Editing Heathers (section)

===Casting===
Many actors and actresses turned down the project because of its dark subject matter. Early choices for Veronica were [[Justine Bateman]] and [[Jennifer Connelly]].<ref name="Markovitz" /> Winona Ryder, who was 16 at the time of filming and badly wanted the part, begged Waters to cast her as Veronica, even offering to work for free.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lunn|first=Oliver|date=August 15, 2018|title='heathers' director michael lehmann dissects the film's lasting influence as it celebrates its 30th anniversary|url=https://i-d.co/article/heathers-director-michael-lehmann-film-30th-birthday-coming-of-age/|access-date=January 9, 2021|website=i-D|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112080429/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/9km8vz/heathers-director-michael-lehmann-film-30th-birthday-coming-of-age|archive-date=January 12, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Waters at first did not think Ryder was pretty enough, and Ryder herself commented that "at the time, I didn't look that different from my character in ''[[Beetlejuice]]''. I was very pale. I had blue-black dyed hair. I went to [[Macy's]] at the [[Beverly Center]] and had them do a makeover on me."<ref name="Markovitz" />

Ryder's [[Talent agent|agent]] was so opposed to her pursuing the role that she got down on her hands and knees to beg Ryder not to take it, warning her that it would ruin her career.<ref name="Markovitz" /><ref>{{cite video| title=Return to Westerburg High DVD Featurette| publisher=Boulevard Entertainment Ltd.| year=2010| medium=DVD}}</ref> Eventually, she was given the role. [[Brad Pitt]] read for the role of J.D. but was rejected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/heathers-brad-pitt-alternate-endings-sequel-145531246.html|title='Heathers' writer reveals rejecting 'a pimply' Brad Pitt, alternate endings and the sequel we'll never see|last=Polowy|first=Kevin|date=November 14, 2019|website=Yahoo!}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/21-things-we-learned-from-the-heathers-commentary-439a871c1f8c/ |title=21 Things We Learned from the 'Heathers' Commentary |last=Carr |first=Kevin |date=December 26, 2013 |website=[[Film School Rejects]]}}</ref> Christian Slater reports throwing a "big tantrum" and tossing his script in the trash after assuming he'd bombed his audition.<ref name="Markovitz" /> He was signed to play J.D. shortly after Ryder was cast, stating later that he channeled [[Jack Nicholson]] in the film.<ref name="nicholson">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/oct/04/double-trouble-movie-doppelganger-tom-hardy-marilyn-monroe|title=Double trouble: the hard life of the movie doppelganger|first=Phil|last=Hoad|date=October 4, 2018|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

[[Heather Graham]], then 17, was offered the part of Heather Chandler but turned it down due to her parents' disapproval of the film.<ref name="Markovitz" /> Kim Walker, who was dating Slater at the time, was offered the role instead. Lisanne Falk, 23 years old at the time, lied and said she was in her late teens during the audition. It was only after she was cast that she revealed her true age.<ref name="Markovitz" /> 17-year-old Shannen Doherty wanted the role of Veronica, but Ryder had been cast, so the producers asked her to audition for Heather Chandler. Doherty was more interested in playing Heather Duke and ended up giving an "amazing" reading as Duke, which secured her the part. The producers wanted her to dye her hair blonde to match the other "Heathers", but Doherty refused, so they compromised on her having red hair.<ref name="Markovitz" />