Dejavu Cast and Productions
Actor |
Role |
Denzel Washington |
ATF Special Agent Douglas Carlin |
Val Kilmer |
FBI Special Agent Paul Pryzwarra |
Bruce Greenwood |
FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Jack McCready |
Matt Craven |
ATF Special Agent Larry Minuti |
Paula Patton |
Claire Kuchever |
Adam Goldberg |
Alexander Denny |
Elden Henson |
Gunnars |
Erika Alexander |
Shanti |
James Caviezel |
Carroll Oerstadt |
The idea of a time travel-thriller film originated between screenwriters Bill Marsilii and Terry Rossio, who communicated via email in attempts to develop the plot due to communication difficulties. However, the creation of Déjà Vu's progenitor was set aside by the September 11, 2001 attacks that disrupted New York-native Marsilii, and the advent of the Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl film, which occupied Los Angeles-native Rossio. However, by 2006, the two screenwriters had completed the concept. They submitted their work to Jerry Bruckheimer, who was searching alongside movie director Tony Scott for new ideas. Screenwriters Marsilii and Rossio also worked alongside Dr. Brian Greene from Columbia University to create a scientifically plausible feel to the script.
Filming
Filming in New Orleans, Louisiana was delayed following Hurricane Katrina because of the devastation caused by the storm and the collapse of the Federal levees. Many of the exteriors were set to be shot in New Orleans, including a key sequence involving the Canal Street Ferry across the Mississippi River. After the city was reopened, the cast and crew returned to New Orleans to continue filming. Some scenes of the post-Katrina devastation were worked into the plot, including those in the Lower 9th Ward; additionally, evidence of Katrina's impact on the city was worked into the script.The filming crew spent two weeks filming a scene at the Four Mile Bayou in Morgan City, Louisiana.
According to director Tony Scott, New Orleans was not the planned setting for Déjà Vu; he had originally considered Long Island, New York, but changed the location after Hurricane Katrina tore through the city in 2005.Jerry Bruckheimer noted that Denzel Washington had pushed Tony Scott to choose New Orleans as a destination, although Washington later declared his neutrality on the subject.
Planning stages for the movie began through the joint efforts of Tony Scott and Denzel Washington, who researched means of creating a sense of realism. Scott and Washington interviewed numerous men and women whose real-life occupations pertained to positions in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) so Washington could develop a sense for who he was meant to be; Washington notes that he and Scott had conducted similar research during the productions of Man on Fire and Crimson Tide.