Casting What-Ifs
Leo offered Ripley; Leo as Dickie; Christian Bale considered for Ripley; John Malkovich nearly directing
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:33:55Read transcript
- Casting What-Ifs is stepped on early: the director is quoted as wanting final say over who played Tom Ripley, refusing to settle for someone he was 80% about, and seeking the brightest young actors he could find, who were household names a year later.
- All five leads needed chemistry with each other or to be plausible enemies; the director found five future movie stars, though Blanchett and Jude Law were not stars when cast, with Law coming off Gattaca.
- A worse version of the movie stars Gretchen Mall (as transcribed) instead of Paltrow as Marge; she had a going-to-be-a-thing moment that did not last.
- Leo reportedly declined the offer to play Ripley before Damon was cast, another instance of Damon versus Leo; his version would have been different and not as good.
- Leo should have been Dickie: blonde, tall and handsome at that age.
- Christian Bale was reportedly considered for Ripley; he could have done it but is slightly too menacing, lacking the boyish all-American look Damon turns in his face.
- Bale a year later did American Psycho, called an interesting double feature of con men who lure people to be murdered; Leo later played Gatsby, which suits his flamboyant style better.
- John Malcovich (as transcribed) reportedly came very close to directing the movie and later played Ripley himself.