appear, but David Yost quit, and Thuy Trang and Walter Jones turned the film down. Also removed was a mermaid, Mandika, an ally of Zordon's who would help the Rangers find the Ghost Galleon ship and later prevent Kimberly from drowning. All of her scenes were shot, but were later cut from the movie, and have never been seen since.
* Ruth Negga filmed about a week's worth of footage in ''Film/TwelveYearsASlave'' as a slave kept in a cage surrounded by alligators, only for all the scenes to be cut.
* Music/WeirdAlYankovic's NonActorVehicle ''Film/{{UHF}}'', had at least two characters who were removed via editing in the final product.
* Creator/ClintEastwood cast his mother Ruth Wood, who toiled through an uncomfortable day (wearing a heavy dress) as an extra in ''Film/{{Unforgiven}}'', filming a scene where she boards a train. The scene was eventually cut, with her son apologizing that the film was "too long and something had to go." All was forgiven when he brought her to the Academy Awards and thanked her prominently in his acceptance speech.
* Before ''Film/{{Twilight}}'' and ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Creator/RobertPattinson was cast as Becky Sharp's son in ''Literature/VanityFair'' in which he reconciles with his mother. Perhaps because this was wildly OutOfCharacter for Becky, it was cut.
* In ''Film/{{W}}'', Creator/MichaelShannon had a scene as the preacher who converted Dubya to evangelical Christianity. For some reason or another, it was cut out of the final product.
** Creator/RobCorddry and Creator/IoanGruffudd also had their roles cut to almost nothing (Corddry has a one-line role at the end, Gruffudd has one scene in the middle).
* Creator/RuthWilson shot scenes as Creator/LiamNeeson's partner in ''Film/AWalkAmongTheTombstones'', but they were cut after the filmmakers decided to make Neeson's character a loner.
* Freddie Mills' role as a dockyard worker was cut from ''Film/WatchYourStern''.
* Bill Walker appeared in a deleted scene for ''Film/WhatEverHappenedToBabyJane'' delivering a package to Jane at the Hudson Mansion. It was filmed in the studio recreation of the house but never made it to the final release. He is uncredited.
* In ''Film/WhatsYourNumber'' Nadine Jacobsen played the tween version of Ally Darling in a flashback involving her and FirstLove Jake Adams [[spoiler: with Jake decides to lose his virginity to Ally]], however the scene was left on the cutting room floor due to time-related reasons.
* Creator/MaxVonSydow plays the character that gives his silver-pointed cane to Lawrence Talbott in ''Film/TheWolfman2010'', but his one scene was cut from the theatrical release. It survives in the director's cut of the DVD.
* In the 1939 film version of ''Theatre/TheWomen'', Margaret Dumont was cast as Mrs. Wagstaff, but got edited out entirely.
* The ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' have multiple examples of this:
** ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' was meant to feature brief cameos from ComicBook/{{Beast|MarvelComics}} and ComicBook/{{Gambit|MarvelComics}} during the brainwashed ComicBook/ProfessorX's telepathic attack on the mutants, which would have caused their powers to flare involuntarily, but the sequence was cut. The characters would later appear in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' and ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', respectively.
** Fan favorite ComicBook/{{Jubilee|MarvelComics}} appears in very minor blink and you miss it cameos in all three of the original ''X-Men'' films, but a slightly longer scene that had her showing off her powers was cut from ''X2''.
** The actor who played ComicBook/{{Colossus}} (Daniel Cudmore) was intended to have a much larger presence in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' (including a fight scene with both Juggernaut and Magneto, who throws Colossus away when he armors up). Almost the entirety of his role is deleted, and he appears in a non-speaking background role for the entirety of the film.
** Creator/AnnaPaquin's role as ComicBook/{{Rogue}} was cut out of ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', but her major scene was included on the Blu-Ray release as a deleted scene. A 17-minute longer "Rogue Cut" of the movie was later released on Blu-Ray, which restored her role completely, along with other changes added as well.
** ''Film/XMenApocalypse'' was going to have the debut of Creator/ChanningTatum as ComicBook/{{Gambit|MarvelComics}}. TheArtifact of playing cards remains in the opening sequence.
* Leon Askin played a lawyer in ''Film/YoungFrankenstein'' (reading the last will) but was cut out.
