 However, according to a report in "The New York Times", Wyler refused to take the job until he was sure he had a good leading man.MGM permitted Wyler to start casting, and in April 1957, mainstream media outlets reported that Wyler was giving screen tests to Italian leading men, such as Cesare Danova.By June 13, 1957, MGM was still declining to confirm that Wyler had been hired to direct.