Home Poal23

Ron Howard’s Splash At 40: 7 Shocking Studio Notes That Almost Killed The Mermaid Classic

• minute read
Contents
As of late 2025, the legacy of Ron Howard’s 1984 romantic fantasy-comedy, *Splash*, remains as buoyant as ever, especially as the film celebrates its 40th anniversary. This pivotal "fish-out-of-water" story, which launched the mainstream careers of both Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, is much more than a simple love story between a man and a mermaid; it’s a foundational piece of cinema history for director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer, marking the first film released under the Disney banner's new adult label, Touchstone Pictures. The enduring fascination with the movie has been fueled by recent 2024/2025 interviews where Howard and Grazer have revealed the shocking, and often hilarious, behind-the-scenes battles they fought with studio executives just to get the iconic tale made. The film, which tells the story of Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) who falls in love with Madison (Daryl Hannah), a mermaid who surfaces in New York City, faced a turbulent production journey. Ron Howard, fresh off his acting career and finding his footing as a director, had to contend with notes that would have fundamentally altered—or outright destroyed—the movie's premise. These recent revelations offer a fresh, unique perspective on how close the classic came to never seeing the light of day, cementing *Splash* not just as a beloved romantic comedy but as a testament to creative perseverance in Hollywood.

Ron Howard: Biography and Directorial Milestones

Ron Howard is one of the most successful figures in Hollywood, transitioning seamlessly from a beloved child actor to an Academy Award-winning director and prolific producer. His career is marked by a diverse filmography, from lighthearted comedies to intense historical dramas.

  • Full Name: Ronald William Howard
  • Born: March 1, 1954 (Duncan, Oklahoma)
  • Spouse: Cheryl Alley (m. 1975)
  • Children: Bryce Dallas Howard, Paige Howard, Jocelyn Howard, Reed Howard
  • Early Acting Roles: Opie Taylor on *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960–1968), Richie Cunningham on *Happy Days* (1974–1980).
  • Directorial Debut: *Grand Theft Auto* (1977)
  • Breakthrough Film: *Splash* (1984)
  • Key Films: *Cocoon* (1985), *Parenthood* (1989), *Apollo 13* (1995), *A Beautiful Mind* (2001), *The Da Vinci Code* (2006), *Frost/Nixon* (2008), *Rush* (2013).
  • Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Picture for *A Beautiful Mind* (2001).
  • Recent Work (2024/2025): Won a 2024 Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special for *Jim Henson Idea Man*.
  • Production Company: Co-founder (with Brian Grazer) of Imagine Entertainment.

The 7 Shocking Studio Demands That Almost Sank *Splash*

In interviews coinciding with the film’s 40th anniversary, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer have detailed the immense creative pressure they faced from studio executives. The biggest hurdle was convincing decision-makers that a high-concept romantic fantasy about a mermaid could work, especially since the genre was largely unproven at the time. The following notes illustrate the bizarre demands that could have changed the film entirely:

1. "Make *Splash* Without the Mermaid"

This is arguably the most famous and shocking revelation from Ron Howard's 2024 interviews. Multiple studio executives, after reading the script, asked Howard to eliminate the fantastical element entirely. The note suggested focusing solely on the "fish-out-of-water" premise of a mysterious woman arriving in New York. The director likened the absurdity to asking for a *Ghostbusters* movie without any ghosts. The insistence on the mermaid character, Madison, was Ron Howard’s first major directorial battle, and his victory established the film’s enduring charm.

2. The Demand to Cut the Iconic John Candy Role

The character of Freddie Bauer, Allen’s womanizing and hilarious older brother, played by the late great John Candy, was a key element of the film’s comedic success. However, some studio heads wanted to minimize or remove Freddie, fearing he would distract from the central romance between Allen and Madison. Howard and Grazer fought hard to keep the beloved comedic relief, recognizing that Candy’s chemistry with Tom Hanks was essential to the film's heart.

3. The Studio Wanted a Different Title

Before settling on *Splash*, the film went through numerous working titles. Executives, nervous about the high-concept premise, often pushed for a more generic romantic comedy title to appeal to a wider audience. Producer Brian Grazer is credited with coming up with the original story idea and the final, memorable title, which ultimately helped the film's marketing and memorability.

