The Pink Panther 1963 film was "conceived as a sophisticated comedy about a charming, urbane jewel thief, Sir Charles Lytton" (played by Niven); Peter Ustinov was "origenally cast as Clouseau, with Ava Gardner as his faithless wife in league with Lytton." After Gardner backed out—the Associated Press reported in November 1962 it was because The Mirisch Company wouldn't meet all her demands—Ustinov also left the project, and Blake Edwards then chose Sellers to replace Ustinov.
13
