Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
The Cameos: Philip Kaufman's remake of the 1956 classic was one of the first movies to include kisses to the past with cameos by original director Don Siegel and star Kevin McCarthy, who reprises his most iconic line: "They're here!"
If The Character Had More Screen Time: McCarthy would join forces with the 1978 hero (Donald Sutherland) and maybe even bring about a happier ending.
Mallrats (1996)
The Cameo: Long before the ubiquity of his walk-ons in Marvel superhero movies, Stan Lee had already been given his best tribute, playing mentor to comic-book geek Brodie (Jason Lee).
If The Character Had More Screen Time: Stan's the man...and he fits right into Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse. We'd like to have seen him take a job at the Quick Stop.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
The Cameo: How to raise the bar when your TV show has already featured numerous Hollywood legends (and Bruce Forsyth) as guests? How about casting Orson Welles as imperious studio boss Lew Lord?
If The Character Had More Screen Time: Welles would help Kermit to find Rosebud, the long-lost symbol of his innocence. Note: Rosebud, in this case, actually is a flower. Kermit is a frog, after all.
Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
The Cameos: Shaun (Simon Pegg) and co bump into a other posse of survivors led by Yvonne (Pegg's ex- Spaced flatmate Jessica Stevenson) and including Martin Freeman, Tamsin Greig and Matt Lucas.
If The Characters Had More Screen Time: Aside from the heroine's gender, Yvonne Of The Dead wouldn't be radically different to what ended up on screen.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
The Cameo: Inevitable from the moment Johnny Depp revealed he'd based Captain Jack Sparrow on Keith Richards. Still, fair play to Keef for being such a sport as Sparrow, Snr.
If The Character Had More Screen Time: Richards' couldn't be any more self-indulgent than the rest of this dreary film. He livens things up considerably when he shows up.
Zoolander (2001)
The Cameo: Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel (Owen Wilson) compete in a walk-off. The judge? The master of glacial poise and flamboyant cheekbones, David Bowie.
If The Character Had More Screen Time: The temptation to have Bowie unmasked as the Goblin King would be too strong to ignore.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
The Cameo: Nestling amongst the toys in Bonnie's bedroom is a cuddly forest sprite instantly familiar to fans of Studio Ghibli. It's none other than Totoro.
If The Character Had More Screen Time: He'd be the outside man assisting the breakout of Andy's toys from Sunnyside, and he'd bring along the Catbus as a getaway vehicle.
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
The Cameo: The cheekiest moment in Stanley Kramer's cameo-packed madcap comedy is to have slapstick legends the Three Stooges simply standing in the frame, doing nothing.
If The Characters Had More Screen Time: They'd soon revert to type, and steal the thunder from their fellow stars.
The Player (1992)
The Cameo: It's easier to list who doesn't have a cameo in Altman's Hollywood satire, but the best go to Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts, roped in to provide the studio-sanctioned happy ending in film-within-a-film Habeas Corpus .
If The Characters Had More Screen Time: We'd be watching Habeas Corpus .
Wayne's World 2 (1993)
The Cameo: "I know it's a small part, but I think we can do better than this," says Wayne (Mike Myers). Cue a quick switcheroo, and Charlton Heston wheeled in to add some class.
If The Character Had More Screen Time: He'd find his true love from Gordon Street; Wayne and Garth would be his best men. The stag do would be awesome.
