Morgan Freeman Wasn’t The Only Option For Red
In Stephen King’s novella, Red is portrayed as a middle-aged Irishman with graying red hair. To align with this description, actors like Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Harrison Ford were seriously considered for the role. However, director Frank Darabont envisioned Morgan Freeman as Red from the start, drawn to his natural charisma and iconic voice. Ultimately, Darabont made the bold decision to cast Freeman. To pay homage to King’s original character, Darabont included the line, “Maybe it’s because I’m Irish,” when Andy asks Red about the origin of his nickname.
Morgan Freeman Wasn’t The Only Option For Red
The Maggot Dilemma
In the film, an elderly man named Brooks, who works in the prison library, keeps a pet crow. Since the filmmakers used a live animal, the scenes involving the crow were closely monitored by the American Humane Association (AHA). During one particular scene where Brooks feeds the crow a maggot, the AHA intervened, deeming it cruel to the maggot and requiring the use of one that had died of natural causes. Remarkably, the production team managed to find a suitable maggot that met the AHA’s strict guidelines, allowing the scene to be filmed as intended.
The Maggot Dilemma
