MovieChat Forums > North and South, Book II (1986) Discussion > Why where actors replaced in book 2?

Why where actors replaced in book 2?

posted 18 years ago by jeghaderperkersvin66
26 replies | jump to latest

I watched this series a couple day a go. And i noticed something: The actor who played Billy Hazzard and the actress who played Isabel Hazzard was replaced in book 2.
Do anyone know why??

Because you would think that both actors would be interested in keeping their roles, or that the company behind the series would be interested in keeping the same faces in the series. Because if you replace an actor, it confuses the audience.
Actors was also replaced in the third series, but that was also a much more cheap series, and i dont consider it a part of the North and South series (only a cheap attempt to make money of the concept).

Please help me if you have some information about this subject.

[–] sjensen-4 18 years ago

Good question.
I was thinking that myself, when i last watched the series.

[–] dylan_raines 17 years ago

i know billy hazzard was recast in the second one and also in book three charlie main was recast...but you never know if there was a scheduling conflict or if the didn't want to do another movie.

[–] kelly-289 17 years ago

I think I read that the original Billy Hazzard (John Stockwell) was replaced due to his being cast as "Cougar" in Top Gun which was filming at the time. I've also heard that the original Isabel wasn't recast due to poor audience reception, and that they thought Mary Crosby would be better received.

I'm not sure that Book II was originally envisioned to become a mini-series until the original had been judged a success, so actors and actresses may not have had much notice to return to their roles in Book II.

As for Book III, I haven't seen it since it aired and didn't see it all at that, so I'm unsure about recastings from that series.

[–] jockey2 17 years ago

I actually found Parker Stevenson to be a much better Billy than John Stockwell. Even in the few scenes where Genie and Parker are together, they seemed to have so much more chemistry then she and John ever did in the first series. Parker was a much better actor then John, at least in my opinion. Billy and Brett have always been my favorite characters. I had the biggest crush on Parker Stevenson when the second series came out. Maybe that influences my decision!!

[–] Feezle-Nuts 17 years ago

Book II was already filming(might have been done) when Book I aired.

John Stockwell was replaced because he did not like acting in the first one. I read an article about it somewhere. He hated it.

"Fear will push you into haste, and haste will push you into the grave..."

[–] Kayyou62 16 years ago

I have no idea why, but I'm estatic that John Stockwell was replaced. He is NO WHERE as hot as Parker Stevenson :)

"Just remember, you're my friend and I love you." +Billy Hazard

[–] survivor_fan 16 years ago

I liked John Stockwell much better than Parker Stevenson. He looks younger and much more fitting for the role in my opinion. Also Parker Stevenson looks too much like John Travolta

[–] Kayyou62 16 years ago

John looks too young, in my opinion. Does Parker really look like John Travolta? I think Parker makes a nice grungy soldier :]

"Just remember, you're my friend and I love you." +Billy Hazard

[–] hooverb 15 years ago

Agewise, John Stockwell was much closer to Genie Frances's age. Parker Stevenson is about 10 years older than Frances.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] singingstarlet 14 years ago

I thought John Stockwell had a better Billy look. He looked young and eager, like Billy was. However Parker was a better actor.

I'm a little surprised that Jonathan Frakes managed to do all 3 parts. For parts 2 and 3 he was in the heat of his acting on Star Trek, which to my understanding took up a lot of time. I always though he was cute.

[–] PeterBlues 16 years ago

Well, it actally has stuck in my mind that i heard someone say that one actor got replaced becouse he turned into a big shot since the first part, and wouldn't come back to the second part. but what really suprised me is that James Stewart was a part of this series, usually, atleast back in these days, movie actors didn't turn to tv, not as far as i know, and Stewart was one of "main" movie stars back in the 30's-60's, wasn't he?

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if only my name, could be an household name,
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i want to be the whole worlds friend,
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but.. still.. can't i be like "big"?.. please?
look folks.. over here, its me.. please? do i have to invent a *beep* motor or something?.
please love me..cry

[–] taylorje 15 years ago

Yes, but Mr. Stewart was quite old by that time and had largely retired from acting. He probably accepted small roles here and there, just to keep his hand in.

[–] Diamond97 12 years ago

I liked John Stockwell as Billy. He and Genie Francis had much better chemistry together.

