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The Departed
The Departed
Film credit
Denis Leary
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 2
- Movies in this archive
- 2
Rewatchables episodes featuring their films
Displaying all 2 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Casting What-Ifs
Brad Pitt as Sullivan; Al Pacino as Costello; Ray Liotta or Denis Leary as Dignam; Mel Gibson as Ellerby; Robert De Niro as Queenan
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:42Read transcript
- The casting what-ifs are called probably the best for any movie they have done, a whole alternate Departed.
- Pitt bought the producing rights, planned to play the Damon part, then decided he might be too old and went to do Babel.
- Debate over Pitt: good instincts about roles and a great producer, but miscast himself in Meet Joe Black and The Devil's Own; Damon was the better choice.
- Scorsese wanted Al Pacino for Costello; Pacino turned it down and Nicholson was the second choice.
- Ray Leota was the original choice for Dignam but declined over other commitments, his 2006 films including Comeback Season, Local Color and Even Money.
- Dennis Leary was the second choice for Dignam but had to make season three of "rest of me" (as transcribed); he would have been great, though Walberg is perfect.
- Ellerby was offered to Mel Gibson, who was starting Apocalypto; Queenan was supposed to be De Niro, who made The Good Shepherd; the Anthony Anderson role was meant for "the Rizza" (transcript form, unresolved), who was too old or had conflicts.
- Leo was in The Good Shepherd but dropped out to play Billy Costigan, and Damon then took The Good Shepherd role; The Good Shepherd is called an unexamined movie with a dynamite cast.
- The alternate cast (Leo, Pitt, Pacino, Leota, De Niro, Mel Gibson and the Riza) is called pretty loaded and preferred by one participant; Pacino would lose Costello's lumbering physicality but gain CR doing Pacino.
- Would-you-rathers: Walberg over Ray Leota, Baldwin over Mel Gibson 100 out of 100 times, and De Niro over Sheen since he can underplay.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:08Read transcript
- Dennis Leary is the only nominee, a runaway, shown by his rant to Sonny about choosing to coach this team.
- The making-of has a cryptic line about whom he consulted for the role; it feels like an older Jim Harbaugh.
Casting What-Ifs
Reported or imagined alternatives: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary, Pacino, De Niro, Gibson, and RZA; uncertain Nicholson improvisation stories
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:14:38Read transcript
- Brad Pitt was reportedly set for the Damon part, dropped out, and produced instead.
- Ray Leota was reportedly set for Dignam but could not do it.
- Denis Leary was the next reported Dignam possibility and also could not do it.
- Al Pacino was the first reported Costello choice and is debated as an alternate.
- Robert De Niro reportedly declined Queenan to make The Good Shepherd.
- Mel Gibson reportedly could not play the Alec Baldwin part because he was filming Apocalypto.
- RZA was reportedly offered the Anthony Anderson role.
- Nicholson’s proposed prostitute scene and retained dildo improvisation are presented with explicit uncertainty.
Displaying all 3 discussions
