Though Jack Nicholson delivered an infamous performance as the deranged writer in Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic The Shining, Robin Williams was actually very eager to take on the iconic role.

The shining movie

In a recent interview, Williams’ longtime friend and colleague revealed that Williams had intensely lobbied Kubrick for the part of Jack Torrance in the 1980 film. But Kubrick ultimately decided Williams was too manic and went with Nicholson instead.

The role of the chillingly unstable Torrance seemed a natural fit for Williams’ wild energy. But that may have been exactly why Kubrick felt he was wrong for it.

 Stanley Kubrick Wanted Subtly Menacing Performance

According to sources close to the film’s production, Kubrick thought Robin Williams‘ acting style was too intense and overtly crazy for what he wanted to achieve with the character of Jack Torrance.

Stanley Kubrick

While Torrance certainly becomes unhinged and violent, Kubrick is looking for a more subdued and subtle descent into madness. Nicholson’s restraint aligned more with Kubrick’s vision of a simmering, creeping mania.

Though disappointed, Williams came to respect Kubrick’s choice to go in a different direction than his over-the-top persona.

Robin Williams’ Comedic Reputation Preceded Him

Having become famous for his manic, improvisational comedy, Robin Williams was seen primarily as a comic force of nature rather than a dramatic actor in the late 1970s. Williams had built his reputation on his manic, improvisational comedy skills, so Kubrick worried he wouldn’t have the darkness and restraint needed for the role.

Robin-Williams

Stanley Kubrick‘ felt Williams’ reputation for wild antics would undermine the sinister tone he wanted for The Shining. Though Williams aspired to more serious roles, his comedic background worked against him.

Jack Nicholson Set Tone for Film’s Unique Style

In picking Jack Nicholson as his lead, Stanley Kubrick got exactly the tone of underplayed menace he was looking for to make The Shining so chillingly distinct. Nicholson’s unnervingly naturalistic performance anchored the surreal nightmare unfolding on screen. His casual air as Torrance deteriorates grounds the horror in an oddly relatable reality.

Jack Nicholson

It’s hard to imagine the movie having the same eerie, otherworldly vibe with Williams’ high-energy presence at the center.

Though Robin Williams was eager to take on the role of the haunted writer at the twisted heart of The Shining, Stanley Kubrick’s choice to go with Jack Nicholson proved to be the perfect fit for the film’s singularly spooky style. Nicholson lent the needed restraint to keep Kubrick’s surreal nightmare grounded in an unsettling realism.

Nicholson lent the needed restraint to keep Kubrick’s surreal nightmare grounded in an unsettling realism. It’s clear Kubrick made the right decision in choosing Nicholson’s subtly sinister performance over Williams’ more intense and comedic style, which would have clashed with the tone of the film. This ultimately led to an iconic role for Nicholson and one of the most memorable horror movies ever made.