20 Things You Didn't Know About Zodiac

18. Brad Pitt & Daniel Craig Were Considered To Play Paul Avery

Robert Downey Jr. did a fantastic job playing the part of crime reporter Paul Avery, though he wasn't actually Fincher's first choice for the part - or even his second, apparently.

Reports differ over who the filmmaker wanted to hire first for the gig, but at various stages he was pursuing both Brad Pitt and Daniel Craig - both actors he would subsequently work with on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo respectively.

Honestly, Pitt probably would've proven a tad too distracting in such a role, though Craig absolutely could've pulled it off. But Downey Jr. is so terrific as Avery that there's no arguing with the final decision.