Soderbergh's Kafka Nightmare: Crocodile Dundee Star Caused Stress
The acclaimed director experienced a disturbing dream about miscasting Paul Hogan in his surreal Franz Kafka biopic, leading to physical stress symptoms that left a white patch in his beard.
When you think of prolific filmmakers, Steven Soderbergh stands out as a true powerhouse in modern cinema. This indie film legend has maintained an incredible pace throughout his career, releasing nine movies between 2010 and 2019 alone - and that's counting a supposed retirement period from 2013 to 2016. His relentless creativity shows no signs of slowing down.
The Surreal Kafka Project
Among Soderbergh's earlier works sits the enigmatic film Kafka, featuring Jeremy Irons as the famous writer Franz Kafka. This unusual project mixed biographical elements with the bizarre, dreamlike qualities found in Kafka's own literary works. While it didn't achieve blockbuster status, the movie has maintained a devoted following among cinema enthusiasts who appreciate Soderbergh's unique vision.
During production, however, Soderbergh experienced something that would haunt him - literally. In a revealing interview with The Playlist, the director shared a bizarre story about a dream that left him genuinely shaken.
A Casting Nightmare
"I'd forgotten about that dream until I'd dove back in [re-editing Kafka] and remembered," Soderbergh recalled. "I had a beard at the time, and I woke up in the course of one night, I had a big white patch in my beard. I was stressed." The source of this anxiety? His subconscious had convinced him he'd cast Paul Hogan, the Crocodile Dundee star, in the lead role.
For anyone familiar with both actors, the contrast couldn't be more stark. Hogan, an Australian comedian who became a global sensation after his breakout role, was known primarily for playing one character - a rugged, knife-wielding outdoorsman. Despite earning a Golden Globe for his performance, his acting range remained limited to that specific persona.
Career Trajectories
By the time Kafka hit theaters, Hogan's star had already begun to fade significantly. His 1990 film Almost an Angel bombed at the box office, and subsequent projects failed to recapture his initial success. By 1996, he appeared in Flipper but ranked third in billing behind Elijah Wood and the titular marine mammal.
Soderbergh's instincts proved correct - Hogan would have been a disastrous choice for such a complex, artistic project. The director already found the film challenging enough without adding the complications of miscasting. As he wryly noted, the last thing he needed was "an eccentric Aussie running around the set trying to show people his big knife."