Crudup says he related to the story of Big Fish on several levels. “The fantastical elements of the story were exciting and I truly empathized with Will’s struggle to figure out his father. The stories Edward tells just take him further from the truth of who he is. There’s no common language. All Will really wants is for his father to tell the truth about himself so they can relate in some way. Unlike his father, who can’t live without embellishing life, Will is someone who is into the beauty of reality and the poetry that exists in everyday life.”
The originality and unpredictability of the story is what echoed with Helena Bonham Carter, who plays more than one role in Big Fish. “The story doesn’t fail you. It’s basically about a son who learns to let go of his father and, at the same time, to accept him, and it made me cry every time I read it. But it’s also quirky and delightful with great heart, and that suits Tim because he’s got great heart. I’ve always loved his aesthetic, his off-kilter vision. His character informs all his films, as does his sense of pathos, whimsy and humor. There’s a great love there for the peculiarities of human nature.”
For Danny DeVito, who took on the role of the circus owner, Big Fish was an offer he had no intention of refusing. “Tim called and said he wanted me to do this. He sent me a script and a sketch of this very Fellini-esque character. It had everything. The story is warm and wonderful and, best of all, I get to work with Tim again.”
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