The Ring

2002’sThe Ringended up starringNaomi Wattsas protagonist Rachel Keller , but the role almost went to several other recognizable actress first . Arguably the greatest example of an Asian horror film remade for an American audience , The Ringstill remains a creepy , cliff-hanging film nearly 20 years after its sack . That ’s despite the intact narration revolving around people not being able to refuse learn acursed VHS tape , which was already a pretty archaic technology even back in 2002 .

The Ringserved as the launch pad for Watts ' ascent to the Hollywood A - leaning , becoming a huge success with both critic and audiences . The Ring , merge with her study in David Lynch’sMulholland Drive , led to Watts eventually becoming a two - meter Oscar - nominee , and led to her starring in both big budget megahit likeKing Kongand quirky award - attractor TV shows likeTwin Peaks : The Return . It ’s no curiosity she revert to asterisk inThe Ring 2 , although see how bad that sequel is , it ’s possible she now regrets that choice .

associate : The Ring Is The dependable Japanese Horror Remake

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As neat as Watts is inThe Ring , and as heavily as it is to imagine anyone else play Rachel , there were no less than four other actresses considered for the part , or even outright offer it . One wonders what each might ’ve bring to the lead role , and howThe Ringmight’ve changed as a answer .

The Ring: Every Actress Who Almost Starred (Before Naomi Watts)

The first choice to wager Rachel Keller inThe Ringwas actuallyJennifer Connelly , star topology ofRequiem for a DreamandA Beautiful Mind . Unfortunately , Connelly had outcome with Rachel being write as a negligent parent , and call for script rewrites if she took the role . Producers balked at that petition , so Connelly was removed from the mixture , but would later end up star in the Japanese horror remakeDark body of water . The role was then offer to Gwyneth Paltrow , then coming off the comedyShallow Hal , but she was n’t interested and said no .

Heartbreakersera Jennifer Love Hewitt was also reportedly offer the Rachel function inThe Ring , but it ’s unreadable why she twist it down or was unavailable . It ’s doubtful Samara would ’ve listened to the futureGhost Whispereranyway , plus she was in her early twenty , and would ’ve probably been too young to take seriously as a seasoned reporter . The final two contenders for the part were Naomi Watts and futureUnderworldstarKate Beckinsale . Beckinsale was the studio ’s favorite for a sentence , but then a Dreamworks exec sawMulholland Drive , and was shanghai by Watts ' performance enough to purge her inThe Ring .

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The Ring with Jennifer Connelly and Jennifer Love Hewitt

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The Ring