Casting What-Ifs
De Niro; Ford; Winger; Quaid (uncertain); Dreyfuss; Penn; Travolta
This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:16:36Read transcript
- De Niro reportedly was attached as Josh and helped the film get greenlit; the panel strongly rejects him as a fit despite admiration for his acting.
- Spielberg briefly considered directing with Ford; the idea is partly defended but challenged as too sexually charismatic, with Regarding Henry a comparison.
- Brooks reportedly brought Marshall aboard after her departure from Peggy Sue Got Married; a female version with Winger was considered, but Marshall's quoted contemporary objection says the reversed sexual premise would be unacceptable.
- Quaid reportedly told Larry King he declined Big for Everybody's All-American; the report is treated as possible rather than certain.
- Jared Rushton reportedly read with Richard Dreyfuss for Josh.
- Rushton reportedly also read with Sean Penn, considered an especially strange Josh possibility.
- Travolta reportedly wanted Josh but the studio rejected him during his career slump; the panel thinks his comic innocence might have worked, though not as well as Hanks.