Forrest Gump is one of those movies that pretty much every single person has seen, if not in full, then at least in passing during one of its many airings on television. Personally, I could watch it over and over again… it's just one of those movies. The story is so inspiring, with just the right balance of humor and drama.
While we've all seen the finished product, we hardly ever think about what goes into putting together a movie like this. One of the first tasks? Finding the perfect cast. It may sound like a simple project, but it's one of the most crucial steps in production. Think of it this way: two actors may be perfect for their two separate roles, but completely fall short on chemistry. It's like finding the perfect combination of flavors for a recipe… if you get one off, all the effort that goes into the final product is totally worthless.
While Tom Hanks was the second choice for the starring role after John Travolta turned it down, he ended up being perfect for the role of Forrest Gump. When it came to casting his son, the director spotted Haley Joel Osment on a Pizza Hut commercial and brought him into read a scene with Hanks. He must have been a bit nervous, because Hanks had to help him out with a few lines, but when it's Forrest's line? Hanks does the sweetest thing to make him comfortable. Clearly, this match worked out great.
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