History Main / StuntCasting

* ''Film/TheCrowCityOfAngels'' features Music/IggyPop as one of the thugs. He was originally asked to play Funboy in [[Film/TheCrow the first film]], as the character in [[ComicBook/TheCrow the comic book]] was physically modeled on him, but had to decline due to scheduling issues.

* TNA in the late 2000s, early 2010s got a reputation for bringing in names from reality shows - Jenna Morasca, Johnny Fairplay, Angelina Pivarnick - because Dixie Carter admitted to being a reality TV addict. The last one wasn't particularly well thought-out - as ''Series/JerseyShore'' aired at the same time as TNA Impact. The first one didn't work out too well either, giving [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwHTcBdwvVU this match]] between Morasca and Sharmell (Wrestling/BookerT's wife), widely considered the worst women's match ever done by a major promotion.

* TNA in the late 2000s, early 2010s got a reputation for bringing in names from reality shows - Jenna Morasca, Johnny Fairplay, Angelina Pivarnick - because Dixie Carter admitted to being a reality TV addict. The last one wasn't particularly well thought-out - as ''Series/JerseyShore'' aired at the same time as TNA Impact.

* Creator/MickeyRourke was involved in a small stunt with Chris Jericho at ''Wrestling/WrestleMania 25'' to promote his film ''Film/TheWrestler''.

* For the first ever women's Wrestling/RoyalRumble in 2018 (which would close the show), the higher-ups were afraid the men's rumble preceding it would exhaust the crowd. As a result, this one included a lot more nostalgia competitors than normal - Wrestling/TrishStratus, {{Wrestling/Lita}}, Wrestling/TorrieWilson, Wrestling/MollyHolly, {{Wrestling/Jacqueline}}, Wrestling/MichelleMcCool, Wrestling/KellyKelly (although she was a last minute replacement for the injured Paige) and even Wrestling/VickieGuerrero! This was thought to be in an attempt to re-energize the crowd (which worked judging from the reactions).

* In a cross between this and WhatCouldHaveBeen, the game ''VideoGame/{{Malice}}'' earned considerable attention in the early 2000s because the lead character was going to be voiced by Music/GwenStefani, with other members of Music/NoDoubt appearing as characters and the band was signed up to provide the soundtrack. The game was planned for a high profile release as an UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} launch game, but slid further and further into DevelopmentHell. By the time the game was released nearly four years after it was supposed to, Stefani and the band's contributions were scrubbed from the final product, and it was a commercial and critical disappointment. If the game is remembered now, if at all, it's for Stefani's involvement rather than its actual gameplay.

* A similar subversion in LFO's music video for "Girl on TV". As the song is about falling in love with a female celebrity, it would seem to be the case that Creator/JenniferLoveHewitt (then a TeenIdol for ''Series/PartyOfFive'' and ''Film/IKnowWhatYouDidLastSummer'') plays the girl in the video. However, she was actually the celebrity the song was written about - and was dating one of the members.

The term 'stunt casting' has a derogatory feel, but the term also encompasses many shrewd or artistic choices. If the [[ExecutiveMeddling studio heads]] are pushing for big names, this can be used as a compromise to allow the lead roles to be played by upcoming actors knowing there is at least one they can put on the poster. They can also give a feeling of legitimacy to something that would otherwise seem like a trashy genre work - ''Film/SupermanTheMovie (1978)'' struggled for producer support until Creator/MarlonBrando and Creator/GeneHackman were on board. If the star is [[SugarWiki/RuleOfSeanConnery just that good at what they do]], stunt casting can make a [[TookTheBadFilmSeriously work much higher quality than it would be otherwise]] - Creator/AmicusProductions' anthology horror films were based around the realization that if they built a picture out of short stories that didn't take more than a couple of days to shoot, they could afford good/great actors on NoBudget, which is the main reason why the films still have a cult fandom decades later. And seeing your favorite stars turn up in unexpected places is, well, just plain fun - the scene-stealing of the OneSceneWonder, the GeniusBonus when JustForFun/RoleAssociation fleshes out a character's HiddenDepths, the authenticity of CastTheExpert and the parasocial pleasure of the {{Non Actor Vehicle}} are all joys given to us by stunt casting.

The term 'stunt casting' has a derogatory feel, but the term also encompasses many shrewd or artistic choices. If the [[ExecutiveMeddling studio heads]] are pushing for big names, this can be used as a compromise to allow the lead roles to be played by upcoming actors knowing there is at least one they can put on the poster. They can also give a feeling of legitimacy to something that would otherwise seem like a trashy genre work - ''Film/SupermanTheMovie (1978)'' struggled for producer support until Creator/MarlonBrando and Creator/GeneHackman were on board. If the star is [[RuleOfSeanConnery just that good at what they do]], stunt casting can make a work much higher quality than it would be otherwise - Creator/AmicusProductions' anthology horror films were based around the realization that if they built a picture out of short stories that didn't take more than a couple of days to shoot, they could afford good/great actors on NoBudget, which is the main reason why the films still have a cult fandom decades later. And seeing your favorite stars turn up in unexpected places is, well, just plain fun - the scene-stealing of the OneSceneWonder, the GeniusBonus when JustForFun/RoleAssociation fleshes out a character's HiddenDepths, the authenticity of CastTheExpert and the parasocial pleasure of the {{Non Actor Vehicle}} are all joys given to us by stunt casting.

