# The 1988 movie saved by the “added expense and considerable mayhem” of hiring Burt Reynolds

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-1988-movie-saved-by-the-added-expense-and-considerable-mayhem-of-hiring-burt-reynolds/
- Published: 2026-11-14T20:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T21:24:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1988-movie-saved-by-mayhem-of-hiring-burt-reynolds/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- Reynolds replaced Michael Caine in *Switching Channels*.
- His clashes with Kathleen Turner contributed to a hostile set.
- The film flopped, and Reynolds received a Razzie nomination.

## Summary

When Michael Caine’s filming on *Jaws: The Revenge* ran over schedule, Burt Reynolds was hired to replace him in *Switching Channels*, a 1988 comedy about a cable news network. Reynolds helped the production move forward, but his arrival also brought tension that made the troubled film’s set more hostile.

Kathleen Turner said Reynolds made a shocking, chauvinistic remark on her first day, leaving her in tears; Christopher Reeve, who had wanted to work with Caine, reportedly found himself mediating between the co-stars. Executive producer Don Carmody described Reynolds’s involvement as bringing “added expense and considerable mayhem”. The film performed poorly at the box office, and Reynolds received a Golden Raspberry nomination for his performance.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.