In project since the early 2000s, “The Fall Guy” has not always had Ryan Gosling as the headliner. Here are the actors who had been considered before him.
The release of The Fall Guy, this Wednesday, May 1 in French theaters, marks the end of a long road for the producers. And fans of the series The Man Who Falls at the Right Time, who were eagerly awaiting its film adaptation.
Because the feature film was not always this action comedy by David Leitch, with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. In development since the early 2000s, the project has seen several names come through to play Colt Seavers, a stuntman embarked on an adventure that goes beyond the confines of the film sets.
A George Clooney – Jason Statham duo?
Unsurprisingly, given his taste for stunts in the Mission: Impossible saga, Tom Cruise was obviously one of the candidates, but we must believe that his name was only mentioned, nothing more. Like those of Keanu Reeves or Nicolas Cage.
Dwayne Johnson, on the other hand, was in talks in 2013, when the film could have been directed by McG, but nothing came to fruition. There was also talk of Jason Statham… but for the role of Howie, Colt’s cousin (and also a stuntman), who could then have had the features of George Clooney, but the project never went beyond the stage of the rumor.
Discussed in the early 2000s, it even disappeared into Hollywood limbo for a decade, before resurfacing around 2010. On the side of Dreamworks, who then contacted director Martin Campbell to direct the feature film. Again, white cabbage.
A project that will come to fruition in 2020
We therefore had to wait until September 2020 for the project to be mentioned again, with David Leitch behind the camera and Ryan Gosling in front. Then May 2022 for The Fall Guy to be confirmed, a few months before filming begins, in October of the same year. With Emily Blunt joining the cast just before filming began.
Less than two years later, the result has been visible in our theaters since May 1st. And it takes the form of a romantic action comedy, coupled with a tribute to stuntmen, a profession of which David Leitch was a part.
