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Michael Tolkin didn’t want his novel THE PLAYER to be adapted to the screen, but it was — by him!

Tolkin wrote his 1988 novel about moviemaking and murder as a transition from screenwriting to more serious book writing. Although he wasn’t keen on PLAYER becoming a movie, he changed his mind after legendary producer David Brown acquired the book’s film rights. Moreover, Brown wanted Tolkin to write the adaptation. Brown’s producing credits already included JAWS, COCOON & DRIVING MISS DAISY, so he really wasn’t someone to say no to.

Even with Brown’s involvement in the project, getting studio financing didn’t go well as the late ’80s turned into the early ’90s. The problem was PLAYER’s storyline about a powerful studio executive (Tim Robbins) who’s embroiled in a police investigation of a murder he may have committed. Actual studio executives were skeptical that audiences would pay to see a film about the mechanics of moviemaking.

While efforts to get money for PLAYER continued, Tolkin got some money for Tolkin by writing and directing the 1991 mystery thriller THE RAPTURE. Although RAPTURE didn’t do well at the boxoffice or with the critics, it got Tolkin working with RAPTURE producer Nick Wechsler, who executive produced the 1989 hit SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE.

Wechsler joined PLAYER’s producing team. During their search for funding, PLAYER was passed on all over Hollywood and twice (in 1989 and ’90) by indie production company Avenue Pictures’ CEO Cary Brokaw. However, when Brokaw saw Robert Altman’s VINCENT & THEO, his 1990 bio-drama about the Van Gogh brothers, he decided Altman, a directing star since M*A*S*H in 1970, would be ideal to make PLAYER. Altman was coming off a string of lesser films at the time and loved the idea.

With Altman on board, Avenue agreed to put up $8M to $10M to produce PLAYER, using some of its own money plus an international pre-sales deal with Spelling Entertainment. Spelling then became another of PLAYERS’  producing companies — along with Avenue & David Brown/Addis-Wechsler.

Among PLAYER’s stars were Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg & Peter Gallagher. Altman also brought in 65 A-list stars in cameo appearances. He got them all to do one day’s filming for union scale salaries and to contribute their fees to the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.

With PLAYER now financed & cast and with Altman directing, many studios were now eager to distribute it domestically. New Line’s specialty arm, Fine Line Features, won with a $5.1M minimum guarantee deal.

PLAYER, which premiered April 3, 1992 at the Cleveland International Film Festival, grossed just $21.7M in domestic theatres. It did, however, get three Oscar noms — for Directing, Adapted Screenplay & Film Editing. But PLAYER was the only 1993 directing nominee that didn’t also get a Best Picture nod.