• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Zombieland co-writer reveals Bill Murray’s role was originally written for Patrick Swayze

March 20, 2020 by Liam Waddington

While the chemistry between stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin helped make Zombieland a major success in 2009, one of the most memorable sequences in the zombie comedy was the four survivors meeting a still-living Bill Murray.

However, according to Zombieland co-writer Paul Wernick, Murray’s role in the film was originally written for the late actor Patrick Swayze before his unfortunate death in 2009 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Since we’re all currently living in #zombieland, [co-writer Rhett Reese] & I thought it’d be fun to take you behind the curtain, back to the early days,” the writer shared on Twitter. “The role Bill Murray played started in the original draft as Patrick Swayze. Patrick tragically got sick and we never had the [opportunity] to offer him the part. But we did WRITE IT.”

Since we’re all currently living in #zombieland, @rhettreese & I thought it’d be fun to take you behind the curtain, back to the early days. The role Bill Murray played started in the original draft as Patrick Swayze. Patrick tragically got sick and we never had the opp (1)

— Paul Wernick (@paulwernick) March 19, 2020

Wernick added that, in addition to Swayze and Murray, there were multiple versions of the sequence written that included Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Bacon, Mark Hamill, Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joe Pesci, Matthew McConaughey, and more.

to offer him the part. But we did WRITE IT. Along with a dozen or so, including for @therock @kevinbacon @HamillHimself @theslystallone, JCVD, Pesci, McConaughey among others. @rhettreese and I are going to post a new scene every day, as written, just, well, just because… (2)

— Paul Wernick (@paulwernick) March 19, 2020

What are your thoughts on the Zombieland script originally featuring Patrick Swayze rather than Bill Murray? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @flickeringmyth…

Filed Under: Liam Waddington, Movies, News Tagged With: Bill Murray, Patrick Swayze, Paul Wernick, Zombieland

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Essential Joe Dante Movies

The Films Quentin Tarantino Wrote But Didn’t Direct

The Best Retro 2000 AD Video Games

Cannon’s Avengers: What If… Cannon Films Did the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

The Best 90s and 00s Horror Movies That Rotten Tomatoes Hate!

Forgotten Horror Movie Sequels You Never Need to See

Underrated Modern Horror Gems That Deserve More Love

Great Forgotten Supernatural Horror Movies from the 1980s

The Film Feud of the 90s: Steven Seagal vs Jean-Claude Van Damme

10 Alien Franchise Rip-Offs That Are Worth A Watch

Top Stories:

18 Incredible 21st Century Films You May Have Missed

Movie Review – Superman (2025)

Crazy Cult 80s Movies You May Have Missed

4K Ultra HD Review – Quatermass 2 (1957)

Movie Review – Sovereign (2025)

“Dexter In Space” – Michael C. Hall talks 20 years of Dexter and where the killer will go next

Movie Review – Abraham’s Boys (2025)

Matilda Lutz is Red Sonja in trailer for long-delayed fantasy reboot

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

6 Great Australian Crime Movies of the 1980s

10 Great Forgotten Movie Gems Worth Seeking Out

Forgotten Horror Movie Gems From 25 Years Ago

10 Essential Vampire Movies To Sink Your Teeth Into

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket