The actress cast to originally play Willow was Riff Regan, though she only played the part in the original pilot episode. She didn’t work out and Joss started looking for a new actress. He says the network wanted a “supermodel in horn rims” to play Willow.
Marcia Schulman (the casting director) says that the problem with casting Willow was that the character is a shy and insecure person, so is the complete opposite of the kind of person most actresses are. Alyson was cast because she brought a vulnerability to the part, as well as being funny. She also read her lines optimistically rather than in a dowdy way, which is what most of the girls who auditioned did.
August 9th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
Im so gald they recast Willow. Alyson Hannigan is a million times better than Riff Regan
August 10th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Alyson Hannigan is a million times better than anyone (especially to play Willow).
August 10th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Alyson Hannigan is the best!!