Editing Basic Instinct (section)

==Production==
The screenplay, which was written in the 1980s, sparked a bidding war until it was finally purchased by [[Carolco Pictures]] for US$3&nbsp;million.<ref name="nyt920315"/><ref name="UK Critic">{{cite web |url=https://www.ukcritic.com/basinretro.html |title=Retrospectives: BASIC INSTINCT |access-date=November 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113050951/http://www.ukcritic.com/basinretro.html |archive-date=November 13, 2007 }}</ref> Joe Eszterhas, who had previously been the creative force behind several blockbuster films such as ''[[Flashdance]]'' (1983) and ''[[Jagged Edge (film)|Jagged Edge]]'' (1985), managed to complete the script in just 13 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moviemaker.com/joe-eszterhas-ten-golden-rules-of-moviemaking/|title=Wisdom Wednesday: Joe Eszterhas' 10 Golden Rules of Screenwriting by Joe Eszterhas|date=October 2, 2013|website=Moviemaker Magazine|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803183204/https://www.moviemaker.com/joe-eszterhas-ten-golden-rules-of-moviemaking/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Paul Verhoeven had suggested changes to the script that Eszterhas strongly disagreed with, including a lesbian sex scene that Eszterhas deemed "exploitative".<ref name=":0"/> With Verhoeven unwilling to budge, Eszterhas and producer Irwin Winkler left the production.

[[Gary Goldman (screenwriter)|Gary Goldman]] was subsequently brought on board to rewrite the script four times at Verhoeven's suggestion. However, by the fourth draft, Verhoeven himself acknowledged that his proposals were "undramatic" and "really stupid". By the fifth and final draft, the script had returned to Eszterhas' original vision, with only minor tweaks to visuals and dialogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59185-BASIC-INSTINCT?cxt=filmography|title=AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Basic Instinct|website=catalog.afi.com|access-date=December 28, 2019|archive-date=June 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609021521/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59185-BASIC-INSTINCT?cxt=filmography|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, Joe Eszterhas received sole writing credit for the film. In preparation for the car chase scene, Douglas drove up the steps on [[Kearny Street]] in San Francisco for four nights by himself.

The home of Sharon Stone's character, prominently featured in the film, is said to be in [[Stinson Beach, California]], just north of San Francisco. In reality, the scenes were shot at a mansion near [[Carmel-by-the-Sea, California|Carmel-by-the-Sea]], about {{convert|120|mi}} south of San Francisco. The property had been previously owned by the late adventurer [[Steve Fossett]] and his wife until her death in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-04 |title=California Compound Where Basic Instinct Was Filmed Listed For $52.375 Million |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/california-compound-where-basic-instinct-was-filmed-on-the-market |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Architectural Digest |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2018, the residence was purchased by software engineer Gary Vickers, who combined it into an estate with four adjoining cottages he also owned; he put the entire property on sale the following year for $52.4 million.<ref name = Blake>{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Lindsay |date=March 22, 2022 |title=Sharon Stone's 'Basic Instinct' House Gets Massive Price Slash |url=https://www.dirt.com/gallery/locations/filming-locations/basic-instinct-house-carmel-1203462895/ |website=Dirt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Joyce |date=June 4, 2019 |title=California Compound Where Basic Instinct Was Filmed Listed For $52.375 Million |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/california-compound-where-basic-instinct-was-filmed-on-the-market |website=Architectural Digest}}</ref> By 2022, the asking price had been lowered to $29.6 million.<ref name = Blake/>

