The long and winding road to casting the lead actors in a major movie franchise is an alchemy that can be fairly mysterious at times, but when Alexander Skarsgård landed the title role of “The Legend Of Tarzan,” it seemed to make perfect sense. The actor has the good looks and physique that made him a natural to follow in the path of Johnny Weissmuller, the classic-era vine swinger of the big screen, but during the development process, the late, great producer Jerry Weintraub had someone else in mind.
In a profile of Margot Robbie in Vanity Fair, it’s revealed that Weintraub had his eye on Olympic champion Michael Phelps, and he thought landing the athlete would be seen as a coup. “It’s going to be like Johnny Weissmuller,” he said. “All the reporters are going to say, ‘Weintraub found the new Johnny Weissmuller!’ ”
Well, that was thinking until Weintraub cued up Phelps’ episode hosting “Saturday Night Live,” and the producer’s opinion turned on a dime, as he watched the late-night sketch show unfold. “This isn’t Tarzan! This isn’t Johnny Weissmuller! He’s a goon! Why didn’t anyone tell me he’s a goon? Turn it off. Goddammit, turn it off,” Weintraub exclaimed.
Well, it certainly would’ve been a very different movie than what audiences got with Phelps in the lead, rather than Skarsgård, and it’s probably safe to say that Warner Bros. dodged a bit of a bullet there. Weintraub passed away during post-production of “The Legend Of Tarzan,” and seemed ultimately happy with the final lead duo, comparing Margot Robbie to one of classic cinema’s finest actresses.
“When I think of Margot Robbie, a single word comes to mind — Audrey Hepburn,” he said.
Thoughts? Who do you think could’ve rumbled in the jungle instead of Skargård? Let us know below. [via Uproxx]
