Making an animated movie is tough work for all involved, as there are a lot of moving pieces. These movies are a labor of love, taking years to bring to life and onto the big screen for the fans to enjoy. Disney dominates this genre, and by casting people like Dwayne Johnson, Ellen DeGeneres, and Miley Cyrus in voice roles, they know a thing or two about getting the right people for the job.
During the 2000s, Finding Nemo was released into theaters, becoming an instant classic and proving that Disney and Pixar had a winning formula together. Interestingly, this movie was a whole lot different at first, and some serious changes were made along the way, including the recasting of a lead character.
Let’s see what happened with William H. Macy and his time on Finding Nemo.
He Was The Original Voice For Marlin
Disney is usually on the money when it comes to finding the right voice talent for their films, but even they are not immune to making the wrong choice. Back when Finding Nemo was coming together, the studio needed to hire someone to play Nemo’s father, Marlin, and the talented William H. Macy was able to land the job.
At this point in his career, William H. Macy had already appeared in a number of successful projects and had flashed his versatility on the big and small screen. According to IMDb, Macy had appeared in projects like Boogie Nights, Jurassic Park III, and ER, which is nothing short of impressive for any actor. So, Disney secured his talents and had him record his lines for Finding Nemo.
According to Ask Men, Macy had recorded his lines for the film before the powers that be realized that something was off. For one reason or another, Macy did not fit the character like they were hoping, and in an unusual turn of events, Disney wound up making the decision to scrap all of the work that he had put into the voice acting for Marlin. Stuff like this does not happen often in animated films, but clearly, Disney was onto something.
Now that Macy was getting the boot, Disney was going back to the drawing board to find someone who could step in and make the role something new. With plenty of talent to choose from, Disney had their pick of the litter, and they would eventually find someone who was a perfect fit for the character and the film.
Albert Brooks Takes Over
Albert Brooks may not be a household name in the same way that other huge actors are, but the man has been holding it down in Hollywood for years. Brooks has been in a number of huge projects, and even before landing the role of Marlin in Finding Nemo, his voice was unmistakable.
According to IMDb, the talented Brooks was able to show his acting abilities in projects like Taxi Driver, Private Benjamin, and Broadcast News. Sure, he was not an A-list star that was going to get people rushing to the theater, but he was a reliable performer who could add some depth to the character.
So, after Macy hit the bricks, Albert Brooks stepped in to record his lines for the film. Even though Disney had spent the time and money on getting Macy to record his lines, they still saw the chance to get Brooks as a sound investment, and as it turns out, the company was onto something much bigger than they could have anticipated.
Brooks was a perfect fit for Marlin, and he was able to give the character a level of emotional depth with his performance that really resonated with the audience. Because of this, the film was better than expected, eventually becoming a global sensation.
The Movie Becomes A Smash Hit
Finding Nemo was released into theaters back in 2003, and even though Disney and Pixar had already collaborated on a few successful projects, people saw this film as nothing short of brilliant.
According to Box Office Mojo, Finding Nemo was able to haul in $871 million at the worldwide box office, making for one of the biggest animated movies of all time during that era. People couldn’t get enough of the characters, and the DVD sales were through the roof.
Years later, Brooks would come back to reprise the role of Marlin in the film Finding Dory, which grossed over $1 billion at the box office. This made for another smash hit for Disney and Pixar, and it was proof that these characters had some staying power.
It was an unconventional road to cast the right person for Marlin, but Disney rolled the dice and wound up hitting the jackpot.