MovieChat Forums > Maverick (1994) Discussion > Paul Newman?

Paul Newman?

posted 12 years ago by dustinthewind25
3 replies | jump to latest

The part is PERFECT in every way for James Garner, the original Maverick. I can't believe that they wanted Paul Newman first.

[–] whalekerry 12 years ago

This bit of trivia must be wrong. I think Paul Newman was a backup plan. And even though it's a role Garner was born to play, I do see how Newman would fit the part. "Maverick" is what you get if you put "The Sting" and "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" in a mixer.

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[–] nnenok 12 years ago

I wanted to say the same. Garner was really good, but I can see Newman in the same role exactly because of Butch Cassidy - he was the same type of joker in that movie as Zane is in this one.

[–] CromeRose 8 years ago

I totally agree that the part was PERFECT for James Garner - he's a great actor, very funny and was the original Maverick. Personally I think Newman would have been terrible, and I don't believe they would have wanted him first for this over Jimmy Garner. After reading some of the insecure and egotistical nonsense that went on between him and Steve McQueen on Towering Inferno, I'm not surprised that he turned Maverick down if they really did offer it to him. Newman probably knew he'd be totally upstaged and overshadowed by Mel Gibson and didn't want to go anywhere near him.