Redford or Hoffman are imagined in a 1970s version, but neither would supply Travolta’s particular lightness and finesse. — Wesley Morris
Travolta is imagined in Tom Hanks’s 1980s roles, Romancing the Stone, Beverly Hills Cop and Amadeus, praising his combined dancing and everyman abilities. — Wesley Morris
Purple Rain is jokingly floated and doubted, while Manhunter receives enthusiastic support as a hypothetical Travolta vehicle.
Travolta in No Way Out and Field of Dreams is imagined; Field of Dreams versus Bull Durham suitability is disputed, including whether he looks like a baseball player.
Travolta in Die Hard is enthusiastically supported; missing an action vehicle around 1986–1988 is considered a lost opportunity.
Nancy Allen is the recasting target despite admiration for Dressed to Kill and Carrie; repeated casting of a romantic partner is compared to Sondra Locke, while Allen is said to improve in the second half. — Bill Simmons
Lange is initially considered the only proposed actor suited to the character’s ditziness; Allen’s apparent dullness is defended as manipulation plus genuine hospital sedation.
Allen is defended through her attentive eyes in the bar scene; the alternatives might project too much intelligence and professionalism, including Lange’s light rather than ditzy Tootsie performance. — Wesley Morris
Sarandon remains a possible alternative, but Allen’s Bronx background makes her believable as Philadelphian in a way Lange may not. — Chris Ryan
Margot Kidder and Carrie Fisher are proposed then rejected as different or too smart; Allen’s lightness is defended as exactly right, while the desire for a new actress persists.
Harrison Ford is proposed as capable of the lead but acknowledged to produce a different performance. — Wesley Morris
Roy Scheider could make it work as a more 1970s film; Redford is doubted as too beautiful and insufficiently East Coast, while Pacino and Gere remain conceivable. — Wesley Morris
Stallone is jokingly the worst case because he would rewrite the material.
The invited producer agrees Allen works better by the end despite disliking her early performance. — Bill Simmons
Art Linson’s book is cited for the attempt to recruit Harrison Ford, whose participation was expected to make a much bigger hit; Ford passed. — Bill Simmons
Bill Pullman was reportedly lined up as a last-minute replacement during Baldwin’s beard dispute. — Bill Simmons
Dustin Hoffman turned down the role, and the production went far into discussions with De Niro. — Van Lathan
De Niro reportedly gave a deliberately flat table read because he had not made character choices, frustrating Linson. — Bill Simmons
De Niro reportedly remained concerned about the bear whether fake or real; Pullman is recalled as another near participant. — Bill Simmons
Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson are recalled as rumored alternatives for Miller; Gibson’s Australian identity makes him harder to picture.
Ford is considered plausible and naturally suited to Miller’s guarded command style, but likely to give a grouchier performance. — Sean Fennessey
Ford is doubted as an equivalent for Hanks in the teacher speech because Hanks supplies unusual empathy and handles extended speeches naturally. — Bill Simmons
Michael Bay is said to have declined an approach to direct; Pearl Harbor is used to imagine the likely result. — Bill Simmons
Ford and Gibson are repeated as Miller alternatives; another proposed actor’s name is unclear in the transcript and the claim is explicitly doubted. — Bill Simmons
Norton is said to have declined Private Ryan because of American History X. — Bill Simmons
Garth Brooks is said to have briefly been considered for the sniper. — Bill Simmons
Thornton is discussed as a possible Horvath who did not want to film the water scenes; the claim is treated as plausible rather than established.
Madsen is said to have been offered Horvath and recommended Sizemore, but the account is explicitly doubted. — Bill Simmons
Schweiger is said to have declined the prisoner role to avoid typecasting; his inability to seem goofy is discussed.
