Filmmaker Steven Spielberg and his production company Amblin Entertainment are behind some of the most popular family movies of all time. One of the more underrated offerings from the acclaimed filmmaker’s production house is the 1995 supernatural comedy film Casper, starring Bill Pullman as Dr. James Harvey.
The film follows Harvey, a widower, and a ghost therapist as his daughter befriends the titular ghost. It is known for its extensive use of computer-generated imagery, more notably being the first film to have a full CG main lead. During an interview, Pullman reflected on what the film’s ambitious CGI meant for him, recalling an incident where Spielberg warned him of the consequences of messing up a scene.
Bill Pullman Recalls Steven Spielberg Telling Him the Harsh Truth About Making Casper
Actor Bill Pullman is known for his roles in iconic films such as Independence Day and Spaceballs. He also starred in the 1995 comedy Casper, directed by Brad Silberling and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg. During a conversation with Variety, Pullman recalled his experience of working on the movie.
In the interview, Pullman spoke about the scene where his character fights a group of ghosts with a sword, atop a staircase. The actor recalled how CGI technology was still in its early days at that time, meaning he had to rely on his own imagination while performing the complex action choreography.
If I didn’t do it right, if I moved it through something where a ghost was supposed to be it was $100,000. This is what Spielberg said, ‘Be very careful Bill, because you could bankrupt us.’
Pullman made the above statement to explain the consequences of making a misstep in his choreography.
The actor implied that given the cost of the sets built for the movie, his accidentally swiping his sword anywhere other than the desired point would have caused damage to property. Therefore, he had to be very careful while performing the scene. Despite mixed reviews, the film grossed $288 million, against its $55 million budget, becoming a hit.
Steven Spielberg Had a Surprising Cameo in a Deleted Scene From Casper
Steven Spielberg served as an executive producer on Casper through Amblin Entertainment. As a result, the acclaimed filmmaker’s involvement in the project was limited. However, Spielberg was initially slated to have a much bigger presence in the film, appearing in a cameo role.
During an interview, director Brad Silberling revealed that Spielberg had suggested the idea for the scene where Pullman’s character morphs into different popular faces, including Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson. However, Eastwood only agreed to film the cameo if Spielberg filmed one himself.
He said to me, I’ve got to do it, but it’s never going to be in the movie.
Silberling made the above statement (via SyFy.com) recalling Spielberg filming a cameo in the movie.
However, the director also confirmed that Spielberg only filmed the scene to humor Eastwood. There was never any intention of adding the scene to the final film. Nonetheless, Silberling stated that it was a pleasure to direct Spielberg even if the scene remained unreleased.
Casper is streaming on Peacock.
