Schumacher reportedly offered Jake to Kilmer during Batman Forever, but he declined; McConaughey’s lack of prior star baggage is considered an advantage.
Newman reportedly declined Lucien because he found the message distasteful, a decision praised as good taste.
Costner was considered for Jake but wanted complete control, which Grisham rejected.
Harrelson wanted Jake but was reportedly vetoed by Grisham.
Jack Nicholson in the Bruce Dern part would have been amazing, though he would not have done it; it is called a great call.
A game of replacing Brad and Leo: Ben and Matt (height difference), Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. (with a joke about cancel standings), and Jude Law and Matt Damon, which is welcomed.
Flipping the roles would not be as good, since Leo is less physically imposing as Cliff.
Bruce Dern was not the first choice; the hosts say the first choice was Bert Reynolds, who died during rehearsals. Reactions to Dern are mixed; one view is that Reynolds would have been a better touch because he was almost a Rick Dalton, while Dern was always the bad guy in westerns.
Tim Roth and James Marsden were cut from the film; Marsden played Bert Reynolds in a deleted scene and is said not to look or sound like him.
Tarantino is said to have approached Jennifer Lawrence for Sharon Tate; the crowd reacts and the hosts doubt it would have worked.
The Marvin role was written specifically for its actor, consistent with Tarantino's process as he described it on earlier episodes.
Reports that Samuel L. Jackson had a major role and that Tom Cruise was considered for Cliff are treated as unconfirmed gossip; Tarantino is thought to want to work with Cruise.
