shoot scenes for  _Gangs of New York (2002)_ (qv), Gore Verbinski (qv) couldnt  start directing this movie. The whole production was moved back a  few months, but this in turn meant that James Gandolfini (qv) had  to withdraw because he had to go back to work on  _"Sopranos, The" (1999)_ (qv). He was replaced by Tom Hanks (qv),  while David Fincher (qv), Cameron Crowe (qv) and  Lasse Hallström (qv) were asked to direct before  Steven Spielberg (I) (qv) (who only wanted to produce the movie)  took over.