Star Power

With a per-movie rate of approximately $20 million, Brad Pitt was one of the most expensive commodities in Fight Club. There were also key considerations made during filming to accommodate the star. According to Palahniuk, one of the darkest bits of dialogue from the book was nixed from the screenplay due to Pitt's protests. In one scene, Helena Bonham Carter's character was to turn to Pitt and say, "I want to have your abortion."

"That line was the most anti-romantic thing I could think of, the opposite of 'I want to have your baby,'" says Palahniuk. "That line ended up on the cake at some of my book launch parties. But Brad insisted it be taken out. He said, 'My mom's going to see this movie. And she's going to freak.' So David changed it."

As well, Pitt's maverick character inserts a cock shot, lasting a few frames and a split second, into the film-within-a-film, a shot which then appears several times throughout Fight Club. Apparently, the only stipulation for the dick used was that the pubic hair be sufficiently dark so the penis could not be mistaken for Pitt's. But having met Pitt, I must say that the pubic hair in the movie looks like a sure fit.

Question to Fincher: Is that Pitt's dick?

"No comment."