A year ago, Far Out Magazine reported on an exciting detail from Robin Williams’ biography: Apparently the actor had once agreed to a Marvel film – and fled after a very short time.
Robin Williams was set to star in the legendary film failure Howard the Duck
Robin Williams is known for films like Dead Poets Society and Mrs. Doubtfire. You don’t actually associate him with the Marvel franchise. In fact, Robin Williams almost starred in Howard the Duck. played the duck Howard.
Looking back, Howard the Duck is a legendary comic book movie failure with disastrous reviews and financial loss. He won numerous Golden Raspberries, for example for the worst picture.
The duck routed Robin Williams
Robin Williams was supposed to play Howard the duck, but there were artistic differences. Williams was used to taking some improvisational freedom when speaking characters.
In order to be able to speak to the duck in front of the camera in such a way that it looked real, it would have been necessary for Williams to strictly adhere to certain guidelines.
Actor Chip Zien shared how he took over the role of Duck instead of Williams in a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter:
I was told that on the third day Robin said, “I can’t do that. That’s crazy. I can’t find the rhythm. I’m locked up. I’m handcuffed so I can imitate the duck’s beak.
This presented a great opportunity for Chip Zien:
On Memorial Day 1985, I got a call from my agent saying, ‘You have to go to the airport immediately! Robin Williams just quit and you’re now Howard the Duck. You have to be there tonight. There will be a ticket waiting for you at the counter.’ I was incredibly excited.”As we now know, Robin Williams’ escape from the alien duck did no harm to his career. He then worked as an actor until his death in 2014 and made such popular films as Jumanji and Good Will Hunting, especially in the 90s.