[–] enationfan 12 years ago

I agree. I liked John Stockwell, too.

[–] Ophelia007 12 years ago

I agree. I think John Stockwell and Genie Francis had much more chemistry and I'm sorry I've never thought Parker Stevenson was that good looking...

[–] Elisabet Jonsson 12 years ago

This is a question I also asked myself -- there's no place like the IMDb to get an answer!

But I found Parker Stevenson to be a very good replacement in the role of Billy! Having now watched all the episodes of Book II I wonder if the producers perhaps wanted an actor who looked more mature and not like a teenager? I do agree with one of the comments above, that the viewer gets confused when the actors are changed (and more is in store for me in Book III I understand), but after a few episodes this change didn't bother me so much.

[–] barber2626 11 years ago

I found John Stockwell better suited for the role than heart throb Parker. And Mary Crosby...ewwww, she was a big thing with Dallas and I guess they figured big headliners would get the ratings to which thats not why I watched it back then and now. John Stockwell found that acting was not his thing and he later went on to Directing and Producing. I myself do not like it when they change characters and it just changes things to me. Mary Crosby did not suit the role at all and was way to young imo. I just did not appreciate the fact that they change rolls like that when they should of known years ahead of time of they are going to make more movies from those books. They now days make people sign contracts for the following movies. Like the Twilight movies.

[–] stuffic 11 years ago

I couldn't agree with you more about Mary Crosby. She sucked - the other actress was much better.

imdb.whospoppin.com

[–] barber2626 11 years ago

They even replaced again from Mary Crosby to another person named Deborah Rush I believe it was to play Isabel Hazards character. They just couldnt keep one person for that character. I just got confused with the different faces and she wasnt the only one.Charles Mains character was confusing as well and I just hated this. This is why when they continue a series of books like this that if they just do not go through with them like right away or make sure these actors sign a contact forcing them to finish the books they shouldnt even do it then. Like the Twilight sagas. Not once did a character change other then the red head vamp and seriously she wasnt a big deal and not a main character you saw all the time.

[–] stuffic 11 years ago

...but what really suprised me is that James Stewart was a part of this series, usually, atleast back in these days, movie actors didn't turn to tv...

True, but mini-series in the 80s were a big deal - they consistently got huge ratings. So it was common for big stars to guest star in them (cameos basically, only one day of shooting). Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Gene Kelly, etc. all appeared in the first part, and they were huge box office draws at one time - and perhaps helped them stay relevant (to a younger crowd).

imdb.whospoppin.com

[–] NancyLou9 11 years ago

Also, John Jakes had already made a tremendous name for himself with these books and the series "The Bastard". I think it was pretty well decided this mini-series would be hugely watched and they were right.

I can remember these being discussed in school (I was in college at the time) and people were glued to their televisions every night it was on.

"Posters entering a discussion for the purpose of attacking the others are quickly ignored."

[–] jane_bront 11 years ago

Does anyone know exactly what John Stockwell allegedly hated about filming North and South? Was it the costumes, the acting schedule, the pay check, the other cast members - what? Because it is really takes me out of a story when I get used to one actor playing a part and then he is replaced by someone else - especially when they look nothing like him. Plus, I'm one of those who preferred Stockwell in role and thought he had a chemistry with Genie Francis that was completely missing between her and Stevenson.

~"Chris, am I weird?"
~"Yeah, but so what? Everybody's weird."

[–] screenscreams 11 years ago

Yep, and Olivia De Havilland was in part 2.

[–] TheLordofTheHarvest 9 years ago

Stevenson was Kristie Alley's hubby back in the 80's so I'm sure she had a role in getting him on, even if they had only 1 seen toghether. I prefer Stockwell though I found him more likeable.

From what I remember seeing they wanted Mary Crosby originally to be Isabel but she was unavailable for part 1. So given the chance they cast her. She was pretty popular then.

I didn't mind Kyle Chandler in Part 3, he did fine.

[–] Tuppance76 8 years ago

I didn't mind Kyle Chandler in Part 3, he did fine.

-----------------------------------
He did fine, but he wasn't Charles Main. Lewis Smith was. Charles for me, was like replacing George or Orry with different actors.

Don't f@ck with me fellas! This aint my first time at the rodeo.