The 1988 movie burned to the ground after Robin Williams no-showed: “That’s the end of that”
In 1988, Robin Williams did not appear for the first day of filming on *Dead Poets Society* because he was unwilling to work with director Jeff Kanew, who had been hired to adapt Tom Schulman’s Oscar-winning screenplay. Buena Vista Pictures cancelled the production and burned the purpose-built sets, despite Williams never having formally committed to the film, before deciding to replace Kanew with Peter Weir.
The film was subsequently made with Weir directing, and Williams earned an Oscar nomination for his performance. Its success, including more than $250 million at the box office, far outweighed the cost of rebuilding after the studio’s premature decision to destroy the sets.
- Robin Williams refused to work with the original director.
- The studio burned the film’s sets after cancelling production.
- A new director helped turn the project into a major success.