ReelReveal #86

The producers only got the rights to the novel in 1999, when Sony swapped them for MGM's rights to Spider-Man. An early draft had the hero backpacking in Madagascar and playing chess with Lord Lucan. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale were offered the part and passed; Henry Cavill was the only other serious contender and was judged too young at 22. Paul Haggis's main job was rewriting the climax so a confession-and-suicide became a sinking house.