Warren Beatty was writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson's first choice to play the porn director in Boogie Nights.

When Beatty turned down the role, Anderson offered it to Burt Reynolds, who received a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination.

Anderson said he wrote the role with Beatty in mind because, "in 1976, Warren was the man who came to the aid of legendary porn star Harry Reems when he was convicted on obscenity charges for his performance in Deep Throat."

Beatty organized a benefit for Reems to help bring attention to the actor's trial and to help pay his legal expenses.

Beatty denies he passed on Boogie Nights because he felt the film romanticizes the sordid world of porn. Beatty insists he turned down the role because he was "already immersed in Bulworth. I was writing, producing and acting so I couldn't put the project on hold."


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