Before Anna Faris became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable comedy stars, there was another ‘90s actress who was reportedly in the running for the role that changed everything for her. Melissa Joan Hart, who was already a household name thanks to her roles on “Clarissa Explains It All” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” was among the actresses being considered for the lead role os Cindy Campbell in the original “Scary Movie.”
The role would ultimately go to Faris, who was largely unknown at the time. However, she would soon become one of the biggest comedy actresses of the 2000s. Check out how Hart, a former contestant on “Dancing With the Stars,” lost out on the role below.
The Role That Changed Anna Faris’ Life
This surprising casting news resurfaced during a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight. Faris was sitting down to chat with “Scary Movie” creators Shawn and Marlon Wayans ahead of the upcoming “Scary Movie 6” premiere.
During that chat, they looked back at the casting process for the 2000 horror spoof. Marlon mentioned that Hart was one of the notable actresses who nearly landed the role.
At the time of her audition, Faris was a virtual unknown in Hollywood. She only had a handful of small film credits when she auditioned for Cindy Campbell, the accident-prone heroine loosely inspired by Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott from “Scream.”
However, Marlon says that Keenan was impressed by Anna, and said she was their Cindy. They thought she could play the role with complete sincerity.
It worked out, as “Scary Movie” became a massive box-office hit. The movie earned over $270 million worldwide and turned Faris into an overnight star.
She would go on to star in four installments of the franchise, and would soon be the fifth with the release of “Scary Movie 6.” Anna had success in film, starring in “The House Bunny,” “Just Friends,” and “What’s Your Number?” She also starred in the long-running sitcom “Mom.”
Hart Was Already a TV Superstar
Sure, Hart missed out on “Scary Movie.” While it may seem like a major what-if moment, Hart wasn’t struggling at the time.
By 1999, she was one of television’s biggest young stars. She starred as the lead in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” She also appeared in the teen comedy “Drive Me Crazy,” alongside Adrian Grenier and pop diva Britney Spears.
Hart previously spoke about losing out on the role of Cindy Campbell around the time of the “Drive Me Crazy” premiere in 1999. She did say it was one of the most difficult nights of her career. She said she was devastated by the news, but she quickly moved on and continued her successful television run.
One of Hollywood’s Biggest ‘What Ifs’
It may be over 25 years later, but it’s still fascinating to imagine how differently things might have played out. If they had stuck with Hart in the role of Cindy Campbell, maybe she would have become the face of one of the most successful comedy franchises of the early 2000s.
Instead, that opportunity went to Faris. Her breakout performance helped launch a career that has spanned blockbuster comedies, TV hits, and now a return to the franchise that started it all for her.