===Casting===
After numerous actors turned down the lead role, Carolco worried they would not be able to cast a suitable male lead.<ref name="Winkler 2019">{{cite book |last=Winkler |first= Irwin |title=A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood  |publisher=Abrams Press |year=2019 |page= |isbn=978-1419734526}}</ref> CAA's agent [[Ronald Meyer]] called Carolco and said that he knew the script had been turned down by actors; Meyer said [[Michael Douglas]] would agree to star in the film if Carolco could meet his salary requirement, and Carolco quickly agreed.<ref name="Winkler 2019"/> Douglas was cast in the project early on. He recommended [[Kim Basinger]] for the role of Catherine Tramell, but she declined.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amc.com/talk/2007/04/basic-instinct |title=Basic Instinct |publisher=AMC |access-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302154016/https://www.amc.com/talk/2007/04/basic-instinct |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also suggested [[Julia Roberts]],<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=Warren|first=Jane|title=Michael Douglas's real basic instinct|url=https://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/237377/Michael-Douglas-s-real-basic-instinct|work=Daily Express|access-date=December 27, 2013|date=March 29, 2011|archive-date=December 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228132132/http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/237377/Michael-Douglas-s-real-basic-instinct|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Greta Scacchi]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/greta_scacchi.shtml |title=BBC - Drama Faces - Greta Scacchi |access-date=August 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105030048/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/greta_scacchi.shtml |archive-date=January 5, 2009 }}</ref> and [[Meg Ryan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/10/14/meg_ryan_in_the_cut_interview.shtml|title=BBC - Films - interview - Meg Ryan|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119004516/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/10/14/meg_ryan_in_the_cut_interview.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> but they all turned down the role. [[Debra Winger]], [[Michelle Pfeiffer]], [[Geena Davis]], [[Kathleen Turner]], [[Kelly Lynch]], [[Ellen Barkin]], and [[Mariel Hemingway]] all turned down the role as well when offered by Verhoeven and producers.<ref name="nyt920315">{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/15/movies/film-basic-instinct-the-suspect-is-attractive-and-may-be-fatal.html | title='Basic Instinct': The Suspect Is Attractive, and May Be Fatal | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=March 15, 1992 | access-date=August 9, 2009 | quote=But the sexual content of the film helped determine the choice of its female star. Ms. Stone, who played Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife in 'Total Recall', was cast in 'Basic Instinct' only after better-known actresses like Michelle Pfeiffer, Kim Basinger, Geena Davis, Ellen Barkin and Mariel Hemingway rejected her part, largely because it demanded so much nudity and sexual simulation. | first=Bernard | last=Weinraub | archive-date=January 2, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102162952/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/15/movies/film-basic-instinct-the-suspect-is-attractive-and-may-be-fatal.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/movies/kelly-lynch-turned-down-basic-instinct/|title=Why Kelly Lynch Doesn't Regret Turning Down 'Basic Instinct'|newspaper=People }}</ref>

Verhoeven considered [[Demi Moore]],<ref>{{Cite news |author=Bryce Hallett |title=Her world's a stage |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=February 10, 2001 |page=3}}</ref> but ultimately chose Sharon Stone, with whom he had previously worked on ''Total Recall''. Verhoeven had been particularly struck by the way she quickly transitioned from evil to love in a couple of seconds before her character's death in that film.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/6/4/21278539/arnold-schwarzeneggers-mission-to-mars | title = Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mission to Mars | first = Alan | last = Siegel | date = June 4, 2020 | access-date = June 5, 2020 | work = [[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]] | archive-date = June 5, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200605170941/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/6/4/21278539/arnold-schwarzeneggers-mission-to-mars | url-status = live }}</ref> Verhoeven tested with Stone as Douglas first refused to test with her. Verhoeven kept playing her test after testing everyone else, and Douglas later agreed to test with Stone after 12 other actresses turned down the role.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/sharon-stone-on-how-basic-instinct-nearly-broke-her | title="You Can't Shame Me": Sharon Stone on How Basic Instinct Nearly Broke Her, Before Making Her a Star | website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | date=March 18, 2021 }}</ref> Michael Douglas was initially upset that the relatively unknown Stone was cast in the role, determined to have another A-list actress star in the movie with him. Worried about taking the risk on his own, he said, "I need someone to share the risks of this movie. [...] I don't want to be up there all by myself. There's going to be a lot of shit flying around."<ref name=":1"/> He later remarked that "we had a fabulous actress in Sharon. She was just perfect for the role".<ref>{{cite web|author=Holub, Christian|url=https://ew.com/movies/michael-douglas-basic-instinct-sex-scene-overwhelming-cannes-premiere/|title=Michael Douglas says Basic Instinct sex scene was 'overwhelming' at Cannes premiere|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=17 May 2023|accessdate=6 April 2024}}</ref>
Stone was paid $500,000 for her role, while Douglas received $14 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sharon Stone reveals she was paid just $500,000 for Basic Instinct |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/sharon-stone-reveals-she-was-paid-just-500000-for-basic-instinct |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=National Post |date=March 30, 2023}}</ref>