 Luc Besson (qv) was very uncertain about which actor to cast in  the main role. He proposed the role to  Christopher Lambert (I) (qv) (with whom he worked in his previous  movie), had a meeting with Mickey Rourke (qv) (a big star back  then) and even was suggested that he himself should take the role,  since he had such affinity with the character. It was not only until  weeks before filming that someone suggested the name of  Jean