History Trivia / DoTheRightThing

** Wesley Snipes turned down a role in the film in order to star in ''FilmMajorLeague''.

* CastingGag: Buggin' Out, who says Sal is racist for not putting any black people on his Italian-American exclusive "Wall of Fame" is played by Giancarlo Esposito, who is himself half-black, half-Italian American.
* DoingItForTheArt: Spike Lee funded the entire film himself by maxing out his credit cards, surely as a way to maintain creative control over a film with such a personal, controversial subject.

** Wesley Snipes turned down a role in the film in order to star in ''FilmMajorLeague''.

* RealLifeRelative: Mookie's sister Jade is played by Spike Lee's real-life sister Joie.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Lee's first choice for Sal was RobertDeNiro, who turned it down because he felt the role was too similar to ones he had played in the past. MattDillon was also Lee's first choice for Pino.
** Creator/JamesEarlJones was offered to play the role as Da Mayor.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez make their film debuts in this film.
** Vito is played by Richard Edson, the original drummer from Sonic Youth ''and'' the creepy valet in FerrisBuellersDayOff.
** We also see Samuel L. Jackson several years before Film/PulpFiction.
** Buggin' Out is the [[PlayingAgainstType polar opposite]] of [[Series/BreakingBad Gus]].
** [[Series/TheSopranos Phil Leotardo]] is the guy who gets water sprayed on his car.
** Several actors have appeared in multiple Spike Lee films. John Turturro and Spike's sister Joie share the record with nine appearances each.

** Who knew [[Series/BreakingBad Gus]] was such an [[JerkAss annoying punk]].

** Who knew [[Series/BreakingBad Gus]] could be such an [[JerkAss asshole.]]

** [[Series/TheSopranos Phil Leotardo]] and [[{Film/Goodfellas}} Billy Batts]] is the guy who gets water sprayed on his car.

** [[{{Film/Goodfellas}} Billy Batts]] got his antique car ruined by Moe and Joe.

** [[Series/TheSopranos Phil Leotardo]] is the guy who gets water sprayed on his car.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Lee's first choice for Sal was RobertDeNiro, who turned it down because he felt the role was too similar to ones he had played in the past.

** [[Film/Goodfellas Billy Batts]] got his antique car ruined by Moe and Joe.

* FakeNationality: Frankie Faison's painfully bad (and [[OohMeAccentsSlipping inconsistent]]) impression of a Jamaican accent.

** [[Series/TheSoperanos Phil Leotardo]] is the guy who gets water sprayed on his car.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez make their film debuts in this film. Also, Music/SonicYouth's former drummer Richard Edson plays Vito.
** And Samuel L. Jackson.

* PlayingAgainstType: John Turturro (an Italian-American), actually playing... an Italian![[hottip:*:He's frequently cast as [[FakeNationality Latinos]]

* HeyItsThatGuy: Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez make their film debuted in this film. Also, Music/SonicYouth's former drummer Richard Edson plays Vito.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez make their film debutes in this film. Also, Music/SonicYouth's former drummer Richard Edson plays Vito.

** Buggin' Out is the [[PlayingAgainstType polar opposite]] of [[BreakingBad Gus]].

* PlayingAgainstType: John Turturro (an Italian-American), actually playing... an Italian![[hottip:*:He's frequently cast as [[FakeNationality Latinos]].]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: SpikeLee's first choice for Sal was RobertDeNiro, who turned it down because he felt the role was too similar to ones he had played in the past.

** Ossie Davis and wife Ruby Dee, as Da Mayor and Mother Sister respectively.

* RealLifeRelative: Mookie's sister is actor Spike Lee's real life sister.

** And the [[PlayingAgainstType polar opposite]] of [[BreakingBad Gus]].