We almost went to see it this weekend out of sheer boredom, but the critical dissing was too much.
But according to MTV News, rapper Eminem was once considered for the role that Hayden Christensen eventually took. “We did have a meeting,” writer/director Liman told MTV last week, admitting that Marshall Mathers was once in talks for the starring role. “We did have conversations with Eminem.”
Liman films have always had actors in the lead that have never come to fruition: Nicole Kidman was originally cast as the lead in [the Liman-directed] ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith,’ and Brad Pitt was originally the lead in “‘Bourne Identity.”
But the idea of Eminem was merely a flirtatious one and once Liman found Christensen, the idea of any other actor moot. “At that point, I had already met Hayden and had fallen in love with Hayden,” Liman said. “It was one of those things where the studio, with all things being equal, would rather put a bigger name in the movie [and wanted Eminem]. At some point, I just put my foot down and said, ‘I love Hayden.’ “
Money-making aside, it’s probably a good thing, Em didn’t step away from making Weight Watchers commercials to take the role in this dud-looking film. [ed. either way, who cares…]
