Trivia / S.W.A.T. (2003)

• Actor-Inspired Element: The brief shot of Street vomiting after working out was something Colin Farrell came up with on his own. He told director Clark Johnson that he had a good idea for a shot, asked that a camera be set up, ran to craft services to get a mouthful of soup, and dramatically spit it out when the camera was rolling.
• Backed by the Pentagon: Well, by the LAPD in this case. Actual SWAT officers appeared in the opening scenes of the movie, most of them in delivering the hotline between the negotiators and the bank robbers.
• Fake American: Irish Colin Farrell as American Jim Street.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Michael Bay, Michael Mann, Joel Schumacher, Tony Scott, Zack Snyder and John Woo were all approached to direct the film before Clark Johnson signed on. They passed because they were all busy with other projects.
  • In early development, the role of Hondo was considered for, among other actors, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ed Harris, and Tommy Lee Jones.
  • Mark Wahlberg was the first choice for the role of Jim Street, but turned it down in favor of portraying the lead role in The Italian Job (2003). Paul Walker was originally cast and had even started training for the part, but had to drop out due to filming on 2 Fast 2 Furious.
  • Vin Diesel was offered to portray Deacon "Deke" Kaye, but passed because he was in production with The Chronicles of Riddick and LL Cool J was then cast.
  • An early version of the script shows Gamble was originally nicknamed "Poker", and survived to be taken into custody at the end of the film.

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