That would have made for a completely different movie
Robert De Niro has starred in some of the greatest movies of all time, like 'Taxi Driver' and 'Raging Bull'. But something tells us him being cast in this feature would not have worked at all...
It has emerged that Robert De Niro was originally cast in the 1988 film 'Big', before the role eventually went to Tom Hanks.
The movie, which depicts a tweenager who makes a wish at a fortune teller machine and suddenly turns into an adult, is one of Hanks' most beloved roles, as well as a major breakthrough for his career.
De Niro's credits at the time included the likes of 'The Untouchables', 'Midnight Run' and 'Goodfellas'. So him playing the light-hearted, humourous role of Josh Baskin is hard to buy.
Actress Elizabeth Perkins, who played Josh's love interest Susan Lawrence in 'Big', revealed the original casting.
She was speaking on the show 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen'.
"Robert De Niro was actually cast in the role of Josh in the movie 'Big'," she said on the show.
"It fell apart because he had a scheduling conflict, and then they went to Tom Hanks.
"It’s like a totally different movie in my brain with Robert De Niro."
Perkins actually auditioned with De Niro for her role in 'Big'.
"He was more moody," she said. "It was more of a — a little more of a horror movie.
"Robert De Niro wandering around the streets of New York.
"What Tom Hanks brought to it was so much lighter."
Perkins also revealed that her favourite on-screen kiss of her career was with Hanks.
She said she had "such a crush on him at the time", but he was dating Rita Wilson, who he would eventually marry.