Editing Mississippi Burning (section)

===Casting===
{{multiple image
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   | footer    = Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe, who star in the film.
   | image1    = Gene Hackman 1987.jpg
   | image2    = Willem Dafoe Cannes.jpg
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Parker held casting calls in New York, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, New Orleans, Raleigh and Nashville.<ref name="ProdNotes" /> The filmmakers did not retain the names of actual people; many of the supporting characters were [[composite character|composites]] of people related to the murder case.<ref name="FactFiction" /> Gene Hackman plays Rupert Anderson, an FBI agent and former Mississippi sheriff.<ref name="Parker" /> [[Brian Dennehy]] was briefly considered for the role<ref>{{cite web|title=Brian Dennehy's Quest|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/09/09/brian-dennehys-quest/|first=Clifford|last=Terry|date=September 9, 1990|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=April 29, 2016|archive-date=June 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602044236/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-09-09/entertainment/9003150692_1_bull-cherry-orchard-extreme-prejudice|url-status=live}}</ref> before Orion suggested Hackman.<ref name="Parker" /> As the script was being written, Parker frequently discussed the project with Hackman.<ref name="ProdNotes" /> Hackman said that "it felt right to do something of historical import. It was an extremely intense experience, both the content of the film and the making of it in Mississippi."<ref name="FilmComment" />

