Stunt casting is a term in casting that refers to the use of a gimmick or publicity stunt to fill a role in a television series, film or theatre production. Stunt casting can take many forms, ranging from a celebrity or famous non-actor cameo appearance to the use of an actor's real-life relatives to play the corresponding fictional character's relatives or younger or older versions of the same character.
Purpose
Stunt casting is used to generate media attention. It may also be employed in order to garner studio support or financing for a project. For example, according to DVD featurettecommentary, the 1978 version of Superman received studio support only after the producers were able to enlist A-list actors Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman to appear.
Broadway musicals are known to occasionally cast celebrities with little theatre experience. Celebrities are often cast for short engagements of a few months, with the hope that the draw of a recognizable name will boost ticket sales and extend the lifetime of a show's run. Producers Barry and Fran Weissler are said to have pioneered the trend, beginning in the mid-1990s with their 1994 revival of Grease. The role of Betty Rizzo was originally played by Rosie O'Donnell, and during the production's four-year run, was played by a series of celebrities including Debby Boone, Sheena Easton, Joely Fisher, Debbie Gibson, Linda Blair, and Brooke Shields. The Weisslers' revival of Chicago which began in 1996 has been especially noted for its casting of celebrities, such as Melanie Griffith, Wendy Williams, and Jerry Springer, with commentators pointing to this as a reason for the show's extreme longevity. In an interview, Barry Weissler attributed the success of stunt casting to its effectiveness with tourists visiting New York City who are less influenced by reviews and more interested in seeing "a star that they know". For this reason, celebrity casting is especially prevalent during the summer, due to the higher volume of tourists.
