 Robert DeNiro had a deal with Leonardo DiCaprio who was interested  in playing the films protagonist Edward Wilson. De Niro planned to  shoot the movie in the fall of 2004 but DiCaprio couldnt do it then  because he was making The Departed for Martin Scorsese. The role  ultimately went to Matt Damon, who played DiCaprios antagonist in  The Departed. Both movies were nominated for Oscars in 2007.