1996’s The Fan is a thriller film starring Robert De Niro and Wesley Snipes. Based on Peter Abrahams’ 1995 novel of the same name, the movie narrates the story of Gil Renard, an obsessed baseball fan who becomes dangerously fixated on a baseball player named Bobby Rayburn.
The role of Gil Renard was played by Robert De Niro and despite his influence, the movie was a major box office flop. Initially, the director of the movie was reluctant to star De Niro as he wanted Johnny Depp to play the role. Unfortunately, Depp was a budding actor at the time while De Niro was a legend, so the role obviously went to De Niro.
Director Tony Scott wanted to cast Johnny Depp in The Fan (1996)
Back in 2018, Screenwriter Phoef Sutton appeared on the Hollywood & Levine podcast and revealed that actor Johnny Depp was initially selected for the role of Gil Renard in The Fan (1996),
“Tony Scott actually wanted to get Johnny Depp, and this was before Johnny Depp was as respected an actor as he was. They didn’t want to do it. He would’ve been good.”
Depp wasn’t a huge star back then while Robert De Niro was a legend, so obviously in the end, De Niro got the role. Even Sutton opposed the idea but ultimately, the decision was taken by the higher-ups.
Several stars were approached for the role
It was revealed that Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino were also approached for the role of Gil Renard, however, they both turned it down. Even Wesley Snipes was interested in the role, but that didn’t work out either.
One of the best parts of the movie was De Niro’s performance. The actor is known for his incredible acting skills, and he brought his intensity and commitment to the role, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.
The Fan was a flop
Despite De Niro’s efforts, The Fan was a huge flop. It received mixed reviews from critics and didn’t achieve significant box office success. The movie grossed about $18 million at the global box office against a production budget of $55 million.
No one can tell how the movie would’ve performed if Johnny Depp was a part of the movie. It would’ve been interesting to see Depp bringing a character like Gil Renard on the big screen. Over the years, the film has been labeled as a classic by many cinephiles. Despite its failure, its influence is still felt today.
Source: Hollywood & Levine Podcast
