Stripes: Cheech & Chong Almost Starred in This Comedy Classic

The iconic 1980s comedy 'Stripes,' celebrated for its performances by Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, originally had a vastly different cast in mind. Director Ivan Reitman and writer Daniel Goldberg had envisioned the film as a Cheech and Chong project, with a script tailored to their signature stoner humor.

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were receptive to the idea but sought full creative control, which Reitman was unwilling to grant. This disagreement led to the abandonment of their involvement, prompting Reitman to pursue Bill Murray, whom he had previously worked with. Harold Ramis was subsequently brought on board to co-star and assist with script revisions, building on their recent collaboration in 'Caddyshack.'

Although the script underwent significant rewrites to suit Murray and Ramis, some humor originally intended for Cheech and Chong remained. These jokes were notably delivered by actor Judge Reinhold, who played Elmo, a character embodying a stereotypical stoner persona. The final film, with its improvisational elements and strong performances, has endured as a comedy classic.