20 Things You Didn't Know About Drive
16. Ryan Gosling Was Allowed To Pick The Director (And Refn Almost Blew It)
When Ryan Gosling signed on to play the lead role, he was also granted the enviable power to choose his own director for the project.
This was the first time in his career that he'd ever been given that clause, and in retrospect he said of Refn, "there was no other choice."
However, Refn very nearly got himself thrown off the gig when he first went to meet with Gosling.
Refn was feeling rather under the weather when they met, which Gosling initially interpreted as lethargy and disinterest, but as they rode home, Refn began singing along to REO Speedwagon on the radio, before explaining to the actor about the role music would play in the movie.
Refn added that had the song not come on the radio at that opportune moment, it's entirely possible he wouldn't have ended up convincing Gosling to let him direct the film.