Trainspotting poster
Trainspotting

Casting What-Ifs

Trainspotting The Rewatchables

A performer whose name is transcribed as You and Bremer had played Renton onstage; Christopher Eccleston was considered for Begby, and Robert Carlyle had earlier pursued Shallow Grave.

This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:39Read transcript
  • A performer whose name is transcribed as You and Bremer originated Renton in a stage production.
  • Christopher Eccleston was the initial Begby image in the director’s mind.
  • Robert Carlyle had auditioned for the Ewan McGregor role in Shallow Grave but refused to soften the character’s working-class accent.
  • After also playing Renton in a reading, Carlyle was invited back and chose Begby after considering Sick Boy.
  • The director’s belief that small psychos are best resolved Carlyle’s concern that he was physically unlike the novel’s Begby.