Recasting Couch
Damon as Miller
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:46:39Read transcript
- Reiben is imagined as a role for mid-2000s DiCaprio, a surviving River Phoenix, or Heath Ledger in a version ten years later.
- Phoenix is also proposed for Wade, prompting joking reshuffles of Ribisi and Davies; Reiben is characterized as the film’s best straightforward movie-star part.
- The original 1998 casting is retained; for a modern Miller, Clooney is considered too old and Reynolds too youthful-looking.
- Reilly is rejected as too old and Driver is doubted despite his military service because he lacks the desired reassuring Hanks quality; Dave Franco is briefly floated.
- DiCaprio and Gyllenhaal are discussed, with Gyllenhaal considered too handsome and nervy; Ledger is mourned as someone who could have filled this type of role.
- Damon is the accepted modern replacement for Miller.
- Swapping Sizemore with Giamatti is proposed as a test of how essential he was, though Sizemore is credited with improving the film.