Casting What-Ifs
Pryor and Wilder; Aykroyd pay cut; Curtis casting resistance; Milland to Ameche; Liddy as Beeks; Moranis and Thomas
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:51Read transcript
- The project was originally developed for Pryor and Wilder.
- Pryor’s burn injury reportedly prevented his participation, and Paramount backed Murphy.
- Murphy reportedly resisted working with Wilder because of the established Pryor-Wilder association.
- The Vietnam-veteran hustle is attributed to the original plan to cast Pryor.
- Aykroyd reportedly took a major pay cut after studio doubts about his solo appeal.
- Landis insisted on Curtis despite Paramount’s resistance.
- Ray Milland reportedly failed a physical, leading to Ameche’s return from a long acting gap.
- G.Gordon Liddy reportedly declined Beeks because of the gorilla ending.
- Moranis and Thomas were intended as the baggage handlers before Franken and Davis.