Robert Downey Jr. almost obtained the role of Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise

And George Clooney missed the hearing… five times.

On the occasion of the replay of Thelma and Louisethis Sunday on Arte -Suivi of a special documentary on the cult film with Geena Davis And Susan Sarandon– We set off again some casting anecdotes, revealed in 2017 in a work devoted to the cult film by Ridley Scott.

Released in 1991, Thelma and Louisemarked the public for his modern and feminist remarks. He also allowed a certain Brad Pitt to be spotted by Hollywood producers. The actor played JD, a cannon self -topper and scammer who charmed Thelma (Geena Davis), and we learned almost 30 years after its release that the future star almost obtained the role, which had first been offered to other actors.

In his book Off the cliff: How the Making of Thelma and Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edgethe author Becky Aikman detail as well as Dermot Mulroney (Young Gunsthen later Copycat) had auditioned, in the company of his girlfriend of the time, Catherine Keener. Ridley had hired the actress for a supporting role (the character’s wife played by Harvey Keitel), but that his scene was later cut off. It is ultimately William Baldwin (Born on July 4) which was hired, but in the meantime he obtained a more important role in Backdraftof Ron Howardand has given way. Grant Show (series True Blue at the time and then in Melrose Place), replaced it, but it was precisely his commitment to television that finally retained it.

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“Following these departures, the casting team began to panic and launched an alert from all Hollywood agencies”, reveals the book. Representatives of Robert Downey Jr. then replied that the actor was ready to sign “Whatever the salary”. However, he already had some critical successes behind him, especially in Snow on Beverly Hills, the adaptation of the novel Less than zeroof Bret Easton Ellis (1987), in which, irony, appeared Brad Pitt during a festive scene (not credited) or Air America with Mel Gibson (1990). But it was not his notoriety that posed a problem, specifies the author. “The casting director wondered if he was not too small compared to Geena (which measures more than 1m80 while the actor is 1m74, editor’s note). Once she asked Ridley, he changed his mind. “

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Becky Aikman concludes by explaining that Brad Pitt was actually part of a late hearing. “Faced with him, Davis was very nervous. She even apologized to him saying ‘I am sorry, I ruined your hearing.'” However, the alchemy between the two actors was palpable, and it was Brad who was hired to play JD a supporting role, certainly – it was paid $ 6,000 in the time – but in a film that has become very popular which allowed him to break through. So far, he multiplied supporting roles, especially in TV series (21 Jump Street, what’s new, doctor ?, Glory Days…). One year later Thelma and Louisethe actor signed for one of the main roles ofAnd in the middle flows a river. The actress is not for nothing in her hiring: when the director asked her which partner she would choose from all the candidates, Geena Davis replied “I would take the blond”And Brad Pitt was the only blond.

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The book also recalls that two actors become very famous since tried to obtain this role in the early 1990s: Mark Ruffaloalias hulk, and George Clooney. The latter even passed the hearing five times!

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