1995: George Clooney accepts the "Green Hornet" role but drops out to star in two action duds, "The Peacemaker" and "Batman & Robin."
1997: Mark Wahlberg is offered the lead, while Michel Gondry signs on to make his directorial debut. The film flies into development hell; Gondry goes on to direct "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
2000: Jet Li is offered Kato, the sidekick role.
2004: Kevin Smith ("Clerks") is the new director. He talks with Jake Gyllenhaal about playing the lead.
2007: In a surprise move, the studio hires pudgy goofball Seth Rogen to star.
2008: Hong Kong superstar Stephen Chow ("Kung Fu Hustle") is announced as director and will co-star as Kato. He drops out over creative differences.
2009: Gondry returns to the director's chair for good, but disagrees with Nicolas Cage, who wants to play the villain with a Jamaican accent. Cage is replaced by "Inglourious Basterds" Oscar winner Christoph Waltz. Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou is cast as Kato.
2011: Gondry, Rogen and Chou buzz into theaters.
