Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Robin Williams was, is, and will always remain the most iconic actor in Hollywood. His unique approach and acting prowess have always stood out, making any character of his memorable. While he is best known for his roles in the comedy genre, the actor was once approached to play a lead in the first-ever Marvel movie,Howard the Duck.
Released in 1986, the excitement of his starring in a Marvel movie was short-lived for he soon enough quit the movie after finding his classic improv style reigned in. Luckily for the production,House of Cardsstar Chip Zien ended up replacing Willams. Excited to have replaced an actor his Williams, his happiness was short-lived since the movie went on to become one of the worst box office bombs.
Also Read:Natalie Portman’s Dream Role Involves 1 Iconic Robin Williams Classic From the 90s That She’d Love To Remake
When Chip Zien’s Happiness Over Replacing Robin Williams Severly Backfired
Also Read:Robin Williams Handled a Nightmare Shooting Challenge in Mrs. Doubtfire So Brilliantly Director Couldn’t Cut the Scene From The Movie
Robin Williamsin the 80s was at the height of his popularity so to have replaced an actor like him in a Marvel movie was a big move forChip Zien. Despite being rejected the first time, Zien got the chance to play Howard inHoward the Duck, when Williams left the movie after being forced to sync his voice with the character’s animatronic bill.
Excited and elated over his good fortune, Zien could hardly contain his excitement, as he stated once (viaThe Hollywood Reporter),
“On Memorial Day 1985, I got a call from my agent who said, ‘You have to get right to the airport! Robin Williams just quit and you’re now Howard the Duck. You need to get there tonight. There is a ticket waiting for you at the counter.’ I was incredibly excited.”
However, his happiness was short-lived, for ever since the premiere of the movie, the audience, and critics brutally attacked the film. The negative relations weren’t just bad, they were ferocious and vicious, so much so that Frank Price, Universal Pictures’s president was forced to resign over its exceptionally poor performance.
Also Read:Marvel Secretly Rejected This Movie Pitch Because They Have Plans For Howard The Duck
Chip Zien Is Glad He Got To Play Howard The Duck
To sayHoward the Duckwas a failure would be wrong, for it was worse than failure. When Chip Zien was first offered the part, he was disappointed but after hearing that even actors like Robin Williams were in line for the role, he was truly satisfied.
His happiness only increased when he got to replace the late actor, however, seeing the movie’s terrible box-office performance and review, Zien found it ‘unbelievably depressing’. So for a long time, theHouse of Cardsactor chose not to speak about it, still hung up on his decision to star in the box-office bomb.
But now, the actor remains glad he had the chance to play Howard the Dack (via The Hollywood Reporter).
“After it came out, I did some Broadway shows and did some TV things. I was quiet about my participation in Howard the Duck. But, eventually, I started to talk about it a lot because it was an amazing experience. And I am glad I did it. I didn’t always put it in my bio at first and now, I always put it in there.”
While the movie enjoys some sort of cult-classic fame now, the character Howard has appeared in several cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Howard the Duckcan be rented on Amazon Prime.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
