The 1985 movie role Carrie Fisher wanted to play from rehab: “Yes, that sounds good”
Carrie Fisher was due to play Miss Scarlet in the 1985 mystery film *Clue*, but a near-fatal overdose and rehabilitation meant she could not take part. The story highlights how her cocaine addiction disrupted her work and threatened her health, while showing the practical limits that treatment and film insurance placed on production.
Fisher initially thought she could leave rehab to film during the day and return at night, and director Jonathan Lynn and producer Debra Hill agreed. The insurance company ruled this out, so Lesley Ann Warren took the role. *Clue* cost $15 million and used different endings in different cinemas; Fisher later returned to acclaimed work, including *Hannah and Her Sisters*.
In short
- Carrie Fisher missed *Clue* while in rehab.
- Insurers ruled out her proposed filming arrangement.
- Lesley Ann Warren replaced her as Miss Scarlet.
Explained simply
Carrie Fisher was an actor and writer, best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films. In the 1980s she struggled with cocaine addiction, which affected her work and put her health at serious risk.
Clue is a comedy mystery film released in 1985, based on the board game of the same name. Its ensemble cast played suspects brought together at a country house, and the film was unusual for showing different endings in different cinemas. Film productions also rely on insurance to manage risks and costs, which can affect whether an actor is able to work on a film.
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