Makers initially wanted John Travolta in ‘Purple Rain’: Director Albert Magnoli

The director said that Prince and his management team first only planned to finance the movie. After Warner Bros expressed interest, the then-recent film school graduate had a sit-down with the studio’s execs, who asked during the meeting if they could cast a big name actor for the lead role.

“‘Is it possible to ask if John Travolta can play Prince?’ ” the director recalled the executives asking him. “I looked at [Prince’s managers] and thought, ‘This is what I’m talking about. Welcome to this world’.”

“I said to the Warners guys, ‘Guys, this is not going to happen. This is unacceptable. What we have going for us is authenticity.’ They were shocked. I said, ‘Next question.’ ”

“Purple Rain” was a big success. The soundtrack album that accompanied the film was also a hit. Featuring chart-toppers like “When Doves Cry” and the title track “Purple Rain”, it reached No. 1 on Billboard 200.

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