James Purefoy was the first choice for V in V For Vendetta, but the first choice isn't always the right one. The English actor quit the movie a few weeks after production started, and they had to find someone else for the role. Rumor has it that Purefoy's quitting had something to do with the mask. It's not entirely true, but it's also not very far off.

V For Vendetta was a huge hit. Hugo Weaving took the torch from Purefoy to be V, and has since become a cultural touchstone. It turned out that director James McTeigue's last-minute decision worked out in his favor. V For Vendetta was his first feature film. Having worked as an assistant director on The Matrix, McTeigue wasn't a new face in the film industry. V For Vendetta carried a lot of weight, and despite all the unforeseeable issues, the film eventually came...