Vanessa Redgrave was director James Ivory's first choice for both the lead roles in The Europeans (1979) and The Bostonians (1984). With The Europeans (1979), Redgrave was unavailable due to other commitments, and with The Bostonians (1984), Redgrave originally declined, and Glenn Close was cast. Then Close withdrew, due to being offered The Natural (1984), the part was then re-offered to Redgrave, who accepted.