Casting What-Ifs
The studio would greenlight only with Timothy Olyphant as Dom, and he declined; Neil Moritz suggested Vin Diesel off Pitch Black; Mia was written for Elijah Dushku (as transcribed), who turned it down; Colin Farrell was pushed for Dom at one point
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:54Read transcript
- The studio told the producers they would greenlight the film if they got Timothy Oliphant (as transcribed), who had starred in the previous year's car blockbuster Gone in 60 Seconds, to play Dom; he declined, which the hosts think was a bad move for him but good for the film, since Vin checked many more boxes than another white guy in an action movie; Neil Moritz suggested Vin Diesel, coming off Pitch Black, a perfect call.
- Mia was written for Elijah Dushku (as transcribed), who turned it down, a tough one since Jordana Brewster went on to five films and multi-millionaire status; everything else was built around Paul Walker, for whom the movie was made.
- Colin Farrell was pushed for Dom at one point, a what-if that surfaces late during research; the hosts like him and SWAT but pass, joking that Vin Diesel would then have to take Phone Booth, which would have been better with him.