The film version of the hit Broadway musical Rent almost had a different cast.

Chris Columbus, the director of the Home Alone movies and the first two Harry Potter films, admits he considered going the celebrity route when casting Rent. Rent is the story of a group of friends, many of whom are struggling artists and musicians, living in a condemned building in New York's East Village. And though it is a musical about death and dying, Rent is a stirring celebration about life and love.

As Columbus' producing partner Mark Radcliffe recalls, he and the filmmaker "started out with the idea of not using the original cast and many of the biggest names in music were eager to be in a film version of Rent." They considered casting Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Usher, Christina Aguilera and Brittany Murphy in the central roles.

"Yes, I talked to Justin. He's a really sweet, talented guy and he was very interested in the project," says Columbus.

--I would have sat outside my local theater and protested if he had cast those peeps. Kill me now. Thank God he changed his mind.

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