Casting What-Ifs
Reportedly considered for Monica: Serena Williams (unavailable), Marion Jones (on tape) and finalist Naisha Butler; Gabrielle Union auditioned for Monica
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:17:49Read transcript
- Casting What-Ifs is spoiled early: the director reportedly tried about 700 people for Monica and, per her quote, required auditioners to meet her on the court as well as read.
- Serena Williams was reportedly read for the part but unavailable, and Marion Jones read on tape, which the hosts say would not have aged well.
- A Huffington Post oral history from five years earlier is cited as the source.
- By the director's account it came down to Sanaa Lathan, who had never touched a basketball, and Georgia Tech star Naisha Butler, who could not act; each got two months of coaching, and Lathan improved but could not hang in a game.
- The director is quoted that her husband asked whether it was a basketball movie or a love story; she decided it was a love story because you can fake a jump shot but not a close-up.
- Returning to casting after the break, Gabrielle Union is described as a point guard for whom Monica was a dream role; with no acting experience she did not get it and was cast as the high school groupie who goes to the dance with Q.
- A joke follows about Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union's kids inheriting point-guard DNA.