Brad Pitt is a film icon these days, however, it took time to get on top of the mountain. As we'll reveal in the following, Thelma & Louise was a crucial role in his career. The competition for the role of JD was not an easy one, as several Hollywood A-listers auditioned for the role. Geena Davis recalled some of the audition process and according to the actress, Pitt was so good that she stumbled through their time together.
Pitt got the role but the actor himself revealed that they flip-flopped on the decision multiple times. In addition, a certain A-list actor was livid over the outcome. We'll reveal which actor felt indifferent about the decision, and how thankful Pitt still is for the opportunity in the film years later. Thankfully, Brad Pitt and this A-list actor are friends today, however, they aren't opposed to pranking one another.
Despite The Competition Geena Davis Knew Brad Pitt Was The Perfect Person For The Role
Thelma & Louise turned into a classic released in 1991. The cast was highlighted by Geena David and Susan Sarandon, while a young up-and-comer played the role of JD. That actor was none other than Brad Pitt. The film did wonders for his career, and was praised by the critics. Geena Davis knew at the start Brad was the right person for the role.
“He just has ‘it.’ I could tell when he was auditioning that he was super talented,” she tells People. “He has done so many incredible things over the years. I don’t think that it is unusual for him to be honored. He really is the ‘star’ of the moment, which is fabulous, and it is just great to see.”
Davis would also reveal that Brad was performing at a high level during his audition, and that she was responsible for messing things up.
“They all had brown hair and were very talented. I didn’t care who it was going to be. Then the fourth one comes in, and it’s Brad Pitt. He’s so charismatic and so incredibly talented that I was screwing up his audition.”
It didn't matter as Brad got the role but according to the actor, there were no guarantees behind the scenes.
Brad Pitt Revealed That He Lost His Role In Thelma & Louise Three Times
According to Brad Pitt, getting the career-altering role featured several complications behind the scenes. The actor revealed that the role wasn't his at the start, and he lost it multiple times.
"Yeah, that was my entry into the big leagues, I guess. Geena was so sweet and kind and delicate. That love scene, I think, went on for two days of shooting. She took care of me."
"I just thought, I'm the guy for this. But they went through a couple of other actors. I didn't get the part at first, and then it came back around and I didn't get it again, and I went, 'Huh. All right. Moving on.' And then it came back around again. I feel like it was three times."
Ultimately, Pitt was grateful for the opportunity and that held true years later when he won an Oscar for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Brad mentioned his opportunity, “And to Geena [Davis] and Ridley [Scott] for giving me my first shot, to all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way to standing here now . . . once upon a time in Hollywood? Ain’t that the truth. And to my kids, who color everything I do, I adore you.”
George Clooney Wasn't Pleased With Brad Pitt's Casting In The Role And He Let Geena Davis Know About It
Pitt got the role, but one actor in particular wasn't exactly pleased. According to Geena Davis, Clooney was upset over the decision.
She recalled, "You know what, I hate that Brad Pitt.” Laughing, she replied, “‘No, you don’t. Isn’t he, like, your best friend?’ ‘No, no, I hate him,’” George said. ‘He got the part in Thelma & Louise,’” Davis recalls.
Things turned out to be just fine between Pitt and Clooney as they were able to build quite the connection thanks to Ocean's Eleven.
However, Clooney pranked Pitt throughout their careers. One in particular saw Clooney send Meryl Streep tapes of accents, and said that it was from Pitt.
“I sent that thing of voices to her, the greatest actress of all time … and I sent it from Brad with a card that said ‘Dear Meryl, I hear you’re going to play the Iron lady. This guy helped me with my accent in “Troy," Clonney revealed.
Hilariously, Streep told Clooney that she avoided Pitt for years following the gesture.