The year 1997: interesting notes from Casting Minutes of ICM
08-26-12 | 05:48 PM
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
The year 1997: interesting notes from Casting Minutes of ICM
So I'm cleaning out my garage and going through a lot of old scripts and stuff, just throwing things out. Nothing really interesting and most everything made it to the big (and small) screen. Then I see this from ICM. Looking it over, there are a lot of things that aren't getting made, but a lot of ones that were in development that became big motion pictures at the time. Of those that made it, it is interesting to see who they sent a script out to as far as starring roles or for directors. I'll just throw some things out there for you to ponder 'what if'? Maybe you heard of these, maybe not. I wasn't aware of them.
Fantastic Four - at this point it was ODA (open directing assignment). Chris Columbus was attached to produce. Their first choice of director was Stephen Herek. Who? The guy that directed Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. He's coming off of Mr. Holland's Opus and 101 Dalmations. WTF? But guess who's the next person on the list.... Peter Jackson. Whoa.
Fight Club - Tyler fucking Durden. Interesting that Brad Pitt wasn't the first choice. And I think it would be a totally different move, even with Fincher directing to have Tyler Durden played by... Sean Penn.
The Killer (aka Hong Kong) - the John Woo remake and he's onboard as producer. No director attached. Not sure who would be Jeff, but the top candidates in this order are... Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta.
The Matrix - No Keanu. Whoa. And instead it looked like it was meant for Ewan McGregor. With Sandra Bullock as Trinity and Nic Cage as Morpheus or Agent Smith (it doesn't say which part was offered to him)?
Out of Sight - Soderbergh and Clooney are attached, but JLo wasn't the first choice for Karen Sisco. That would be Tea Leoni.
Saving Private Ryan - Spielberg's war film that has Tom Hanks looking for Matt Damon. That remains the same, but Pepper as Jackson and Sizemore as Horvath aren't mentioned. I think he could have pulled off the role of Jackson, but I can't see him having the same intensity... Harry Connick Jr. And definitely don't see Tony Shaloub as Horvath.
Godzilla - I guess they knew better than to be in this movie as Broderick's girlfriend, eventually played by Maria Pitillo. Jennifer Aniston and Renee Zellweger can thank their agents for passing.
Superman Reborn - by now you know the whole Kevin Smith story about ice spiders and polar bears. And that Nic Cage was put into some weird suit by Tim Burton. But not that it would have made any difference, originally they were interested in Renny Harlin directing.
The Wild, Wild West - Another where I don't think he would have fit given that it was still a terrible movie, but Mel Gibson passed on playing James West.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - Interesting was that either it was a mistake written on the page, or that they chose to go differently by adding Qui-Gon, but they met with Liam Neeson and Stellan Skasgard for the part of Obi-Wan.
The Talented Mr. Ripley - The original casting meeting wasn't with Matt Damon, but with Johnny Depp.
The Thin Red Line - Malick had Sean Penn cast as Welsh and Adrian Brody won out over Thomas Jane, but Mel Gibson was sent the offer that Nick Nolte got. Nick Stahl got the part meant for Leonardo Di Caprio.
Chicago - Originally set up for Herbert Ross to direct. With offers out to Chazz Palminteri, Goldie Hawn, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell.
Rush Hour - with Martin Lawrence and Jackie Chan. This was set prior to the hiring of Brett Ratner. Also, the character isn't Carter, but Pete Carson and the plot sommary makes it sound more like SPEED.
Mr. 3000 - The fact that they changed the character to be played by Bernie Mac makes it funny that originally an offer went out to Richard Gere and high interest was for Bill Murray, Kurt Russell and Bruce Willis.
Just some interesting shit to pass along...
Fantastic Four - at this point it was ODA (open directing assignment). Chris Columbus was attached to produce. Their first choice of director was Stephen Herek. Who? The guy that directed Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. He's coming off of Mr. Holland's Opus and 101 Dalmations. WTF? But guess who's the next person on the list.... Peter Jackson. Whoa.
Fight Club - Tyler fucking Durden. Interesting that Brad Pitt wasn't the first choice. And I think it would be a totally different move, even with Fincher directing to have Tyler Durden played by... Sean Penn.
The Killer (aka Hong Kong) - the John Woo remake and he's onboard as producer. No director attached. Not sure who would be Jeff, but the top candidates in this order are... Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta.
The Matrix - No Keanu. Whoa. And instead it looked like it was meant for Ewan McGregor. With Sandra Bullock as Trinity and Nic Cage as Morpheus or Agent Smith (it doesn't say which part was offered to him)?
Out of Sight - Soderbergh and Clooney are attached, but JLo wasn't the first choice for Karen Sisco. That would be Tea Leoni.
Saving Private Ryan - Spielberg's war film that has Tom Hanks looking for Matt Damon. That remains the same, but Pepper as Jackson and Sizemore as Horvath aren't mentioned. I think he could have pulled off the role of Jackson, but I can't see him having the same intensity... Harry Connick Jr. And definitely don't see Tony Shaloub as Horvath.
Godzilla - I guess they knew better than to be in this movie as Broderick's girlfriend, eventually played by Maria Pitillo. Jennifer Aniston and Renee Zellweger can thank their agents for passing.
Superman Reborn - by now you know the whole Kevin Smith story about ice spiders and polar bears. And that Nic Cage was put into some weird suit by Tim Burton. But not that it would have made any difference, originally they were interested in Renny Harlin directing.
The Wild, Wild West - Another where I don't think he would have fit given that it was still a terrible movie, but Mel Gibson passed on playing James West.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - Interesting was that either it was a mistake written on the page, or that they chose to go differently by adding Qui-Gon, but they met with Liam Neeson and Stellan Skasgard for the part of Obi-Wan.
The Talented Mr. Ripley - The original casting meeting wasn't with Matt Damon, but with Johnny Depp.
The Thin Red Line - Malick had Sean Penn cast as Welsh and Adrian Brody won out over Thomas Jane, but Mel Gibson was sent the offer that Nick Nolte got. Nick Stahl got the part meant for Leonardo Di Caprio.
Chicago - Originally set up for Herbert Ross to direct. With offers out to Chazz Palminteri, Goldie Hawn, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell.
Rush Hour - with Martin Lawrence and Jackie Chan. This was set prior to the hiring of Brett Ratner. Also, the character isn't Carter, but Pete Carson and the plot sommary makes it sound more like SPEED.
Mr. 3000 - The fact that they changed the character to be played by Bernie Mac makes it funny that originally an offer went out to Richard Gere and high interest was for Bill Murray, Kurt Russell and Bruce Willis.
Just some interesting shit to pass along...
08-27-12 | 02:16 AM
#2
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: The year 1997: interesting notes from Casting Minutes of ICM
This is cool. Would be nice to add this info to the pre-production section of each movie in Wikipedia.
So that future generations may benefit.
So that future generations may benefit.
08-27-12 | 10:09 AM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The year 1997: interesting notes from Casting Minutes of ICM
Before the prequels, it was always assumed ObiWan was really old in the original Star Wars, so it was also assumed he would be a mature, if not middle-aged guy in the prequels. Making him 25 in TPM was quite a shock to a lot of fans.
