>>8848772 (PB)
Sorcerer was a remake of the French classic Le Salaire de la Peur, aka Wages of Fear.
Friedkin initially cast Steve McQueen as the lead in the Sorcerer, but fired and replaced him with Roy Schneider when McQ wanted to bring his then GF Ali McGraw on location. McQueen was by far the biggest 'star' in the world at that time, but Billy F lost his temper refused and replaced McQueen with another actor.
If you want to see a director cry, ask Billy Friedkin how he thinks the Sorcerer would have done at the box office if he'd had McQueen in the role instead of Roy Schneider.
La salaire de la Peur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wages_of_Fear
Gossip:
William Peter Blatty, who wrote The Exorcist, asked Friedkin shortly before his own death, "You right with God, Moe?"
Friedken replied ambivalently. "You better get right with Him, Moe - because that shit is real.
Friedkin is married to Sharry Lansing who ran Paramount studios from 1992 to until 2005.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sherry-lansing-why-i-left-movie-business-996462