20 Things You Didn’t Know About Midnight Express
9. Unknowns
Trying to establish himself as a new filmmaker in Hollywood, Alan Parker oversaw the film’s casting. As he wanted audiences to become more engaged with the characters, Stone was adamant the movie should not heavily feature well-known actors.
For leading man Brad Davis, Express was his first experience as a leading man in a blockbuster. He would go on to star in movies such as Chariots of Fire before his death in 1991.
Seasoned veteran actor John Hurt had appeared in numerous British and Canadian movies before portraying Max in Midnight Express. For many Americans, this was their first exposure to Hurt’s fantastic ability. He would go on to star in classic movies such as Alien, The Elephant Man, and V for Vendetta.
In their efforts to make the movie appear more realistic, Alan Parker and Oliver Stone decided to introduce many new actors. In doing so, they also helped the careers of many of the main cast.