Trivia / About a Boy

• Beam Me Up, Scotty!: A running gag is Will misattributing the saying "No man is an Island" to Jon Bon Jovi rather than John Donne.
• The Danza: Rachel Weisz as Rachel.
• Fake Brit: Toni Collette is Australian playing an English woman.
• Star-Making Role: This was Nicholas Hoult's first major role, which would lead him to appearing Skins and the X-Men films.
• Throw It In!: The shot of Will reflected in the mirror looking depressed was taken while Hugh Grant was on a break. The filmmakers saw this and shot it from behind without him knowing.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Brad Pitt of all people was offered the lead role. He turned it down, not thinking he'd be able to play someone who would have to pretend to be a single father to meet women. Colin Firth was interested and even contacted Nick Hornby, but it had already been optioned as a film by the time Firth called. George Clooney, Russell Crowe, Richard E. Grant and Ewan McGregor were also considered.
  • Emma Thompson was offered a role.

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