Other Actors Capable Of Playing Nick Naylor
Not that Aaron Eckhart didn't do a good job. Just curious which other actors you could see with the same charismatic appeal, like if the rights had been purchased by a big name director with a great budget or if there had been an alternative vision.
Here's some of mine:
Top 3-
1. George Clooney (obviously)
2. Mel Gibson (was originally considered for the part)
3. Rob Lowe (played Jeff, would have been great as Nick)
Close Contenders-
Tom Cruise (think A Few Good Men, now there's a man capable of mounting a good argument)
Kevin Spacey
John Travolta
Brad Pitt
Dark Horse Contenders-
Woody Harrelson (unconventional, it would inevitably draw comparison to The People Versus Larry Flynt, maybe if the part was rewritten to be less of a ladies man)
Michael Keaton (could have played Naylor both as a young man in the 90s or as a declining, middle-aged guy, wrestling with his conscience).
Robert Downey Jr.
Edward Norton
Guy Pearce (although commonly cast as a bit of a geek ala LA Confidential, he does have a great capacity to put on the charisma, see The King's Speech)
Jack Nicholson (older, may have needed rewriting of the character, could have played him in the 90s as a jaded, 50ish sex-addict, whose life is a ticking time bomb. Would have explored the drama elements of the movie, making it about a guy struggling with his dependency issues)
Bill Murray (again like Keaton he's varied, I could have seen him doing Naylor as an irreverent, anti-authority type during his Stripes days or as a depressed, middle-aged man like in The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou).
Russell Crowe (be an interesting turn after The Insider)
I know some of these casting choices would mean a liberal redefinition of the character, but I find with this film there are just so many avenues with all its sub-plots and eccentric characters. Ultimately I think Reitman took a clean, well-edited approach reminiscent of the time, which made the film well fast paced and easily digestible. I do find it interesting to imagine the film in different eras and with different studio control. Could have easily been darker and more of a drama.