* gimmicky as advertisement for something else (a popular band has the members play all of the supporting roles)

Hiring of a big-name actor - or non-actor celebrity - to play a supporting role (or even a leading role, but usually the former). The idea is usually that the actor's fame will draw in viewers, as it normally would if you put them prominently on the advertising. Stunt casting differs from normal casting in that it has a twinge of being either:
* way out of the 'pay grade' of the work - (such as a Hollywood megastar who turns up in a small role in a low-budget indie or horror flick)
* gimmicky (such as casting real-life members of a popular band to play all of the supporting roles),
* exploitative of audience familiarity with the actor's real life situation (ActorSharedBackground, RealLifeRelative) or previous roles (CastingGag, PlayingWithCharacterType)
* inappropriate (turning an otherwise serious script into a vehicle for a light-entertainment personality whose star is on the way down).

The term 'stunt casting' has a slight derogatory feel, but the term also encompasses many shrewd or artistic choices. If the [[ExecutiveMeddling studio heads want big stars playing the main characters]], this can be used as a compromise to allow the lead roles to be cast with the unknowns the director wants. They can also give a feeling of legitimacy to something that would otherwise seem like a trashy genre work - ''Film/SupermanTheMovie (1978)'' struggled for producer support until Creator/MarlonBrando and Creator/GeneHackman were on board. If the reason the star is famous is that they are extremely good at acting, stunt casting can make a work much higher quality than it would be otherwise - Creator/AmicusProductions' anthology horror films were based around the realization that if they built a picture out of short stories that didn't take more than a couple of days to shoot, they could afford good/great actors on NoBudget, which is the main reason why the films still have a cult fandom decades later. And seeing your favorite stars turn up in unexpected places is, well, just plain fun - the scene-stealing of the OneSceneWonder, the GeniusBonus when JustForFun/RoleAssociation fleshes out a character's HiddenDepths, the authenticity of CastTheExpert and the parasocial pleasure of the {{Non Actor Vehicle}} are all joys given to us by stunt casting.

** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E6TheCrusade The Crusade]]", a Creator/WilliamHartnell-era story, prominently featured Creator/JulianGlover as Richard I. This was a huge name, but also contributed to the Shakespearean feel of that story.

*** Music/KylieMinogue the episode's guest companion in the 2007 Christmas Special "[[Recap/DoctorWho2007CSVoyageOfTheDamned Voyage of the Damned]]" is probably the most extreme example of stunt-casting in ''Series/DoctorWho'' history. To be fair, it worked; that episode still holds the record for the most viewers in the history of ''New Who''!

* ''Series/{{SCTV}}'', against their wishes, had special guest actors Sir Creator/JohnGielgud and Creator/RalphRichardson. In his book on the series (titled, appropriately enough, ''SCTV''), Creator/DaveThomas said they were both extremely difficult to work with and did not understand their brand of comedy. Later on, they welcomed Creator/BillMurray to guest star, who was an active booster of the show. Notable musical guests, who also acted on the show, ranged from Hall and Oates, Dr. John, Wendy O. Williams & the Plasmatics, Music/TheBoomtownRats, Tony Bennett, Music/RoyOrbison, Music/TalkingHeads, Music/JimmyBuffett, John Mellencamp (when he was still John Cougar), Music/{{America}}, Joe Walsh, Dave's brother Ian Thomas (who was semi-successful in the late '70s with his song "Painted Ladies", and would go on to play Dougie Franklin on ''Series/TheRedGreenShow'', on which Dave guest-starred as his brother Ben Franklin), and classical violinist Eugene Fodor.

* ''Series/{{Castle}}'' usually stunt casts with real life cameos (such as Castle's poker game with Creator/JamesPatterson, Creator/DennisLehane, and Creator/StephenJCannell), all of whom are portrayed as acquaintances that Castle has befriended as a successful author.

* The decision to cast misono as Luna in ''Anime/JewelpetMagicalChange'' was definitely this, the character in question was already voiced by Creator/RumiShishido and misono was only given the role due to her being affiliated with avex at the time. To say this casting decision ''did not'' go over well with the fans is an understatement for multiple reasons and ended up being one of the main reasons why the ''Magical Change'' was not only canceled but [[FranchiseKiller put Jewelpet franchise as a whole on an indefinite hiatus]].

* The decision to cast misono as Luna in ''Anime/JewelpetMagicalChange'' was definitely this, the character in question was already voiced by Creator/RumiShishido and misono was only given the role due to her being affiliated with avex at the time. To say this casting decision did not go over well with the fans is an understatement for multiple reasons and ended up being one of the main reasons why the ''Magical Change'' was not only canceled but [[FranchiseKiller put Jewelpet franchise as a whole on an indefinite hiatus]].