4. Daryl Hannah’s Mermaid Tail Was Deemed Too Expensive

The complex and groundbreaking special effects for Daryl Hannah’s mermaid tail were a major point of contention. The tail, designed by Academy Award-winning artist Robert Short, was a marvel of translucent urethane and silicone. The construction and the logistics of filming with the elaborate appliance—which Hannah described as "incredibly painful"—added significantly to the budget. The studio pushed to simplify the tail design, but Howard insisted on the quality necessary to make the fantasy believable.

5. The Near-Miss of the Original Ending

The original screenplay included a darker, more ambiguous ending, a common feature in 1980s cinema. Studio notes pushed for a safer, more conventional romantic comedy resolution. Ultimately, the team settled on the now-iconic ending where Allen Bauer chooses to follow Madison into the sea to live underwater, which provided the perfect balance of romance and fantasy for the Touchstone Pictures brand.

6. The Casting of Tom Hanks Was Questioned

*Splash* was Tom Hanks's first major leading role, and studio executives were hesitant to bank a feature film on a relatively unproven actor, despite his sitcom fame on *Bosom Buddies*. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer were steadfast in their belief in Hanks's talent and charisma, a decision that proved to be one of the most consequential in Hollywood history, launching Hanks into superstardom.

7. The MPAA Rating Battle

As a film released under the new Touchstone Pictures banner, designed to handle more mature content than the main Disney brand, the film’s PG rating was crucial. Scenes, particularly the mermaid’s brief nudity and the adult humor involving John Candy and Eugene Levy’s characters, were carefully managed to avoid an R-rating, which would have severely limited the box office potential. The studio was highly sensitive about the film's tone, leading to numerous small adjustments to dialogue and visuals to secure the final PG rating.

The *Splash* Remake: What is the Latest Update?

The conversation around *Splash* is not just retrospective; it’s also forward-looking, thanks to the long-gestating remake. The project, which has been in development for several years, is a gender-swap retelling of the classic romantic fantasy.

  • The Core Twist: Unlike the original, the remake will star a woman, Jillian Bell, as the human protagonist, while Channing Tatum is set to play the male mermaid.
  • Current Status (2025): As of the latest reports, the *Splash* remake is still moving forward. The project, which is being produced by Jillian Bell and Channing Tatum, was recently given a fresh start with a new writer, Sarah Rothschild, who has signed on to pen a new draft of the script.
  • The Disney Connection: The original 1984 film was a massive hit for Touchstone Pictures, and the remake remains a priority project for the studio, which now falls under the vast Disney corporate umbrella.

The ongoing development of the remake, coupled with the 40th anniversary celebrations and the fresh, candid stories from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, ensures that the magic of *Splash* continues to make waves in the film world. The original film remains a perfect piece of romantic comedy, a genre-defining moment for its stars, and a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best creative visions are the ones you have to fight the hardest to protect.

ron howard splash
ron howard splash

Detail Author:

  • Name : Trevion Kuhn
  • Username : mauricio.kozey
  • Email : ned.ortiz@considine.com
  • Birthdate : 1980-05-23
  • Address : 47512 Hammes Path Suite 640 Christaberg, CT 52240-4332
  • Phone : (802) 992-0532
  • Company : Bode-Hill
  • Job : Automotive Glass Installers
  • Bio : Qui et nihil earum ut. Illo cupiditate eum maxime molestiae. Esse veritatis nam ut voluptatem. Voluptatem sit aspernatur sequi deleniti aut.

Socials

linkedin:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/loyeffertz
  • username : loyeffertz
  • bio : Aspernatur labore veniam aut eum sunt. Cumque voluptatem aut sint.
  • followers : 1401
  • following : 2980

facebook:

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/loy_dev
  • username : loy_dev
  • bio : Aliquam voluptas voluptas aspernatur optio et. Id commodi et beatae aut provident ab laboriosam dicta. Et animi dolor corrupti ex autem culpa.
  • followers : 3727
  • following : 957

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@effertzl
  • username : effertzl
  • bio : Dolorem dolorem quis omnis consequuntur ducimus.
  • followers : 1799
  • following : 704

Random Posts