Casting

Producer Ross Bell met with actor Russell Crowe as a candidate to portray Tyler Durden, while at the same time producer Art Linson, later brought on board, was negotiating with Brad Pitt for the same role. Due to Linson's seniority, Pitt was cast over Crowe. Pitt, who sought a new project after the failure of his previous film, Meet Joe Black (1998), was hired with a salary of $17.5 million by the studio, who believed that Fight Club would be more commercially successful with a major star. Fincher also sought to cast Edward Norton as the narrator based on the actor's performance in The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), though the studio desired a "sexier marquee name" like Matt Damon to improve the film's visibility. Sean Penn was another candidate for the role of the narrator. Norton had also been approached by other studios for leading roles in films like The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and Man on the Moon (1999). Norton temporarily pursued Runaway Jury (2003), but the project fell apart. Fox offered Norton a salary of $2.5 million to lure him away from the other projects. Before Norton could accept, he owed Paramount Pictures a film. To be legally released to film Fight Club, Norton signed a new contract with Paramount for a lesser salary, eventually and unwillingly being cast in The Italian Job (2003). In January 1998, Brad Pitt and Edward Norton officially joined the project to portray Tyler Durden and the nameless narrator, respectively.

Actresses Courtney Love and Winona Ryder were considered to portray Marla Singer. The studio desired to cast Reese Witherspoon, but Fincher considered the actress too young. Ultimately, Helena Bonham Carter was cast into the role based on her performance in The Wings of the Dove (1997).

Norton and Pitt took lessons in boxing, taekwondo, and grappling to prepare for their roles. The actors also took soapmaking classes from boutique company owner Auntie Godmother. For his role, Pitt voluntarily visited a dentist to have pieces of his front teeth chipped off, and the teeth were restored after filming concluded.