MovieChat Forums > Basic Instinct 2 (2006) Discussion > the saga of the leading man

the saga of the leading man

posted 3 years ago by bozo_500 (13388)
7 replies | jump to latest

From imdb trivia

When the sequel was originally being planned in 2000, Michael Douglas declined to reprise his role as Nick Curran, admitting there were also issues regarding his age.

Robert Downey Jr. was set to star but had to drop out when he was charged with drug possession. Kurt Russell was attached at some point but bailed out because he felt uncomfortable with the nudity. Pierce Brosnan refused to play the male lead role because of distasteful elements. Bruce Greenwood was set to star but dropped out because he hadn't been signed on yet and feared the actors strike. Benjamin Bratt was banned by Sharon Stone for not being a good actor.

Rupert Everett publicly expressed his anger after being turned down to star opposite Sharon Stone by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios CEO Chris McGurk for being a "pervert who would never be accepted by the American public in this role."

The setting was changed from New York to London. Harrison Ford, Viggo Mortensen, Benicio Del Toro, and Aaron Eckhart were in the running for the lead when the film was initially set in the U.S.A. Jude Law, Ewan McGregor and Gabriel Byrne were nominated after the move. Javier Bardem was also considered at some point.

[–] cyguration (3951) 2 years ago

LOL @ Sharon Stone banning Benhamin Bratt..... what the heck?!?!

If Ewan McGregor was considered then Benjamin Bratt would have been just as good as far as acting chops is concerned. Sounds like she had an alt against him -- probably turned her down or something? Or maybe pumped and dumped her?

I have to admit, I would have been seriously interested in the film if Bruce Greenwood had been cast or Pierce Brosnan. I like Robert Downey Jr., but just can't see him matching the more tawdry elements of Sharon Stone's character's sex appeal. I think it would have been pretty awesome seeing Brosnan try to juggle against that kind of character, but Greenwood would have been the perfect foil for that kind of film had it been written/produced how it was originally supposed to be, especially given he played a somewhat similar character in the film Exotica.

[–] bozo_500 (13388) 2 years ago

Brosnan wouldve been a cool choice bc it was not too long after he was Bond so hed have still looked like Bond and itd have been intriguing seeing his Bond (ok he wouldve been a psychiatrist but to movie fans hed be Bond) go up against Catherine Tramell

he mustve seriously considered it as BI was such a huge hit and iconic movie.. but i guess he (and the others) figured that without Verhoevan (or a equal replacement like Cronenberg was going to do it at one point) then itd probably end up an inferior near stdvd type deal (which it was) with him making a fool of himself getting naked and all the sex stuff leading to a bunch of razzies (which actually happened)

[–] cyguration (3951) 2 years ago

Really good points, and I agree with them. He made a smart choice backing out if the director wasn't going to be one to take the movie to the proper heights.

That being said, I had no idea Cronenberg was attached to direct Basic Instinct 2.... now THAT would have been a crazy film to behold. Cronenberg + Bond era Brosnan + Sharon Stone? Wow, count me in for that.

[–] bozo_500 (13388) 2 years ago

Yeah Cronenberg was attached to it a while,

From imdb trivia

David Cronenberg was in talks to the direct the film for some time. John McTiernan was set to direct after Cronenberg bailed out due to producer Mario Kassar banning him from using his own cinematographer, production designer, and the rest of his usual team

so for a time BI2 was a very tantalising project!

Interestingly (for a Brosnan connection) the Die Another Day director was also considered

my guess is Brosnan was considered/attached when McTiernan and the DAD director was set to direct (Brosnan having worked with McTiernan on Thomas Crown Affair). and maybe Viggo Mortensen was in talks when it was Cronenberg (History of Violence)

[–] cyguration (3951) 2 years ago

Oh wow.... the producers literally shot themselves in the foot. What kind of fool bans Cronenberg from using his usual production crew? That's literally the reason anyone cares about seeing his films -- their unique style and design.

Ha, it's hilarious how much some HOllywood producers are so stupid that they will burn easy money at the stake. I wonder if it was because Sharon Stone wanted her own production crew so she could be filmed the way she wanted? I remember there was the story about Stallone firing a cinematography because he didn't like the way he was lit in Tango & Cash.

my guess is Brosnan as considered/attached when McTiernan and the DAD director was set to direct (Brosnan having worked with McTiernan on Thomas Crown Affair). and maybe Viggo Mortensen was in talks when it was Cronenberg (History of Violence)

A McTiernan Basic Instinct 2 would have been super cool, too. Definitely would have had a fascinating tone to it. I love McTiernan's work and it's a shame about what happened to him; we lost an entire generation of movies he could have made.

In some alternate reality they would have gotten an awesome Mctiernan directed Basic Instinct 2 or David Cronenberg Basic Instinct 2 and it would have gone done in history as either being one of the most tantalising sequels ever or one of the most bizarre and engaging sequels ever. Either way, it would have been iconic for at least many of the right reasons.

[–] Porsche911 (3812) 2 years ago

Yeah, McTiernan was very talented. It’s a shame he retired 20 years ago. His comeback was quelled by covid.

[–] alexjohans0n (2094) 2 years ago

Michael Caton-Jones recalled later that making the movie was "a painful experience" and said, "the reaction I couldn’t care less about. It was the experience of making it: it was horrible. And I knew before I started that it wasn't going to be a particularly good film. Which is a very, very painful thing."[8] Interviewed by Empire magazine, he said: "I remember coldly thinking 'this is the worst filmmaking experience of my life' at the time, but my memory of it is the good thing. We tried to give it a look and I was very happy with it. I had a difficult time with Sharon [Stone], but I had a great time with all the other actors