Trainspotting (film) discussing which chapters of the book would and would not translate into film. Hodge finished the first draft by December. Macdonald secured financing from Channel 4, a British television station known for funding independent films. Pre-production began in April 1995. Ewan McGregor was cast after impressing Boyle and Macdonald with his work on their previous film, "Shallow Grave". According to Boyle, for the role of Renton, they wanted the quality of Michael Caine's character in "Alfie" and Malcolm McDowell's character in "A Clockwork Orange", "repulsive ... with charm "that makes you feel deeply ambiguous about what he's doing." McGregor shaved
Christopher Eccleston (2002). Eccleston appeared in a stage role in "Hamlet" in the 2002 production at Leeds's West Yorkshire Playhouse. March–April 2004 saw him return to the venue in a new play, "Electricity". Eccleston has been twice nominated in the Best Actor category at the British Academy Television Awards. His first nomination came in 1997 for "Our Friends in the North", but he lost to Nigel Hawthorne (for "The Fragile Heart"). He was nominated in 2004 for "The Second Coming"; Bill Nighy won for "State of Play". Eccleston won the Best Actor category at the 1997 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for "Our