Casting What-Ifs
Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, and Tom Cruise were considered for Andy; Brad Pitt for Tommy; James Gandolfini for Boggs; Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage were rumored; and Rob Reiner proposed Cruise and Harrison Ford.
This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:36Read transcript
- Tom Hanks was offered Andy but could not accept because of Forrest Gump; the panel prefers Tim Robbins because the role became inseparable from him.
- Kevin Costner was offered Andy and is considered a credible alternate, although the panel thinks Robbins better preserves doubt about Andy.
- Tom Cruise attended table readings but declined over the director's inexperience; the panel thinks his intensity would distort Andy.
- Brad Pitt was intended for Tommy before Thelma & Louise created other opportunities; the panel thinks his presence would make Tommy disproportionately prominent.
- James Gandolfini was intended for Boggs but chose True Romance instead.
- Johnny Depp and Nicholas Cage are discussed as rumored Andy possibilities whose dreaminess or intensity could have fit parts of the role.
- Rob Reiner offered Frank Darabont three million dollars and another financed project for the right to direct with Cruise as Andy and Harrison Ford as Red.
- Jon Favreau auditioned for the fresh-fish prisoner and later called it his worst audition.
- Bob Gunton's height helped him plausibly share clothes with the taller Tim Robbins for the escape plot.
- Tom Cruise is suggested instead for Tommy Williams.
- The hosts imagine Cruise preparing for the pipe crawl by practicing with Navy SEALs.
- Favreau is reported to have used the failed audition as motivation to lose weight before Swingers.