Part 7/15:
The lead roles were filled by talented yet relatively unknown actors, such as Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Karen Allen, and Kevin Bacon. John Landis personally auditioned and, in one case, instinctively knew who to hire—disregarding initial doubts about Tim Matheson’s suitability. The casting was groundbreaking because it relied heavily on talent and chemistry rather than star power, which was scarce at the time, given the film's modest budget. Belushi, the stand-out star, earned merely $40,000, underscoring the film’s low-budget spirit.