David Fincher’s Gone Girl Casting Snub Gave Reese Witherspoon a Brutal Ego Check

Here is a little Hollywood inside baseball for your day: the lead in David Fincher's biggest hit almost went to one of the movie's own producers. And then Fincher told her no. To her face.

We are talking 'Gone Girl', Fincher's slick, nasty, very rewatchable adaptation of Gillian Flynn's mega-bestseller. The movie pulled in about $367 million worldwide, which makes it Fincher's top-grossing film. Rosamund Pike headlined as Amy Elliott Dunne, the 'missing' wife across from Ben Affleck's Nick. She crushed it and wound up nominated for basically everything (Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG, you name it).

The casting wrinkle: Flynn wanted Reese, Fincher did not

Here is the part you might not know. Gillian Flynn pushed for Reese Witherspoon to play Amy. Witherspoon was actually on the project early and helped get it moving; the book was brought to her, and she came on as a producer. But when it came time to cast the lead, Fincher shut the door on the idea.

As Witherspoon told the La Culturistas podcast (via EW):

'David sat me down - and this is not on David - but David's like, "You're totally wrong for this part, and I'm not putting you in it." I had all these conversations with the writer Gillian Flynn, and she was like, "No, I'd really like you to do it." But he was like, "You're wrong."'

Witherspoon says it stung at the time, calling it an ego check. Her verdict in hindsight: he was right. Fair enough.

What happened, in order

• The novel becomes a phenomenon; it lands with Reese Witherspoon, who signs on to produce the film adaptation.
• Author Gillian Flynn wants Witherspoon to play Amy Elliott Dunne.
• David Fincher meets with Witherspoon and tells her she is not right for the role.
• Rosamund Pike is cast as Amy; Ben Affleck plays Nick; 'Gone Girl' opens in 2014 and grosses roughly $367 million worldwide, the biggest hit of Fincher's career.
• Pike racks up major nominations (Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG, and more).
• Fincher never publicly explained why he thought Witherspoon was wrong for Amy; Witherspoon later says the rejection was humbling and, ultimately, correct.

Would Reese have worked?

There is an alternate universe where Witherspoon plays Amy and gives a very sharp, very unsettling performance. If you have seen her in 'Big Little Lies', you can picture it. Would that version have made even more money? Maybe, maybe not. The bottom line: Fincher's call worked. Pike was perfect for the movie Fincher wanted to make, and the film became a massive hit anyway.

Curious where you land: would you have wanted to see Witherspoon's take on Amy, or are you good with the version we got?