Casting What-Ifs
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:04Read transcript
- Stone is said to have sent the script to Costner, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford.
- Gibson is argued as a great, wild-eyed Garrison who would better represent Stone's mind, and who later made Conspiracy Theory; another questions casting an Australian.
- Harrison Ford doesn't make sense but is a big what-if, with a wish he had more movies like this.
- Don Johnson tried hard for Garrison and has post-Miami Vice appeal, but doesn't read smart enough to be the district attorney.
- Jeff Bridges would have been amazing; 'Hank' (as transcribed) might work but may be two years too young and too aw-shucks.
- Will Patton is suggested as David Ferry; Stone wanted James Woods, but Woods wanted to play Garrison.
- Frank Whaley was going to be Oswald, and after the part went to Oldman he was made the imposter.
- Willem DeFoe (as transcribed) and John Malkovich turned down the Ferry role; Malkovich in the red wig would have been mind-boggling.
- Stone considered Marlon Brando for Mr. X, joked to need SNL monologue-style cue cards.
- Origin: Stone met Warner Brothers about a Howard Hughes film, but Warren Beatty had the rights, so JFK was the backup pitch; jokes follow about carrying three pitches and a Doug Collins 1972 Olympics pitch.