Jeremiah Posted August 8 Posted August 8 (edited) Given the news of Britney Spears getting a biopic film, I thought of making a thread about the promising acting career she could have had, listing the projects and roles she almost got or that she could have played. During her long and legendary career, Britney always expressed interest in acting. Shouldn't be a surprise if we remember her start in the Mickey Mouse Club, but unfortunately, aside some cameos and appearances here and there, she only ever had one proper role in a film: Lucy Wagner in the iconic "Crossroads" (2002). I'll try to keep tidy and stick to cases with solid confirmation. It's mainly movies, but also counted in some TV/series roles. I'm probably missing some (or many!) so you're very welcome to post the ones you know and think can be added. Also, this time I'll try to list them by date, sort of as a timeline for maybe an easier following and contextualization with her career and life. So, with that said... LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! 1. "Gordy" Film (1994) "Gordy" is a film about a piglet going on an adventure to rescue his family from a slaughterhouse. In her first autobiography from 2000, "Heart to Heart" (Chapter 5, page 66), Britney says that she auditioned for this movie but backed out because she wasn't really feeling it and was holding out for the Mickey Mouse Club. She also expressed to be glad of her decision since the movie was a flop. 2. "Dawson's Creek" TV Show (1998 - 2003) Following the release of her debut album, Columbia TriStar Television was quick to sign with Britney for a development deal. With 18 months of exclusivity to pitch show ideas for Britney, part of the deal also included a potential guest-appearance for about three episodes on the hit teen TV show "Dawson's Creek". Although unclear what her character would've been like, Britney commented that it would probably be a dork who'd go through a makeover. However, by the time set, she had become way too big of an artist and star, with little to no time to shoot for TV and now with higher aims, as Entertainment Tonight reported, making her to turn down the offers, including ones by producer David E. Kelley and TV show "Popular". 3. "Alice" Film (Circa 2000, cancelled) "Alice" was a screenplay written by Sarah Thorpe about a modern musical re-imagination of the Lewis Carroll classic novel, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." With MTV Films producing and looking for Britney to star in it, her representatives said in late 1999 to have the script in consideration. 4. "Little Nicky" Film (2000) According to The Chicago Sun-Times, Britney was supposed to star in this comedy as Holly, Adam Sandler's angel mother, but allegedly dropped out because of exhaustion. Reese Witherspoon took her place. 5. "Scary Movie" Film (2000) In a 2000 interview with Teen People Magazine, Britney and her then-manager Larry Rudolph discuss her desire to act in films and all the scripts she's had to turn down because of her busy schedule. One of them, as the editor says, was "Scary Movie," the first of the horror parodies saga. The rumor is that she would've played Drew Decker, famously interpreted by Carmen Electra. 6. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" TV Show (1997 - 2003) In 2009, creator and showrunner Joss Whedon explained that given the constant promise of Britney joining as guest, they created her a character in case it truly happened: April, a robot girlfriend. After the potential appearance was officially cancelled, they decided to keep the plot and character, later portrayed by Shonda Farr in the episode "I Was Made to Love You" (Season 5, episode 15) (2001). 7. "Grease" Film (Circa 2001, cancelled) There were rumours in the early 2000's that NSYNC and Britney Spears were starring on a Grease remake. Britney acknowledged the chances during a phone press conference in June 2000, saying nothing was set on stone yet but that she'd most likely pass on it. 8. "Legally Blonde" Film (2001) During a chat in the Hollywood Gold podcast (min 19:24), screenwriter Kirsten Smith revealed that the name Britney Spears was briefly floating in discussions of who could play Elle Woods, but just conceptually since they were determined to secure Reese Witherspoon for the role after her performance in "Election" (1999). 9. "Chicago" Film (2002) The rumours of Britney joining the star-studded cast started in 2001. Two years later, Harvey Weinstein confirmed he wanted her for the role of Go-To-Hell Kitty, eventually played by Lucy Liu. In her #1 bestseller memoir "The Woman In Me" (2023), Britney reflects in the opportunity, saying she should've done it as it would have been fun to play a dancing man-killer. 10. "221bCAUSE" Film (Circa 2003, cancelled) "221bCAUSE" is a script by screenwriter Ben Trebilcook that he shopped around in the early 2000s. In an interview, he said he wanted Britney Spears as the lead, that consisted on a former NYPD officer obsessed with Sherlock Holmes that would then try to save the son of the US President. 