Makers initially wanted John Travolta in ‘Purple Rain’: Director Albert Magnoli

John Travolta was set to play the musician Prince in the 1984 semi-autobiographical “Purple Rain”. (Source: Reuters)

Director Albert Magnoli has revealed Warner Bros originally wanted actor John Travolta to play musician Prince in his 1984 semi-autobiographical film “Purple Rain”.

Magnoli said he refused the studio’s suggestion as he wanted to keep the film authentic and hence cast the musician himself, reported Aceshowbiz.

The director said that Prince and his management team first only planned to finance the movie. After Warner Bros expressed interest, the then-recent film school graduate had a sit-down with the studio’s execs, who asked during the meeting if they could cast a big name actor for the lead role.

“‘Is it possible to ask if John Travolta can play Prince?’ ” the director recalled the executives asking him. “I looked at [Prince’s managers] and thought, ‘This is what I’m talking about. Welcome to this world’.”