On the most recent episode of Kevin Smith’s Geeking Out, Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick spoke about one of the most iconic moments from their feature length film. This moment is of course, the discovery and subsequent murder of an apocalypse surviving, zombie impersonating Bill Murray.
A part that (like every part he plays) seems to be written for the man himself and no other. As the role seems to reflect his personality and off screen bravado so closely, it’s a role that surely must have been written with him in mind; but alas, this was not the case. The role that seems to fit so well was instead written for none other than the late Patrick Swayze.
The cameo was originally written for Swayze but due to his ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer, he was unable to make it to the set. So the writing duo began searching for a replacement, Bill Murray however, didn’t become the man for the role until a series of other actors had passed.
“We offered it to probably 12 other actors,” Reese said. “And every time we did, we rewrote the script to make jokes specific to that actor. So, Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Bacon, Mark Hamill… Jean Claude Van Damme passed, and subsequently, we heard through the grapevine he said it was the biggest mistake of his career.”
As the shooting time wound down, Reese and Wernick reached out to Woody Harrelson to see if there was anyone he knew would be interested in the part. Enter Bill Murray and one of the best cameos to ever take place in a feature film.
The writing pair also released information on the Zombieland sequel during the Geekin Out podcast, and have indicated they are in conversation with the original cast. Reese and Wernick have also been attached to the Deadpool sequel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDOKpIfte8o
There’s no indication as to when Zombieland 2 might come out. But we know we’re excited.
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