11. "Trading Paint" Film (Circa 2003/2004, cancelled) In 2002, Britney and NASCAR announced to have teamed-up for a film project. With a script written by Jim Hart, the movie would've had Spears as the daughter of a retired racer, who she'd try to inspire to return to the track. Time passed and although there were statements denying a cancellation, "Trading Paint" never came to be. 12. "A Cinderella Story" Film (2004) In a recent interview, screenwriter Leigh Dunlap revealed that she had written "A Cinderella Story" for Britney: "I wrote it with her in mind at the time. By the time we got years down the road, she had moved on to becoming a massive star, and it didn't matter anymore." The script sat for years until Hilary Duff picked it up. 13. "I Heart Huckabees" Film (2004) Back in 2004, director David O. Russell shared to MTV that Britney was angry after auditioning three times but missing the role for Dawn Campbell, given to Naomi Watts. He continued saying he wanted to work with Britney but with the right role, a sentiment he expressed again in 2011. 14. "The Notebook" Film (2004) With an extraordinary audition, praised by casting director Matthew Barry and actor Ryan Gosling, Britney was a finalist for the role of Allie Hamilton, but beaten by Rachel McAdams. In her #1 bestseller memoir "The Woman In Me" (2023), Britney mentions she is glad to have lost the role, as she could then work on her classic album "In the Zone" (2003). 15. "Door to Door" Film (Circa 2004, cancelled) "Door to Door" was a film Britney referred (min 1:04) as her upcoming project in early 2004, where she was about to both produce and star in, originally. It would've been an adaptation of the Tobi Tobin novel of same name, which narrates the story of a girl moving to Los Angeles dreaming big and starts dating a celebrity who gets her a job working the door at a club. 16. "In the Pink" Film (Circa 2004, cancelled) "In the Pink" was a comedy script about a wealthy exec man who sees himself forced to sell cosmetics door-to-door with a group of salewomen after losing his job. It would have had Tim Allen as lead, and the rumored co-stars include Bette Midler, Cher, Wanda Sykes and Britney Spears. 17. "The Dukes of Hazzard" Film (2005) Rumours started in 2003, with Ashton Kutcher and Britney Spears hinted as potential cast for this film based on the 1979 TV show. She was up for the role of Daisy Duke, but things changed, as she shared in her 2005 interview with Elle Magazine. Jessica Simpson eventually played the part. 18. "Casino Royale" Film (2006) The rumour was that Britney campaigned to be a Bond girl, meeting with the film's producers in early 2004. In a vaulted clip by Entertainment Tonight, Britney revealed at the time she was indeed in the talks. 19. "Memoirs of a Medicated Child" Film (Circa 2008/2009, cancelled) According to producer Tommy Parker, he was in talks with Britney's people for her to be in this indie film. Based on the real life story of Mark Black, a man who suffered from misdiagnosis and overmedication, Britney would've played the protagonist's girlfriend. There would later be conflicting reports about the film's production and Britney's involvement, but by the time producers claimed to be in the middle of filming, Britney seemed out of the picture. Unfortunately, the movie was never released. 20. "Sweet Baby Jesus" Film (Circa 2008/2010, cancelled) In late 2007, producer Phillippe Rebboah said that he wanted Britney Spears as Mary on this satire of a Jesus' Second Coming. Although allegedly showing big interest in the role, Britney passed on it due family pressures. It'd later be given to Pixie Lott, with Bette Midler and Kim Cattrall also involved in the cast. The movie never came to be, as it was shut down after only one day of filming. 21. "Faster, Pussycat, Kill! Kill!" Film (Circa 2009, cancelled) Ok this one is a slip but I liked it so I included it. According to Variety, director Quentin Tarantino wanted to remake the 1965 film "Faster, Pussycat, Kill! Kill!" with Britney Spears, Eva Mendes and Kim Kardashian. Britney was allegedly wanted to take the role of Varla, a lesbian killer stripper. However, both Britney's rep and Tarantino denied it. In mid 2008, Variety once again reported about the project, saying Tarantino was casting p0rnstar Tera Patrick, but he went on to release "Inglourious Basterds" in 2009 and nothing about this rumored remake was ever heard again. 22. "Kath & Kim" TV Show (2008-2009) "Kath & Kim" was the American version of the Australian show of same name, that enjoyed of only one season, starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. During an interview in late 2008, executive producer Michelle Nader said that there were talks of Britney guest-appearing for an episode. 