9 Curious Facts Behind Famous Movies Even True Fans Might Have Missed

Film and TV buffs alike often do their homework when it comes to their favorite shows and movies. But sometimes even the most hardcore fans can miss some little-known facts. That’s why we’ve curated a list of surprising tidbits about well-known classics that we may not have been aware of, even as true fans.

1. Hugh Jackman could have played the role of Captain Jack Sparrow.

When creating the character of Captain Jack Sparrow, screenwriter Stuart Beattie had Hugh Jackman in mind. He named his fictional hero after the actor. However, he was not cast for the role. The reason is that back then he had been well-known in Australia but not yet internationally.

2. Margaret Atwood appeared in a brief scene in The Handmaid’s Tale.

Margaret Atwood, the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, had a cameo in the first episode. She played the role of an aunt. The scene was more of a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance that lasted just seconds.

3. Carol from Friends was replaced.

Jane Sibbett played Carol in Friends from the start, popping up in 15 episodes total. But not everyone knows that Carol looked a little different in her first episode. Actually, the mother of Ben appeared in one of the episodes as actress Anita Barone.

4. Jennifer Coolidge almost turned down her role in The White Lotus.

Though show creator Mike White wrote the role of Tanya with Coolidge in mind, she almost passed on the role, stating that she did not feel physically in shape.

5. The father’s sweater in Coraline is paying homage to something.

One interesting detail in the movie, Coraline, is that the girl’s father can be seen wearing a sweater from Michigan State University. This was a personal touch added by the producer, Bill Mechanic, who is a proud alum of Michigan State.

6. The Duke brothers frequently wear matching tie patterns in Trading Places.

The Duke brothers consistently match their tie patterns, with Randolph always sporting a bow tie and Mortimer always wearing a necktie.

7. Elisabeth Moss almost turned down her role on The Handmaid’s Tale.

Elisabeth Moss revealed that she nearly turned down the role of June Osborne in the critically acclaimed television series, The Handmaid’s Tale. The reason why she was hesitant is that she had reservations about taking on another television show so soon after finishing her run on Mad Men.

8. It took Keira Knightley years of therapy to recover from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Keira Knightley was just 17 when she made her first appearance as Elizabeth Swann. Though she was young, she starred alongside the super famous Johnny Depp. All of a sudden, fame was hard for her to handle, and Knightley even shared later on that it took her many long years of therapy for her to be able to deal with the fame.

9. Iwan Rheon almost played John Snow on Game of Thrones.

Iwan Rheon, best known for his role as Ramsay Bolton, was almost cast in a very different role on the show. As unbelievable as it sounds, he originally auditioned for the part of Jon Snow.

What is the strangest fact you know about your favorite movie or show? What are the movies you’re going to watch next?