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And Almost Starring is a comedic podcast in which husband and wife duo Jeff Ronan and Amy Jo Jackson discuss who almost starred in some of your favorite movies. Each week they’ll pick a different film and break down who almost got cast and whether it would have been for the better or for the much, much worse.
Episodes

Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
Patreon Exclusive: Footloose (PREVIEW)
Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
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On this month’s Patreon-exclusive episode, we’re breaking down all the actors who almost starred in Footloose in a syncable, watch-along commentary! Which rock star turned down Ren? Which sitcom legend turned down Ariel? And what’s with all the gymnastics equipment in that warehouse? Also – our jaws it the floor during Footloose: Fury Road!
Footloose stars Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Chris Penn, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Dianne Wiest; directed by Herbert Ross
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Episode 109 - Bridget Jones’s Diary
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
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On this week’s listener request episode (and our final ep of the year), we’re looking at everyone who almost starred in the delightful Bridget Jones’s Diary! Which Oscar-winning actor/writer was considered for Bridget? Which co-star originally auditioned for a completely different role? And how much better is this friend group than the one in Devil Wears Prada? Also – Happy Holidays!
Bridget Jones’s Diary stars Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Embeth Davidtz, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, James Callis, and Salman Rushdie; directed by Sharon Maguire
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Episode 108 - It’s a Wonderful Life
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
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With Christmas just a few days away, we’re breaking down all the actors who almost starred in the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life! Which horror icon was considered for Mr. Potter? Who was Frank Capra’s first choice for the role of Mary? And how obvious is it that George can’t stand any of his kids except Zuzu? Also – we pitch a Truman Show-style conspiracy theory and fall down the rabbit hole of forgotten Hollywood films involving killer octopuses, misbehaving professors, and the original MCU: The Maisie Cinematic Universe!
It's a Wonderful Life stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, Gloria Grahame, and Lionel Barrymore; directed by Frank Capra
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Episode 107 - Matilda
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
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As the new Netflix movie musical adaptation nears, we’re revisiting the 1996 adaptation of the classic children’s book Matilda! Which famous child stars were considered for the title role? Which Oscar-winner was sought to play Trunchbull? And how wild is that kid getting chucked over a fence by the pigtails? Also – Celine Dion brings her ‘cuckoo crazy’ vibe to the world of Roald Dahl!
Matilda stars Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Paul Reubens, Tracey Walter, and Pam Ferris; directed by Danny DeVito
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Episode 106 - Boogie Nights
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Follow our Patreon at patreon.com/andalmoststarring
On this week’s listener request episode, we’re looking at who almost starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights! Which movie superhero was considered for Dirk Diggler? Which Oscar-winning director turned down Jack? And did anyone else forget how funny the first half of this film is? Also – we pitch the high-concept rom-com I Love the 90s starring Drew Barrymore as – The 90s!
Boogie Nights stars Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Luis Guzmán, Nicole Ari Parker, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, William H. Macy, Joanna Gleason, Robert Ridgely, Philip Baker Hall, Ricky Jay, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Thomas Jane, and Alfred Molina; directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Patreon Exclusive: The Muppet Christmas Carol (PREVIEW)
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Follow our Patreon at patreon.com/andalmoststarring
On this month’s Patreon exclusive episode, we’re breaking down all the actors (and Muppets) who were almost cast in The Muppet Christmas Carol in a full-length commentary! Which stand-up comic was considered for Scrooge? Which classic Muppets were originally meant to play the three Christmas spirits? Also – we pitch more Muppet literary adaptations and ponder the lives of Muppet produce!
The Muppet Christmas Carol stars Michael Caine, Steven Mackintosh, Jessica Fox, Meredith Braun, Robin Weaver, Raymond Coulthard, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, David Rudman, and Frank Oz; directed by Brian Henson
Follow the Podcast:
On Patreon: patreon.com/andalmoststarring
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Episode 105 - The Bodyguard
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Follow our Patreon at patreon.com/andalmoststarring
This week, for its 30-year anniversary, we’re looking who almost starred in the box office smash The Bodyguard! Which pair was set to play the leads when the film was originally developed in the 70s? Which pop singer was denied an audition because she made a joke about Costner? And how hilarious fake-sounding are these best song nominees? Also – we pitch two surefire hits: Beethoven Bodyguard and Private Princess!
The Bodyguard stars Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp, Bill Cobs, Tomas Arana, Ralph Waite, Mike Starr, Devaughn Nixon, Michele Lamar Richards, Christopher Birt, Gerry Bamman, and Debbie Reynolds as herself; Mick Jackson
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Episode 104 - Splash
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Follow our Patreon at patreon.com/andalmoststarring
On this week’s listener request episode, we’re celebrating Hanksgiving by breaking down who almost starred in the movie Splash! Which 70s sex symbol turned down the Hanks role? Which rock singer was the role of Madison written for? And is there really a coral reef AND an underwater kingdom in the Hudson?
Splash stars Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, Dody Goodman, and John Candy; directed by Ron Howard
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Episode 103 - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Follow our Patreon at patreon.com/andalmoststarring
This week, we’re looking at all the actors who almost starred in the 1971 musical/fantasy Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! Which member of the Rat Pack pursued a role? Which rock legend wanted to play Wonka? And which iconic scene in the film was actually Gene Wilder’s idea? Also – Jeff pitches a dark theory about the Bucket family and goes knocking on the door of the CIA searching for movie trivia!
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stars Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson, Roy Kinnear, Leonard Stone, Julie Dawn Cole, Denise Nickerson, Nora Denney, Paris Themmen, Ursula Reit, Michael Bollner, Diana Sowle, and Aubrey Woods; directed by Mel Stuart
Follow the Podcast:
On Patreon: patreon.com/andalmoststarring
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com

Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Episode 102 - John Wick
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Follow our Patreon at patreon.com/andalmoststarring
On this week’s listener request episode, we’re breaking down all the actors who were almost in the action-packed franchise starter John Wick! Which classic Hollywood star did the screenwriter have in mind when writing the titular role? Which Harry Potter actor was cast as Winston but had to drop out? And would the movie have been anywhere near as successful with its original title? Also – we admire Keanu’s hair acting and give props to the movie for somehow finding both the cutest AND second-cutest puppies ever put on film!
John Wick stars Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Dean Winters, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, John Leguizamo, Lance Reddick, and Ian McShane
Follow the Podcast:
On Instagram: @andalmoststarring
Have a film you’d love for us to cover? E-mail us at andalmoststarring@gmail.com