Cher was initially considered for the role the late Aaliyah played as Queen Akasha in the 2002 film Queen of the Damned.
Director Michael Rymer, 58, opened up about the casting process for the film to Vulture in a new report detailing the history of the 2002 film.
Rymer said that 'the movie was not green-lit until we figured out the casting,' and that he met with the 75-year-old entertainment legend about a potential appearance in the motion picture.
The latest: Cher, 75, was initially considered for the role the late Aaliyah played as Queen Akasha in the 2002 film Queen of the Damned. She was snapped in LA last month
'I had a number of meetings with actresses, including Cher,' he said, noting that 'Cher was reportedly considered for a role in Interview With a Vampire,' which was also based on the work of novelist Anne Rice.
Rymer recalled the details of his meeting with the Oscar-winning entertainer at her luxe Southern California abode.
'I drove out to her Malibu house and went through this vast series of Spanish Colonial rooms,' he told the outlet. 'There she is sitting in this chair, and she really was already quite a viable Akasha.'
He continued: 'I just had a very strong belief that if we were going to do African queens, we had to have a person of color. I said that to the studio, and we made these long lists - Halle Berry, Regina King, an embarrassment of riches.'
The film was released in February of 2002, about six months after Aaliyah's tragic death
Aaliyah had garnered interest for the role from the studio after thriving in the 2000 film Romeo Must Die; pictured alongside the late DMX
Rymer noted how studio officials 'were very excited about her as a burgeoning actress' as she was in Vancouver at the time shooting the film Romeo Must Die.
Producer Jorge Saralegui
