#4. Cameron Diaz was going to be in the film.

Photo Credit: New Line

But, she was injured right before filming began and had to be replaced.

Associate Producer Lauri Apelian told the Hollywood Reporter:

“We originally had Cameron Diaz cast as Sonya Blade. We were at New Line when The Mask was in post-production, and Cameron Diaz was not a household name. No one knew her. New Line said, ‘Why don’t you look some of the dailies that are coming in from this film and see what you think of this young, unknown actress.’ As soon as we saw the dailies from The Mask, there was no question that she was a star. We put her into training, because she had not really done this kind of martial arts work before. She broke her wrist right before shooting to the point where she couldn’t do the martial arts stunts we needed.”

Diaz was replaced by Bridgette Wilson-Sampras.

You probably recognize her best from the film she was making when she got the part:

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

Wilson-Sampras told the Hollywood Reporter:

“…on my last day of filming on Billy Madison, they called me up and asked, ‘Will you do it if we fly you out the next morning?’ and I said ‘Yeah!’ I was so happy both worked out.’

#5. Sean Connery was also an option.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Apelian told the Hollywood Reporter:

“We also inquired about Sean Connery for the Raiden role. But we understood at that time that he really wanted to golf. He wasn’t interested at that time in doing a physical role.”

#6. Tom Cruise got kicked off the set.

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

Yep.

Linden Ashby, who played Johnny Cage, recalled an incident with the star of Scientology, Oprah’s couch, and a few films here and there:

“Tom Cruise had a hangar nearby and came over and was like, ‘Hey what are you guys shooting? Can I check it out?’ And the medic goes, ‘You’re not in this movie. Go away!’ And Tom Cruise goes, ‘I just want to see,’ and he goes, ‘I don’t care who you are, get out of here!’ He turned away Tom Cruise!”