The Princess Bride is arguably one of the most influential films of all time. Based on the 1973 novel of the same name, the 1987 film often ranks among the best films of all time, and all of its cast members, including Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, and Mandy Patinkin continue to receive recognition for their roles even today.
However, actor Liam Neeson, who is slated to lead a Naked Gun reboot, could have ended up in the iconic film’s cast. During an interview, Neeson spoke about auditioning for a role in the movie. However, Neeson went on to lose the role to one of the most popular wrestlers of the 80s and had to make his name elsewhere. Here is what Neeson revealed about losing the role in The Princess Bride.
Liam Neeson Lost The Princess Bride Role to Andre the Giant For Not Being Tall Enough
Actor Liam Neeson is today known for his memorable roles in hit franchises like Star Wars, the Dark Knight, and Taken. However, Neeson first made a name for himself with several supporting roles during the 1980s. One of the supporting roles Neeson auditioned for was that of Fezzik in 1987’s The Princess Bride.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Neeson revealed he had auditioned for the part of Fezzik, a giant who is a part of the group trying to rescue Princess Buttercup. Neeson revealed that he was asked to meet the film’s director Rob Reiner for the role.
“I had entered the office in London, and Rob Reiner looked at me and said, He’s not a giant! What height are you? I said six foot four. That’s tall. He’s not a giant!”
Neeson made the above statement regarding his brief meeting with Reiner for the role of Fezzik in The Princess Bride. Andre the Giant was eventually cast in the role and considering Reiner’s demand for a giant, the wrestler certainly fit the bill.
Standing at a height of 7 foot 4 inches, Andre was considerably taller than Neeson and already known for his giant-like persona thanks to his wrestling career, which likely resulted in him being cast for the role. Nonetheless, Neeson clarified that he did not have any hard feelings over losing the role.
Liam Neeson To Star in The Long-Awaited Naked Gun Reboot
The Naked Gun is a series of spoof crime-comedy movies starring Leslie Nielsen as Detective Franklin “Frank” Drebin. Since 2013, a reboot of the popular franchise has been in development at Paramount Pictures. However, nearly a decade later, the reboot seems to be finally moving forward.
In October 2022, it was officially announced that The Naked Gun franchise would be rebooted with Liam Neeson set to play the lead role. Moreover, reports seemed to confirm that Neeson would be taking over the role of Frank Drebin from Nielsen.
The reboot is being helmed by Akiva Schaffer, who is known for his work with the comedy group The Lonely Island and has directed films such as 2007’s Hot Rod, starring Andy Samberg. Schaffer will also take on writing duties alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Mand following their last collaboration on Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, which Schaffer directed from a script written by the duo.
Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are set to co-produce the film through their company Fuzzy Door alongside Paramount Pictures. MacFarlane was initially hired to develop the project in 2021, and Neeson had confirmed at the time that he was in talks to feature in the reboot. The yet-untitled Naked Gun reboot is currently scheduled to release on July 18, 2025.
