Billy Bob Thornton reveals that he almost had a role in Misery. The psychological thriller, based on Stephen King’s 1987 novel, is largely considered a genre favorite and earned Kathy Bates an Academy Award for Best Actress. Directed by Rob Reiner, of Stand by Me and When Harry Met Sally…, the movie follows a dangerous encounter between author Paul Sheldon and devoted fan Annie Wilkes, who holds him captive after a car crash. Along with Bates, the cast of Misery includes James Caan, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances Sternhagen.

During an Actors on Actors conversation for Variety, Thornton revealed to Bates how he was almost cast in Misery. As Thornton explained, he auditioned to play a deputy to Sheriff Buster and, despite landing the role, he was later informed by Reiner that his part would not actually make the movie. However, Thornton noted that Reiner still gave him an opportunity to film his scenes, which he appreciated. Read their comments below:

BILLY BOB THORNTON: There was a time I went in and read for Rob Reiner for “Misery.”

KATHY BATES: You did not.

THORNTON: I swear to God. Originally, Richard Farnsworth, who played the sheriff, had a deputy. I saw Rob Reiner for it. And Rob said right in the room, “You’re the guy. We can send everybody else home.”

I was very excited. And I got a call from Rob Reiner — not many directors would do this — he called me and he said, “Listen, I’ve been looking at the script and been planning out what I’m going to do with this movie.” He said, “You can come up here and shoot this for the money or the insurance or whatever you need, but I’m just telling you, it’s not going to be in the movie.”

BATES: Oh, wow.

THORNTON: He said, “I don’t want you to come up here expecting that this is going to be in the movie. And I didn’t want you to be disappointed.” He said, “But I’ll leave it up to you. Do you want to come shoot it anyway?” And I said, “No.”

I thought that was very cool of him.

What This Means For Misery

Thornton Had A Career Break Several Years Later

Most of Misery is an isolated story, focusing on Annie as she demands a new Misery Chastain novel and continues her obsessive-turned-abusive behavior towards Paul, who is planning his escape. While Sheriff Buster has a smaller role in the movie, he does investigate Paul and his disappearance, and is eventually led to Annie. Because Buster is usually seen around his wife Virginia, it makes sense that a deputy character would be removed from Misery, but it is still worth wondering how involved Thornton was originally.

Considering how successful and well-regarded the Stephen King adaptation was in 1990, having any kind of role in Misery could have impacted Thornton’s acting career. However, he would go on to have a career break several years later in Sling Blade, a psychological drama he also wrote and directed. Released in 1996, the movie garnered acclaim and earned Thornton an Academy Award, and following Sling Blade, he received more recognition for A Simple Plan and co-starred alongside Bates in Primary Colors.

Our Take On Thornton Almost Being In Misery

The Movie Changes May Have Benefited It

It is unknown whether any changes were made to Misery, apart from the deputy character being removed, but that decision by Reiner might have benefited the movie. While Thornton may have missed out on the now-celebrated thriller, keeping the characters to a minimum gives more focus to Annie and Paul. However, it is still interesting to consider what kind of role Thornton’s deputy would have had, and his comments suggest that, despite not being in it anymore, Reiner was a supportive director.

Source: Variety