Producer Craig’s invited response finds Stallone’s comedy unsuccessful in contrast with his action roles; the other response strongly objects. — Craig Horlbeck
Stallone’s awkward comedy may itself be entertaining. Willis is proposed, countered as another Cash rather than a Tango, then defended as capable of a rich suited character. — Bill Simmons
Ralph Macchio reportedly nearly played another child, Tyler; Thomas rescued his audition by thinking about his dead dog and moving Spielberg to tears. — Bill Simmons
Feldman’s part reportedly disappeared in rewrites. Shelley Long being offered Mary is an unconfirmed internet report, with Night Shift and Cheers making the alternative outcome seem fine. — Bill Simmons
Ford’s cut principal appearance reportedly concealed his face, but a recognizable Star Wars actor could still distract in this world.
Damon Wayans, met by chance, reportedly denied the research claim that he and Bruce Willis feuded on The Last Boy Scout, illustrating the unreliability of casting research. — Bill Simmons
Nicholson was reportedly the studio’s top Joker choice since 1980, and Willem Dafoe reportedly stated in 2009 he had been in talks. — Bill Simmons
Robin Williams was reportedly offered the Joker to pressure Nicholson, released once Nicholson agreed, and then refused Warner roles such as the Riddler without an apology; the apology detail is doubted. — Bill Simmons
Dead Poets Society was 1989’s third-biggest film; swapping Nicholson and Williams would make both films worse, and “he stole my balloons” is called a favorite line.
Nicholson’s reported conditions included top billing, a share of earnings including merchandise, capped work hours, and no work on Lakers home playoff games; his fee dropped from $11 million to $6 million, but he may have made $90 million. — Bill Simmons
Martin Landau reportedly turned down Carl Grissom for Crimes and Misdemeanors, and Jack Palance in that role is imagined as bad.
Sean Young was cast as Vicki Vale and replaced after a horse-riding injury; the Knox actor later claimed she sabotaged a read-through, which is doubted. Her Catwoman costume audition for Batman Returns is recalled.
The Knox actor also claimed Keaton blocked Peters’ choice of Michelle Pfeiffer because they had dated, which is doubted since she is in the sequel. — Bill Simmons
Adam West was publicly disappointed not to be asked to reprise Batman. — Bill Simmons
Gibson is argued as a great, wild-eyed Garrison who would better represent Stone's mind, and who later made Conspiracy Theory; another questions casting an Australian. — Sean Fennessey
Harrison Ford doesn't make sense but is a big what-if, with a wish he had more movies like this.
Don Johnson tried hard for Garrison and has post-Miami Vice appeal, but doesn't read smart enough to be the district attorney. — Brian Koppelman
Jeff Bridges would have been amazing; 'Hank' (as transcribed) might work but may be two years too young and too aw-shucks. — Brian Koppelman
Frank Whaley was going to be Oswald, and after the part went to Oldman he was made the imposter.
Willem DeFoe (as transcribed) and John Malkovich turned down the Ferry role; Malkovich in the red wig would have been mind-boggling.
Stone considered Marlon Brando for Mr. X, joked to need SNL monologue-style cue cards.
Origin: Stone met Warner Brothers about a Howard Hughes film, but Warren Beatty had the rights, so JFK was the backup pitch; jokes follow about carrying three pitches and a Doug Collins 1972 Olympics pitch.
Movie presidents are raised as something held for Apex Mountain; it is unclear whether the Mount Rushmore allows TV or only movies. — Bill Simmons
If movies only, the four most important movie presidents are Michael Douglas in The American President, Kevin Klein in Dave and Pullman in Independence Day, with the fourth spot wide open; for this participant it is Jeff Bridges in The Contender, who seemed very presidential. — Bill Simmons
Kevin Klein in Dave redid a budget and healed America; since a movie president appears only when something bad is happening, the preference is for one who can handle himself.
White House Down, seen only once, is said to be better and sillier than remembered; Olympus Has Fallen is preferred by one participant.
One vote goes to Spielberg for reclaiming the top of Hollywood after 1941, securing participation, developing E.T., and becoming effectively bulletproof. — Bill Simmons
The last vote returns to Ford because Indiana Jones became a four-decade costume, icon, and Disney attraction.
