Casting What-Ifs
Earlier versions involved Clint Eastwood, Beyoncé, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Ray Liotta, and several alternate Ally-father choices.
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:43Read transcript
- Cooper reportedly had to show Warner Brothers an iPhone duet with Lady Gaga to win approval for her casting. — Bill Simmons
- A 2011 version paired Beyoncé with Clint Eastwood before her pregnancy interrupted development. — Bill Simmons
- Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, and Tom Cruise were approached during development.
- A brief 2015 configuration paired Cooper and Beyoncé.
- The panel doubts Beyoncé’s acting based on earlier films while acknowledging her stature as a pop star. — Sean Fennessey
- Ray Leota was reportedly considered for Jackson’s manager before that role disappeared. — Bill Simmons
- Andrew Dice Clay was selected over Robert De Niro, John Torturo, and John Travolta for Gaga’s character’s father, though the panel questions how literal that account is.