 For the female lead of Cliff 's girlfriend Jenny , Sherilyn Fenn , Kelly Preston , Diane Lane and Elizabeth McGovern were considered before Jennifer Connelly was eventually cast . Campbell and Connelly 's working relationship eventually led to a romantic coupling , which Johnston found to be a technique for method acting that helped with their on @-@ screen chemistry . For Secord 's sidekick , Peevy , Dave Stevens hoped that Lloyd Bridges would play the part , but Bridges turned it down and Alan Arkin was cast . The part of Neville Sinclair was offered to Jeremy Irons and Charles Dance before Timothy Dalton accepted the role . Lastly , the part of Eddie Valentine was written with Joe Pesci in mind , but he turned down the part , which went to Paul Sorvino . 
