Casting What-Ifs
Steve McQueen; Kris Kristofferson; Gene Hackman; Robert Duvall; Lee Marvin; Kirk Douglas
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:46Read transcript
- The film was nearly made in 1975; producers wanted Steve McQueen, then judged him too old, and considered Chris Christopherson before it went into turnaround.
- Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall turned down the Teasle role.
- Hackman would lift the movie a level, but then he might not do Unforgiven; Dennehy is judged the better outcome.
- Duvall would have been good, but Dennehy's use of his body mattered.
- Lee Marvin turned down Troutman; Kirk Douglas was hired and quit over a script dispute, with an uncertain story that he wanted Troutman to become Rambo.
- Crenna, hired within 24 hours, is preferred to Douglas for enjoying every line.