My Own Private Idaho (1991). Upon sending the script to lead-actor River Phoenix’s agent, director Gus Van Sant was met with an immediate ‘no’, with River’s agent refusing to even show him the script due to the films subject matter. Undeterred, Van Sant requested fellow-actor Keanu Reeves to personally deliver the script to River Phoenix’s house which he did so. Furthermore, in a 2012 interview, Kiefer Sutherland revealed that he had declined Van Sant’s offer to star in the leading role as he ‘wanted to go skiing’, a decision which he expressed great regret about.