Editing American History X (section)

=== Casting ===
[[Joaquin Phoenix]] was offered the role of Derek Vinyard, but he was not interested.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/blog/article/113577/great-roles-actors-have-turned-down.html |title=Great roles actors have turned down|work=Yahoo! Movies|access-date=August 7, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718133746/http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/blog/article/113577/great-roles-actors-have-turned-down.html|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> After holding [[Casting (performing arts)|casting]] calls, Kaye was unable to find a suitable actor for the lead role, but casting director Valerie McCaffrey suggested Edward Norton.<ref name="lafemme">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lafemme.org/valerie-mccaffrey-executive-achievement-award-2017/|title=Valerie McCaffrey- Executive Achievement Award 2017|website=LA Femme International Film Festival|date=24 September 2017 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114191810/http://www.lafemme.org/valerie-mccaffrey-executive-achievement-award-2017/|archive-date=2020-01-14|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> Kaye initially objected, feeling that Norton lacked the "weight or presence", but he eventually conceded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whatculture.com/film/6-directors-who-were-lumbered-with-actors-they-didn-t-even-want|title=6 Directors Who Were Lumbered With Actors They Didn't Even Want|last=Pooley|first=Jack|date=2018-08-31|website=WhatCulture.com|access-date=2020-04-07|archive-date=2019-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907190307/http://whatculture.com/film/6-directors-who-were-lumbered-with-actors-they-didn-t-even-want|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theguardian">{{cite web|url=https://theguardian.com/film/2002/oct/25/artsfeatures.advertising|title=Film: Losing it - Tony Kaye falls out with Hollywood|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=October 25, 2002|access-date=March 31, 2020|archive-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411203455/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/oct/25/artsfeatures.advertising|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[executive producer]] [[Steve Tisch]], Norton's passion for the project was "contagious", and he even agreed to a pay cut of more than $500,000 from his usual $1 million fee, to be cast in the lead.<ref name="Goldstein" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=374|title=American History X - Movie Production Notes - CinemaReview.com|website=www.cinemareview.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030520131528/http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=374|archive-date=2003-05-20|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref> Norton was initially reluctant about the project until [[Francis Ford Coppola]] convinced him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a29669169/joe-rogan-ed-norton-francis-ford-coppola-youtube-video/ | title=Ed Norton Told Joe Rogan He Almost Passed on 'American History X' | date=November 2019 }}</ref> McCaffrey also cast [[Edward Furlong]] for the role of Danny Vinyard.<ref name="lafemme" /> To prepare for the role, Norton increased his calorie intake and spent hours in the gym to gain 25 pounds (11&nbsp;kg) of muscle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ifc.com/2015/05/15-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-american-history-x|title=15 Surprising Facts About American History X|website=IFC|access-date=2020-04-07|archive-date=2020-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130172625/http://www.ifc.com/2015/05/15-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-american-history-x|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ferriss ">{{Cite news|url=https://tim.blog/edward-norton-on-the-tim-ferriss-show-transcript/|title=Edward Norton on The Tim Ferriss Show — Transcript|date=2016-05-02|website=The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss|access-date=2020-04-08|archive-date=2020-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208174437/https://tim.blog/edward-norton-on-the-tim-ferriss-show-transcript/|url-status=live}}</ref>