Hollywood A-Listers Who Got Their Big Break in Horror Films

Hilary Swank

Before Buffy the Vampire Slayer became a hit TV series, it was a 1992 film written by Joss Whedon—starring none other than 16-year-old Hilary Swank as Kimberly Hannah. "I was completely nervous because I didn't want to mess up," Swank said. "I'd all of the sudden got this opportunity to live my dream. I was living the high life, working in the day and working in the night." She credits the film's director, Fran Rubel Kuzui, for kickstarting her film career.

Tom Hanks

You might know him as the loveable lead in all of your favorite rom-coms, but believe it or not, Tom Hanks' debut film role was actually a small part in the 1980 slasher flick He Knows You're Alone. Despite the size of his role, Hanks was reportedly so good at his job that the writer decided to ax the death scene they had planned for him. Who knew that within the same decade, he would become an Oscar-nominated actor?

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The More You Know

  • Disney wanted Robert De Niro as Captain Jack Sparrow, but he declined the role because he thought the movie was going to bomb.
  • George Lucas wanted to make a Flash Gordon movie but could not obtain the rights so instead, he created Star Wars.
  • ‘Schindler’s List’ relied on advertisements to get costumes for extras.
  • In the movie Dredd, they slowed down a Justin Bieber song by 800 times to create the "slow motion" noise.
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Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.