Actors who suggested a change to their character’s design, personality, or lore because they thought the original script/concept was too lame

[u/Routine_Phase_8980]

Lucius Malfoy (Harry Potter) - Jason Isaacs

The studio originally wanted him in a modern Muggle pinstripe suit with short hair. Isaacs thought that looked like a boring businessman rather than a powerful wizard. He demanded the long platinum wig, wizard robes, and personally added the snake-headed walking cane that conceals his wand.

The Thin Man (Charlie's Angels 2000) - Crispin Glover

In the original script, he was just a generic, chatty action movie villain. Glover thought his lines were incredibly cliché and boring, so he suggested cutting all of his dialogue. He turned the character into a completely silent, hair-sniffing creep, making him the most memorable part of the movie.

Count Dooku (Star Wars) - Christopher Lee: In Episode II, George Lucas originally scripted/choreographed Dooku to use a standard, straight lightsaber. As a real-world world-class fencer, Lee found the standard hilt design clumsy and "lame" for a master duelist. He convinced the team to give Dooku the curved hilt, completely changing the character's fighting style and lore to fit elegant, fencing-based Makashi forms.

Superman (Superman 2025) - David Corenswet Following Henry Cavill's trunkless suit, director James Gunn and DC Studios initially leaned toward a "no trunks" design for the reboot, fearing that the classic red briefs looked too outdated, silly, or hard to make look "cool." However, David Corenswet passionately advocated for the trunks. He argued that Superman shouldn't care about looking cool. Instead, the trunks are intentionally a little silly and theatrical — like a professional wrestler—making an immensely powerful alien look approachable and safe, ensuring that everyday citizens and kids wouldn't be afraid of him.

[u/dparks2010]

https://giphy.com/gifs/a8q8H6yT5MExfTW6nU

Because Ford was feeling ill, tired, and not up to doing the action scene as originally envisioned.

[u/jakc1423 → u/dparks2010]

I do feel sorry for the sword dude though. I heard he was pissed his whole fight got cut. No pun intended.

[u/gamerspoon → u/jakc1423]

His name was Terry Richards. I had to look it up, because no one ever talks about him. He passed away in 2014. I think he deserves to be remembered by name for his role in the incredible scene.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Richards

[u/PurpleGuy04 → u/jakc1423]

He was, but Harrison took from his own pay to give him extra

[u/rebelangel → u/dparks2010]

He wasn’t just ill, he had dysentery.

[u/Sporelord1079 → u/rebelangel]

Most of the actors did. The filming of Indiana Jones was a fucking mess.

[u/tritonice → u/Sporelord1079]

Oh, but the classic it made!!! Glad they toughed it out.

[u/LSpace101 → u/rebelangel]

That's what he gets for playing Oregon Trail.

[u/frot_with_danger → u/rebelangel]

Does that not count as being ill?

[u/incendere_Icarus → u/frot_with_danger]

I think the point is when someone says  they're "feeling ill" you typically think of lighter issues such as a cold, a stomach bug, feeling dizzy, etc. you don't typically think of anything as  severe as fucking dysentery. Even if no longer a guaranteed death sentence it was still BAD back then. And it was only 15-20 years prior that it had a significantly high mortality rate. It's like saying "oh he's feelinf under the weather" when the person in question caught Ebola. 

Cancer also technically falls under feeling ill but you wouldn't say it that way