23. "The Yellow Star of Sophia and Eton" Film (Circa 2009, cancelled) The National Ledger reported in mid 2009 that Britney Spears was reviewing a script called "The Yellow Star of Sophia and Eton". It tells the story of Sophia LaMont, a woman who creates a time machine, travels to the World War II and falls in love with Eton, a Jewish prisoner. They try to travel back to the future to get married, but are killed by the Nazis. I couldn't find any more details about this film other than the Britney news, so maybe it's fake. 24. [Untitled - Chris Marrs Piliero debut film] Film (Circa 2012) You may know Chris Marrs Piliero for directing music videos such as "Rock N Roll" by Avril Lavigne, and "I Wanna Go" and "Criminal" by Britney Spears. In 2011, he revealed that he was working on a screenplay and had saved a role for Britney. He didn't share more details other than it being "crime drama-ish". To my knowledge, he never directed a movie after those statements. 25. "Modern Family" TV Show (2009-2020) Britney was a big fan of the show, she even fangirled when meeting one of the actors, so it shouldn't surprise her people would try to get her in it. According to creator and executive producer of the show, Steven Levitan, Britney's camp contacted them but too late into the season, not being able to have her guest star that year but that they were open for the following. 26. "The Florida Project" Film (2017) Director Sean Baker confessed that he initially wanted an A-lister for the lead of his movie, with Britney being the first option. Given Britney's life story and also association with Disney, he thought she'd have nailed the character. He'd eventually choose Bria Vinaite, who he discovered via Instagram. 27. "The Disaster Artist" Film (2017) James Franco, who both directed and acted in this film, revealed that he had two people considered for the role of Juliette Danielle: Ari Graynor and Britney Spears. Graynor took the part, and it's unclear if Spears was ever really offered it. ___ . ___ Some of the other heavily rumored movies that I couldn't be bothered to dig more: "Grease 3" (circa 2000-2001, cancelled), "The Lost Girls" (sequel to 1987's "The Lost Boys", circa 2000-2001, cancelled). So that's it, my friends! Hope you enjoyed. Special thanks to the people of UnreleasedBritney and to @Rev8 Edited October 3 by Jeremiah 3 3
LegaMyth Posted August 8 Posted August 8 She would have eaten as a Bond-Girl, but preferably in the early 2000s.
Prodigal Self Posted August 8 Posted August 8 She would've slayed Anna Faris type of roles in the 00s. The range isn't there but the glimpse of acting talent sure is
TouchinFree Posted August 8 Posted August 8 (edited) Would've loved for her to be in Scary movie tbh as it's probably my favourite trilogy. She would've killed the role of a bon girl, especially around the 2004-05. Also would've liked for her to be in the notebook as that's a classic movie. Possibilities, potentials and an alternate realities are endless I guess. This is similar to when posters get offered a what turns out to be a rejected....then a massive hit. Britney had always shown strong interest in acting. I think she could've easily juggled a Jlo type of career. But her family and team just stretched and pushed her to an absolute limit that she just wanted to marry ASAP to avoid working. Edited August 8 by TouchinFree
poki Posted August 8 Posted August 8 CASINO ROYALE?? Wow that would have been incredible. The NASCAR movie sounds like it could have been a 2000s cult classic if they had an A-list 80s star to play the dad.
popmusicisdead Posted August 8 Posted August 8 Florida Project would've fitted her very well actually.
Happylittlepunk Posted August 8 Posted August 8 I mean there nothing stopping her from doing comedy now. She can do a couple of guest roles here and there again. She even start in some random indie comedy film.
Joey307 Posted August 8 Posted August 8 I just can't imagine anyone other than Reese being Elle Woods
StarsAllAligned Posted August 9 Posted August 9 Wait she auditioned for Gordy? That's one of my favorite childhood movies omg, I always thought the girl who did book it looked like DJ from Full House (wdc about Candace). How dare she speak down on it, even if it did bomb commercially and critically.
Jeremiah Posted October 3 Author Posted October 3 Newly added: 7. "Grease" Film (Circa 2001, cancelled) There were rumours in the early 2000's that NSYNC and Britney Spears were starring on a Grease remake. Britney acknowledged the chances during a phone press conference in June 2000, saying nothing was set on stone yet but that she'd most likely pass on it. 25. "Modern Family" TV Show (2009-2020) Britney was a big fan of the show, she even fangirled when meeting one of the actors, so it shouldn't surprise her people would try to get her in it. According to creator and executive producer of the show, Steven Levitan, Britney's camp contacted them but too late into the season, not being able to have her guest star that year but that they were open for the following.
Jeremiah Posted October 3 Author Posted October 3 On 8/8/2024 at 8:52 PM, shyboi said: she could've been an EGOT by now Actually I came across some Broadway musicals rumors when doing this thread and let's not forget she was an understudy for Ruthless
Trash Posted October 3 Posted October 3 16 hours ago, Jeremiah said: Actually I came across some Broadway musicals rumors when doing this thread and let's not forget she was an understudy for Ruthless Natalie Portmans peer
Recommended Posts