* ''Film/Yesterday2019'': Creator/AnaDeArmas had a role as a rival LoveInterest for Jack, but was cut since test audiences thought it made Jack unsympathetic. This was actually a point of contention, since two of de Armas' fans filed a lawsuit against Universal, claiming that they had been duped into renting the film since she was shown in the trailer, only to find out that she wasn't in it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In-universe, this provides the premise (and the title) for ''The Face on the Cutting-Room Floor'' by Ernest Borneman (writing as Cameron [=McCabe=]). Film boss Isador Bloom orders that all footage of Estella Lamare be removed from his latest movie, turning a love triangle into a straightforward romance. Shortly afterwards, Estella is found dead.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* The pilot for ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' featured Natalie Martinez as the protagonist's other love interest and neighbor Kayla Hart, who was going to be a main character but was instead cut from the pilot (and series) entirely before it aired. Martinez remained in promotional materials for some time after the pilot aired, however, generating a great deal of confusion among viewers following the show's production as to when she would make her first appearance before it was finally acknowledged she was cut from the show.
* Creator/GordonPeters was in ''Series/DadsArmy'''s {{Pilot}}, "The Man and the Hour", as an accident-prone fireman but his role was edited out before transmission. To make up for this, [[YouLookFamiliar he returned for a further four guest roles]] over the course of the series.
* Gordon Tipple originally did an opening voice-over narration as the Master in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie TV movie]], but this was cut out in favor of Creator/PaulMcGann doing a narration instead. Tipple's involvement with the film was reduced to a single scene where he had no dialogue, his face was totally obscured by shadows and his version of the Master was promptly killed off, making his discernible presence in the film next to nonexistent.
* Music/MacyGray had a role in the pilot of ''Series/{{Empire}}'' as a maternal figure/love interest to Hakeem. She was removed due to ExecutiveMeddling.
* Liam Burke shot scenes as "The Mad King" (Aerys II Targaryen) for flashbacks in ''Series/GameOfThrones'', but they were all cut.
** Creator/SeanBean played Brandon Stark, the elder brother of his regular character Eddard Stark, in one of such flashbacks. [[spoiler: Perhaps unsurprisingly, it showed [[ChronicallyKilledActor Brandon's death]].]]
** John Standing played Jon Arryn in the unaired pilot. After the episode was rewritten and partly reshot, all of Arryn's scenes were cut except for one showing [[PosthumousCharacter his dead body]].
* The ''Series/{{Highlander}}'' series had a variant of this -- Creator/ChristopherLambert ''did'' appear in the pilot, but when footage shot for the pilot was used in a flashback in a later ep, Lambert was edited out because they couldn't afford to pay for a second appearance.
* The characters in ''Series/ModernFamily'' speak directly to the camera as if being filmed in a documentary. The cameraman was going to be Dutch filmmaker Geert Floortje, an exchange student who had been living with Jay's family and would be involved in a love triangle with Mitchell and Claire. This role was dropped, but TheArtifact of speaking to the camera remains, as if the family is still participating in a documentary.
* On ''Series/TheXFiles'', Scully was originally supposed to have a boyfriend at the start of the series, named Ethan. He was eventually cut, but the deleted scenes with him can be seen on Youtube. Ethan also tends to crop up in fanfiction.
* Happens to Dev in ''Series/MasterOfNone''. Dev, a struggling actor who mostly works in commercials, gets a minor role as a doctor in a SummerBlockbuster about ThePlague. When he goes to the premiere he finds that all his scenes have been cut.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'' has an InUniverse example. Joey gets a guest spot on ''Series/LawAndOrder'' and invites his grandmother from Italy to watch with the gang. While they're watching, he discovers that they cut him out of the episode and he tries to keep his grandmother from finding out.
** Creator/JuneGable was originally cast to play Joey's agent Estelle Leonard for the first season episode "The One With The Butt" where Joey first starts working with her. The character was cut from that episode and Gable would appear as a different character later in the season. In a [[ZigZaggedTrope twist on the trope]] the writers eventually brought Estelle, and Gable, back for the second season and made her a minor recurring character.
* Similarly, Penny from ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' decided to give up acting after she made an appearance on ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' and the scene ended up being cut.
* Another InUniverse example comes from the ''Series/GrowingPains'' episode "Coughing Boy", where Mike lands a minor role on a show called ''New York Heat'', and apparently doing such a good job on it that he considers dropping out of college to persue an acting career. He's not happy when he finds out they cut his lines from the episode, and they mispelled his name on top of that.
