Casting What-Ifs
Gandolfini as Carl; Depp or Hoffman as Frank; Harris and Sevigny; alternative directors
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:56Read transcript
- James Gandolfini, reportedly once locked in as Hanratty, is preferred to Hanks; production delays and Sopranos scheduling lost the casting window.
- Fincher reportedly departed the project for Panic Room.
- Verbinski was reportedly attached with Ed Harris as the father and Chloë Sevigny as Brenda.
- Verbinski reportedly left after Gangs of New York ran long.
- Cameron Crowe reportedly considered directing; the panel imagines a different but potentially workable film.
- Gandolfini's menace, fractured vulnerability and believable exhaustion would improve Carl; regret over this lost role and The Night Of accompanies praise for Killing Them Softly, The Mexican and Crimson Tide.
- Spielberg reportedly considered Depp as Frank, with uncertainty about the report; the panel imagines a dashing performance unlike much of Depp's stranger work.
- Hoffman's brief involvement in early development is doubted as casting, though fast-talking con artistry could fit; the real Frank's reportedly older appearance is discussed with a caveat about disputed history.