 This was originally planned as a theatrical film. The original cast  consisted of Edward Norton (I) (qv) as Orson Welles (qv),  Marlon Brando (qv) as William Randolph Hearst (qv),  Madonna (I) (qv) as Marion Davies (qv), Dustin Hoffman (qv) as  Herman J. Mankiewicz (qv), Meryl Streep (qv) as  Louella Parsons (qv). Ridley Scott (qv) was slated to direct.  But studios passed on the film because of the projected $40 million  budget. Scott dropped out as director. Brando and Hoffman also  dropped out. Gene Hackman (qv) was considered to replace Brando  and Al Pacino (qv) was considered to replace Hoffman. Eventually,  the project was scaled down to a TV