There is no denying that Robin Williams was one of the greatest entertainers to have graced the industry. His on-screen presence, improvisation skills, and comedic timing, all contributed to making him one of the best comedians of all time. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the financiers behind the 1992 biographical drama, Chaplin, wanted to cast him in the lead role. After all, he was taking the comedy genre by storm, wasn’t he?
As fate would have it, though, the role ended up going to Robert Downey Jr. who did an incredible job and did justice to the life and personality of Charlie Chaplin. Appreciated by many for his performance, Robert Downey Jr. ended up receiving his first Oscar nomination, all thanks to this very role.
Robin Williams Almost Played the Lead Role in Chaplin
Robin Williams was just out of reach of many iconic roles in the film industry, including the part of Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter franchise. Eventually, the role went to Robbie Coltrane instead. Other films that he missed out on were Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Shining, Three Amigos, and more.
As for Chaplin, filmmaker Richard Attenborough was dead set on letting Robert Downey Jr. play the role. However, as per Vulture, the financiers behind the film wanted to cast an actor who was better known in the industry – like Williams. Billy Crystal was also considered for the role.
Luckily, Downey was able to bag the role. Not only did Chaplin help Downey legitimize his career, but it also got him his very first Oscar nomination. Unfortunately, he lost the award to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman. The Iron Man actor would then go on to receive two more nominations at the Academy Awards, one for Tropic Thunder and one for Oppenheimer, the latter of which he won.
Richard Attenborough Had Robert Downey Jr.’s Back
Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Downey Jr. stated that he knew very well that he was not the studio’s first choice when it came to Chaplin. Right off the top of his head, he could think of a few other actors, who would’ve been more to the studio’s liking.
“I know I was not the studio’s dream to play Chaplin. There are five or six people I can think of, without actually naming them, who would have been considered more viable for this role.”
But director Attenborough was adamant to have him in the lead role. The actor stated,
“But I know that I was supposed to play this. I’ve never had anyone back me the way Attenborough did and I’m so proud that I made the film without having a real nervous breakdown. But I know that he (Chaplin) also had a hand in this, that somehow he and I are connected. You don’t do something like this where his spirit doesn’t check in.”
Attenborough also shined a light on the fact that while no one thought RDJ couldn’t play Chaplin, they sure did think he was not famous enough for the film.
“Nobody ever said to me, ‘We don’t think Robert can do it. But because Robert was neither fish nor fowl–he wasn’t Dusty (Hoffman) nor was he a complete unknown–and because the budget was $30 million, not $20 million, they simply refused to sign his agreement.”
Despite Attenborough’s pleas, Universal withdrew itself from financing the movie. Luckily, the filmmaker was able to find alternative financing at Carolco, and the Chaplin train was set in motion.
You can stream Chaplin on Prime Video.
