- Pierre Jolivet, Le dernier combat, France, 1982. Auteur Luc Besson asked him for his first film at aged 17. Cluzet said: “Maybe the second.” In fact, he finally worked in a film Besson released in… 2010.
- Jean Hugues Anglade, 37°2 le matin (UK/US: Betty Blue), France, 1985. “Many actors of my generation must have lined up in Beineix’s office,’ Anglade told Frederic Albert Levy on the 2013 DVD bonus, “but he was still looking… Over the last six months, I believe he had seen people like Jean Reno, Cluzet, Murray Head… Eventually, it was Dominique Besnehard [who discovered Betty herself, Béatrice Dalle] who, very accurately, suggested I meet Beineix. I believe Beineix hadn’t found his Zorg because he was after actors substantially younger than the characters in the novel. And he wanted to make a film ‘sexually committed,’ with actors ‘physically available,’ capable of using their bodies, of walking naked in front of the camera, in a very natural way. There was an exhibitionistic side in me…those were the days!” 2. – Jean-Hugues Anglade, Maladie d’amour, France, 1989. Polish director Andrzej Zulawaski’s original choice opposite Isabelle Adjani or Beatrice Dalle – before realisateur Jacques Deray made it with Nastassja Kinsi.
- Peter Riegart, Un homme amoureaux, France, 1987. Not in love with the script, though.
- Jacques Gamblin, Au coeur du mensonge, France, 1998. After Daniel Auteuil proved too busy, realisateur Claude Chabrol tried to interest Cluzet – who felt the role was a tad close to his jealous husband in their L’Enfer.
- Denis Podalydès, La conquête, France, 2010. The César-winner was first thought to play the rise and rise of French politico (and future president) Nicolas Sarkozy – and his test was fine. Then, Cluzet changed his mind.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 5