The studio wanted Leonardo DiCaprio for the role of Aaron Stampler in "Primal Fear" (1996). But he turned it down. Around 2100 actors from California to England were auditioned for the role. Edward Norton and Pedro Pascal were part of the audition. Pascal said, "My first audition was for 'Primal Fear' (1996). I was totally in over my head. I auditioned for that in New York and then I went to L.A. for it. I didn’t get it and was unemployed for about 10 years."
Those who had seen Norton’s two screen tests said that many of the actors vying for the role simply took a seat and began exchanging dialogue. Norton, however, chose to sit in a corner and decided that the character should have a stutter.
Director Gregory Hoblit said what gave Aaron’s character such strength was Norton’s ability to appear as an ordinary person. Hoblit said, "We needed someone young and believable and who had a certain innocence about them, Edward had all of those qualities."
(Pedro Pascal's interview with Sarah Paulson, Interview magazine, 2014 & "Everybody's Talking but Him : Edward Norton Lets His Star-Making Turn in 'Primal Fear' Speak for Itself", LA Times, Robert W. Welkos, 1996)
P.S: Happy 57th birthday, Edward Norton!