Orion was less resolute in terms of who they wanted for the role of Agent Alan Ward. After filming ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]'' (1988), [[Willem Dafoe]] expressed interest in playing Ward,<ref name="Parker" /> and Parker traveled to Los Angeles, where he met with the actor to discuss the role. Dafoe was cast shortly thereafter.<ref name="ProdNotes" /> To prepare for the role, Dafoe researched the time period and Neshoba County. He also read [[Willie Morris]]'s 1983 novel ''The Courting of Marcus Dupree'', and looked at 1960s documentary footage detailing how the media covered the murder case.<ref>{{cite web|title=Provocative Dafoe Prefers His Film Roles Served Hot|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/01/17/provocative-dafoe-prefers-his-film-roles-served-hot/|first=Harold|last=Reynolds|date=January 17, 1989|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|access-date=May 1, 2016|archive-date=June 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602050521/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1989-01-17/lifestyle/8901180104_1_mississippi-burning-dafoe-temptation-of-christ|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Frances McDormand]] plays Mrs. Pell, the wife of Deputy Sheriff Clinton Pell. On working with Hackman, McDormand said: "''Mississippi Burning'', I didn't do research. All I did was listen to [Hackman]. He had an amazing capacity for not giving away any part of himself (in read-throughs). But the minute we got on the set, little blinds on his eyes flipped up and everything was available. It was mesmerizing. He's really believable, and it was like a basic acting lesson."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dafoe|first=Willem|author-link=Willem Dafoe|url=http://bombmagazine.org/article/1936/frances-mcdormand|title=Frances McDormand by Willem Dafoe|number=55|volume=Spring 1996|magazine=[[Bomb (magazine)|BOMB Magazine]]|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-date=May 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520112222/http://bombmagazine.org/article/1936/frances-mcdormand|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Gailard Sartain]] plays Ray Stuckey, the sheriff of Jessup County, a character based on former Neshoba County sheriff [[Lawrence A. Rainey]].<ref name="Parker" /><ref name="Spokane">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=February 23, 1989|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19890223&id=cRhXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6213,3195100&hl=en|title=Sheriff sues film studio, claiming he was libeled|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review|Spokane Chronicle]]|location=[[Spokane, Washington]]|access-date=October 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506072545/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19890223&id=cRhXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6213%2C3195100&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Sartain described Stuckey as "an elected official&nbsp;... who has to be gregarious – but with sinister overtones".<ref>{{cite web|last=Wooley|first=John|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/tulsa-s-gailard-sartain-takes-on-serious-role-in-mississippi/article_053d7437-9e03-58cf-9782-f6b6a959b3da.html|title=Tulsa's Gailard Sartain Takes on Serious Role In "Mississippi Burning'|work=[[Tulsa World]]|date=January 13, 1989|access-date=June 2, 2016|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613120646/https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/tulsa-s-gailard-sartain-takes-on-serious-role-in-mississippi/article_053d7437-9e03-58cf-9782-f6b6a959b3da.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Stephen Tobolowsky]] plays Clayton Townley, a [[Grand Wizard]] of the [[White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan]].<ref name="Parker" /> The character is based on  White Knights leader [[Samuel Bowers]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith |first1=John David|last2=Appleton |first2=Thomas H.|last3=Roland |first3=Charles Pierce|title=A Mythic Land Apart: Reassessing Southerners and Their History|date=January 1997|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|location = United States|chapter=9. Hollywood and the Mythic Land Apart 1988–1990|pages=179–180|isbn=978-0-313-29304-7}}</ref> [[Michael Rooker]] plays Frank Bailey, a Klansman involved in the murders of the three civil rights activists.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meszoros|first=Mark|url=http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20150203/NEWS/150209898|title=Michael Rooker talks 'Mississippi Burning' |work=[[The Morning Journal]]|date=February 3, 2013|access-date=May 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815115034/http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20150203/NEWS/150209898|archive-date=2016-08-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]], who had a small role in Parker's previous film ''[[Angel Heart]]'', plays Lester Cowens, a Klansman who unknowingly becomes a pawn in the FBI's investigation. Vince described the character as "goofy, stupid and geeky" and stated, "I never had a prejudiced bone in my body. It gave me a funny feeling to play this guy with a hood and everything. But when you're in the midst of it, you just concentrate on getting through it."<ref>{{cite web|last=Russell|first=Candace|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-02-03/features/8901060897_1_klan-los-angeles-mississippi|title=Actor Says 'Mississippi' Bad-guy Role Was A Good Part|work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=February 3, 1989|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-date=June 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611103738/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-02-03/features/8901060897_1_klan-los-angeles-mississippi|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Kevin Dunn]] joined the production in February 1988, appearing in his acting debut as FBI Agent Bird.<ref>{{cite web|last1=O' Malley |first1=Kathy|last2=Gratteau |first2=Hanke|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/02/21/bidding-wars-5/|title=Bidding Wars&nbsp;...|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=February 21, 1988|access-date=June 2, 2016|archive-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701224142/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-02-21/news/8804010065_1_squad-cars-commonwealth-edison-jane-byrne|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tobin Bell]], also making his feature film debut, plays Agent Stokes,<ref>{{cite news|last=Harrington|first=Richard|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102500750.html|title=Tobin Bell: A Pivotal Piece of the 'Saw' Puzzle|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 26, 2007|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-date=November 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111141929/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102500750.html|url-status=live}}</ref> an FBI enforcer hired by Anderson to interrogate Cowens.<ref name="Parker" /> Bell was first asked by Parker to read for the role of Clinton Pell, a role that was ultimately given to [[Brad Dourif]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Heisler|first=Steve|url=https://www.avclub.com/tobin-bell-1798215087 |title=Tobin Bell · Random Roles|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=October 29, 2008|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-date=June 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603131611/http://www.avclub.com/article/tobin-bell-2513|url-status=live}}</ref>

Appearing as the three civil rights activists are Geoffrey Nauffts as "Goatee", a character based on Michael Schwerner; Rick Zieff as "Passenger", based on Andrew Goodman; and Christopher White as "Black Passenger", based on James Chaney.<ref name="Parker" /><ref name="CastCrew" /> Producers Frederick Zollo and Robert F. Colesberry also make appearances in the film; Zollo briefly appears as a news reporter,<ref name="CastCrew" /> and Colesberry appears as a news cameraman who is brutally beaten by Frank Bailey.<ref name="ProdNotes" /> While [[location scouting|scouting locations]] in [[Jackson, Mississippi]], Parker arranged an open casting call for local actors and [[Extra (acting)|extras]].<ref name="ProdNotes" /> He and Colesberry met music teacher Lannie McBride, who appears as a [[Gospel music|gospel]] singer in the film.<ref name="ProdNotes" />