* In ''Series/Preacher2016'', it was originally intended that the non-supernatural villain of the first season would not be Odin Quincannon, but a {{Gender Flip}}ped version of him called Vyla Quincannon, played by Elizabeth Perkins. The decision to go with Odin instead was made late enough that a few sequences with Vyla were actually filmed for the pilot episode, and included as deleted scenes on the DVD release.
* ''Series/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1981'': A rare case of an inanimate object getting this treatment is [[MultipleHeadCase Zaphod's second head]], an elaborate animatronic affair that was envisioned delivering at least half of actor Mark Wing-Davey's lines. Unfortunately, the thing proved to be incredibly unreliable and didn't look all that convincing when it ''did'' work, and the production team lost patience after a few days of filming and downgraded its role to a mostly inanimate prop, with a line where Zaphod tells it to "go back to sleep" added to cover it.
* ''Series/GoodOmens2019'': The [[Literature/GoodOmens original novel]] includes a group of Hell's Angels who decide to tag along with [[TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse the Four Horse Persons of the Apocalypse]] as they ride to Tadfield. The Hell's Angels were cast for the show but budget limitations led to them being cut before any of their scenes were shot.
* There was a character named Cat Wheeler who had scenes scripted in the "Pilot" episode of ''Series/{{Yellowjackets}}'', with Creator/AmyOkuda even announced as having been cast in the role. However, none of these scenes nor the character herself appeared in the aired version. The "Pilot" was filmed well before the other episodes of the show and it is unclear at this time if Okuda ever actually filmed any scenes for the series.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* The original production of the musical ''Theatre/ShowBoat'' cast a well-known actress as Hetty Chilson, though Edna Ferber's character had only been included as a OneSceneWonder (in the World's Fair scene) before being written out of the show entirely. The actress, Dagmar Oakland, remained in the cast as Dolly, a small part in a {{filler}} scene.
* Early versions of ''Theatre/{{Hadestown}}'' had Cerberus, played by Sara Grace, as Hadestown's human security head who sang in response to Hades in "Why We Build the Wall." The role was phased out once the show came to Edmonton and London and could afford a proper chorus.
* ''Theatre/{{Eurydice}}'' originally had two more characters, Eurydice's grandmother and the mother of the lord of the underworld, who were both played by the same actress and represented the bliss of complete forgetfulness. Critics felt their roles were confusing and didn't support the text, so future editions cut the roles.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* All of the ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' trailers up till Gearbox took over featured The Prospector. He was dropped by Gearbox as a character.
* Creator/RayChase [[https://archive.is/Udjyw stated]] that he recorded voice lines for an important character in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', but the character was removed at some point. He is still credited in-game despite this.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' had a very TroubledProduction, which saw several characters cut from the finalized story as confirmed by Roberto Ferrari, the secondary character designer. The biggest example among them is Stella Nox Fleuret, the original heroine of the game, who later was replaced by Lunafreya. The game developers have stressed that Stella and Luna are completely different characters on many occasions, though design-wise Luna is a reworked version of Stella.
* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII'' had three characters that were cut: German musician Novy, homeless terrorist Darkel, and Curtly. The last two still remain credited in the game's manual, but little is known about Darkel, except that some of his missions were reassigned to other characters or given out-of-context as optional Rampages, and absolutely nothing is known about Curtly. Since the actors for these two are both dead, there is no way to receive further information about them unless Rockstar speaks up about them.
* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' a character named Chinaman was originally meant as one of the Dead Cell, but before release, he was cut for reasons unknown. Vamp ended up having his initial role (as an immortal vampire) merged with Chinaman's (as an expert swimmer and even able to run along water) in part because, compared to another member of Dead Cell, Oldboy (a hundred-year-old soldier who was supposed to be Big Boss' old mentor) who got cut almost as soon as he was conceived of, Chinaman lasted long enough into development to have a boss arena built for him that couldn't be easily removed or repurposed by the time they decided to remove him.
* The credits for ''VideoGame/RainbowSix: Vegas 2'' still list Denis Akiyama as the voice of Kan Akahashi, but the character does not actually appear in any role, speaking or otherwise, in the game. Amusingly, he would have been one of only two actors from the first game that the developers would [[TheOtherDarrin bother to track down for the sequel]].
* Likewise, ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' prequel game ''Disney's VideoGame/StitchExperiment626'' had Zoe Caldwell listed in the credits, but her lines as the Grand Councilwoman were cut from the final release.
