Grease Cast Could Have Been Very Different

A Vanity Fair retrospective on ‘Grease’ has brought to light several surprising big names who were initially under consideration for roles in the beloved 1978 musical.

After 38 years and innumerable professional and amateur stage performances all around the world, it’s still very hard to envisage anyone other than Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta playing the tuneful 1950s lovebirds Sandy and Danny.

However, it turns out two other actors were in the running for the lead roles - one of them already a major star on television, the other set to be part of the biggest cinema sensation in history.

Yes, the first actor offered the role of Danny in ‘Grease’ was none other than Henry Winkler - best known as The Fonz in 1950s-set sitcom ‘Happy Days’ - whilst one of the actresses in contention for Sandy was Carrie Fisher, who became a superstar later that year in ‘Star Wars.’

Winkler had reportedly been the studio Paramount’s top choice, but he declined over fear of typecasting as a 50s leather-clad bad boy - not unreasonable, given he has remained known primarily as The Fonz his entire career.

Fisher was considered as the director of ‘Grease,’ Randal Kleiser, was a former roommate of George Lucas. Kleiser tried to judge her suitability for the role looking at some raw footage from ‘Star Wars,’ but was “unable to judge either her acting or singing ability.”

Nor was this the only major role of the time that Fisher came close to, as she had also been under consideration for horror movie ‘Carrie.’

Reportedly the actress who came closest to playing Sandy was Marie Osmond, but she too passed, as she “objected to Sandy’s transformation from good girl to bad girl.”

However, the makers of ‘Grease’ had an even bigger name in their sights for the cameo of the Teen Angel in the ‘Beauty School Dropout’ sequence, as the role that ultimately went to Frankie Avalon is said to have been originally intended for none other than Elvis Presley.

The King of Rock’n’Roll would of course die in August 1977 whilst ‘Grease’ was in production.

Other surprising names who came close to appearing include Steven Ford - son of US President Gerald Ford - as football player Tom Chisum, and ‘Deep Throat’ actor Harry Reems as Couch Calhoun. (The latter was nixed by the studio, whilst the former reportedly ‘vanished’ during rehearsals.)

‘Grease’ would ultimately become the most successful big screen musical of all time, grossing just under $395 million (approx £275 million) worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, it’s the 28th biggest box office hit ever.

A live TV production of ‘Grease’ is set to air in the US this Sunday, 31 January, starring Julianne Hough as Sandy, Aaron Tveit as Danny and Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo.

Picture Credit: Paramount, 20th Century Fox, WENN

Read More:
Joseph Fiennes to play Michael Jackson in 9/11 road trip movie
The disturbing truth behind Disney Princess dialogue
Lily-Rose Depp’s new movie is getting hammered