Guillermo del Toro's gothic horror period piece, Crimson Peak, was a visceral thrill ride, but could have been a much different movie if the original cast had all stayed on board.
The dark ghost story with deep-seated romantic elements was a stunning feat from the talented director, but part of what the film so excellent was its pitch-perfect casting. Tom Hiddleston showed his chops as a charming, classic romantic male lead as Thomas Sharpe. Mia Wasikowska took on the young ingenue role with refreshingly adept skill. Jessica Chastain gave a frightfully stunning performance of a woman gone mad with betrayal in her portrayal of Lucille Sharpe. However, as is the case with many films, casting changes affected the course of Crimson Peak and resulted in changes needing to be made.
It's odd to think of what the film would be like with different talent in the roles which seem to be written just for the ones who were ultimately included in yet another of Guillermo del Toro's enthralling horror masterpieces. There were some big names attached to the picture that would have most certainly resulted in a very interesting outcome if adjustments hadn't needed to be made.
Crimson Peak Almost Had A Completely Different Main Cast
News of Benedict Cumberbatch being cast as the lead role of Thomas Sharpe made waves in initial press for the 2015 film. However, almost as soon as his name became attached to the project, he was stepping back from the role for reasons that were initially unknown. At first, speculation circulated that he was leaving Crimson Peak to star in a secret role in J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Later, Cumberbatch commented that he had left the project due to "creative differences" with Del Toro, but assured that the split was amicable. Tom Hiddleston was cast in the role only 72 hours later, as he was Del Toro's second choice. Before accepting the role, Hiddleston sought permission from Cumberbatch, who is a good friend in real life, and got his blessing.
After Del Toro worked on Mama in 2013 as a producer, he became enchanted with Jessica Chastain and gave her the script for Crimson Peak, initially thinking she would be an excellent choice for the role of Edith Cushing. Chastain expressed interest in the project, but not in the role of Edith. Instead, she wanted to take on Lucille Sharpe, as she thought the role seemed more interesting and challenging for her as an actress. Chastain learned how to play the piano specifically for the role and performed all the songs Lucille plays in the film herself. Chastain also stated Lucille's overall style gave her nostalgic feelings, as it reminded her of herself as a teenager; she used to embrace the goth aesthetic with a friend and was known for painting her lips a shade similar to dried blood.
After Chastain left the role of Edith vacant, Del Toro turned his eyes to Emma Stone for the part. Stone was cast in the role, but ultimately had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Mia Wasikowska was his second choice, and accepted the role. With the new casting solidified, Del Toro made a few re-writes to the script specifically for Hiddleston and Wasikowska before production of Crimson Peak got underway.