* Creator/GreggBerger appears in the credits for ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'', but with no apparent role as any of the characters. He was likely meant to appear in the game as [[VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage Ripto]], given that he was one of the datamined characters and he had reprised his role shortly before in the ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy'', but in the end only Spyro, Hunter and Gnasty Gnorc appeared in the game as guest characters.
* Devi's sister was cut from the US version of ''VideoGame/SpudsAdventure'' and only appears in the Japanese version.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ComicBook/TheJoker was meant to cameo in the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "This Little Piggy", where after Diana [[spoiler:had been turned into a pig]], Batman would be walking down the street with her and would pass the Joker preparing to commit a crime with his gang. The Joker, in the middle of preparing a heist and laying out his convoluted plan to deal with Batman, would see Batman [[spoiler:holding and consoling a pig]] and would stare at it in DullSurprise, then throw his hands in the air and abandon the entire scheme. For various reasons, the scene was dropped.
* Catherine Cobert was meant to appear in the ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'' pilot movie as the Justice League's PR liaison, but she ended up being cut for time. Her design was later recycled for the character of Cat Grant, and Catherine finally got to make a proper debut in Season 2.
* The ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed Luna Eclipsed]]" originally had a scene where Twilight Sparkle took Princess Luna to see Rarity to help improve her image with a new dress. As a result of the scene being cut, Rarity had an absent episode.
* In a deleted scene in ''WesternAnimation/RobotechTheShadowChronicles'', during the first communication with Admiral Hunter, when the transmission is interrupted due to an "accident", Dr. Emil Lang's panicked voice (voiced by Greg Snegoff who voiced him in ''{{Anime/Robotech}}'' and ''Robotech II The Sentinels'') can be heard in the background desperately trying to re-establish contact with Janice who was aboard the Deukalion. This is not so much a deleted scene since it appears in the film but Dr. Lang's voice is omitted. This version of the scene can be found in the extras included on subsequent releases of ''The Shadow Chronicles'' DVD. It was likely removed because Lang's voice in the background was distracting from the dialogue between Vince and General Reinhardt.
* In ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', the ''Dial M for Monkey'' segment "Peltra" had Creator/TomKenny credited as voicing a character named Tailor, but said character was nowhere to be seen, Peltra's only minions being Skinner and Tanner. However, there was a comic adaptation of the episode featured in the fourth issue of ''Cartoon Network Presents'', which did include a third minion named Tailor.
* [[https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-02-11-1994042215-story.html According to this article]], comedian Kevin Meaney was going to play an unspecified role in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', with dialogue even being recorded for the role. It wound up being scrapped for unexplained reasons.
* According to Mark Evanier, ''WesternAnimation/TheGarfieldShow'' episode "Down on the Farm" was originally going to feature a cameo by Orson Pig from ''ComicStrip/USAcres'' where he'd berate Garfield for complaining about his experiences on the farm and reminding the cat that at least he still had a show. A model of Orson had been constructed and Creator/GreggBerger recorded Orson's line (reprising his role from ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends''), but the production team was forced to nix Orson's cameo because of international laws prohibiting cartoons from featuring talking pigs.
* The ''WesternAnimation/IAmWeasel'' episode "I Am My Lifetime" features cameos from various Creator/HannaBarbera characters in different retirement communities. One of the residents, [[WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones Betty Rubble]], was originally going to have a voiced role, with Creator/BJWard reprising her role. Her dialogue was cut from the final episode so although Betty appears, she doesn't speak.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' episode "Teacher's Pet" credits Creator/DeeBradleyBaker as voicing Remy Buxaplenty even though Remy doesn't physically appear in the episode and is only mentioned.
* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': Mitchell is listed in the credits of "What's a Satellite?" and "Astronaut Ellen Ochoa," yet he does not appear in either of these episodes. The most likely scenario is that he was going to appear in those episodes, but was cut for time.
* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainFlamingo'': Creator/ColeCaplan is listed for voicing Wendell in the credits of "[[Recap/CaptainFlamingoS2E6WhenGoodBirdsGoBadFaceTheMusic When Good Birds Go Bad]]" and "[[Recap/CaptainFlamingoS2E6WhenGoodBirdsGoBadFaceTheMusic Face the Music]]", yet he does not appear in either of these episodes aside from a silent brief cameo via StockFootage of "[[Recap/CaptainFlamingoS1E22InfieldErrorNewBirdOnTheBlock New Bird on the Block]]" for the latter segment.
[[/folder]]
----