Casting What-Ifs
Burt Reynolds was attached to an earlier version; Liman later approached Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, and Sarah Polley before the final casting.
This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:36Read transcript
- Universal planned a 1983 version starring Bert Reynolds, but schedule conflicts stalled it.
- Doug Liman pursued Brad Pitt, who chose Spy Game instead.
- The panel calls Pitt's decision a missed franchise opportunity while acknowledging that his later life and career worked out.
- Russell Crowe was approached after Gladiator.
- The panel prefers Damon's everyman quality to Crowe's post-Gladiator superhero stature for Bourne.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger was approached.
- The panel finds Schwarzenegger hard to imagine in the role because of his age.
- Tom Cruise declined because he already played Ethan Hunt.
- Sylvester Stallone was reportedly considered because the book version of Bourne is older.
- Sarah Polley was Liman's preferred female lead, but her career choices favored smaller work and directing over a-list fame.