 Casting the role of Abe turned out to be extremely difficult. The  directors initial choices were either unavailable (eg  Billy Bob Thornton (qv)) or passed on the role (eg  Bill Paxton (qv)). Gary Cole and William Sadler both  auditioned; Cole was the studios choice and was offered the part.  The day before filming it became clear that Coles schedule wouldnt  allow him to participate, and so the role was offered to  Christopher McDonald the night before filming started. While  McDonald was on the set the next day being fitted for a costume, it  was discovered that his schedule did not allow him to be available  for the dates that the production required him. After deciding the  that the scheduled couldnt be rearranged to accommodate him, the  role was offered over the phone to Christopher Lloyd , a friend of  cinematographer Thomas E. Ackerman (qv). Lloyd was simultaneously  offered a role in _Haunted Lighthouse (2003)_ (qv) which he  preferred, and so he passed. The role was finally offered to Sadler,  who arrived on set and had only 60 minutes to meet and form a  relationship with Shia LaBeouf before their big emotional scene  together.