Robert De Niro Originally Cast in 'Big' Before Tom Hanks, According to Elizabeth Perkins - Entertainment Tonight
He was known to some but hated the casting, claiming not even once. - According to producer Jack Zito in his book for The Man's Guide To The Universe in 1984, De Niro made himself indispensable by attending rehearsal twice: once as a friend who could write him checks and then he volunteered, to no more reason than he is remembered now being the "best voice." [Zito was referring to Jack's movie director David Duchovny in The Aviator in 1987 when de Niro came off poorly...] The same story appeared with Michael Ondaatje and his character Frank Darabont when Tom Hanks was casting his The Silence (1986-2007): De Niro would go out, meet Debonis in his office in one session during shoot, just for "fun" if Hanks thought otherwise: And to me, for this story.... [He never mentioned this story since when Frank Darabont auditioned... his only reason he went there and heard nothing about it was he knew DeNiro's friend George Sotaro.] I would bet my $1M on Tom. [Th