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After rising to prominence following the success ofSpeed, starring her and Keanu Reeves at the forefront, Sandra Bullock didn’t have to wait long for her next big project. The 1995 rom-com,While You Were Sleeping, was met with immense praise from fans and critics upon its release, thanks to Bullock’s performance as Lucy Eleanor, who did the heavy lifting in the movie.
However, securing the role wasn’t a straightforward task for the actress, as before theSpeedStar was even in the discussion, several other A-listers were waiting in line to lead the project.
Also read:“Sly and I were like oil and water”: Sylvester Stallone Got ‘Tank Girl’ Star Fired from $159M Movie, Replaced Her With Sandra Bullock That Won Her a Razzie
Nicole Kidman’s Beauty Ultimately Led to Her Exit From the Critically Acclaimed Movie
After the initial draft of the script was turned down by Megan Ryan’s agency, the story for the rom-com went through substantial changes, and the creators were ready to find the next perfect lead for the film. But before Sandra Bullock entered the mix, director Jon Turteltaub explained that many A-listers were in the talk to leadWhile You Were Sleeping, with the frontrunners beingNicole Kidmanand Demi Moore. However, according to Turteltaub, Kidman was too pretty to play Lucy Eleanor, explaining they can’t imagine big superstars playing a person working in a toll booth.
“I had a meeting with Demi Moore, and we came very close to Nicole Kidman,”Turteltaub said.“But in the back of my mind, I was thinking that they were way too pretty. It’s hard to de-beautify Nicole Kidman.”
Although Demi Moore did come close to signing the deal, things eventually didn’t work out, leaving the door open for Bullock to make her entrance into the critically acclaimed rom-com.
Also read:“I will do this naked scene only if…”: Sandra Bullock Had a Tough Time Filming Humiliating N-de Scene Ryan Reynolds Posted on 59th Birthday
Sandra Bullock was determined to secure the gig inWhile You Were Sleeping
Even though the filmmakers didn’t reach out to theSpeedStar specifically, Sandra Bullock was determined to take the gig, as she deeply resonated with the story. According to reports, after the actress read the script on the sets ofSpeed, she reached out to the studios, showcasing her interest in leading the rom-com, as she related to the movie’s theme. Bullock said,
“This was the one thing that came along that I wanted so badly, not as a desperate actor, but just because the story was so sweet.”
Also read:“Nobody liked it”: Sandra Bullock Bagged $182M Critically Acclaimed Movie After Meg Ryan’s Agent Discarded ‘Pathetic, Predatory’ Script Away
While You Were Sleepingis available to stream on Disney Plus.
Source:The Washington Post
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2539
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
