Remember Baz Luhrmann’s early 2000 film about romance and music in Paris? Yes, we are referring to the 2001 release of the jukebox musical Moulin Rouge!, which film critic Roger Ebert once likened to “being trapped on an elevator with the circus”.
In the 2001 flick, we saw English writer Christian (Ewan McGregor) pen his love story on his typewriter as he mourned the loss of his beloved Satine (Nicole Kidman). You may not be aware, though, that multiple actors tried out for the role of Christian but were not selected. Among them were Leonardo DiCaprio, Heath Ledger, and Jake Gyllenhaal; Ethan Hawke was also considered for the part.
During a recent interview with Howard Stern, the Prisoners actor disclosed that he and Ledger were both “disappointed” about losing the role.
Jake Gyllenhaal And Heath Ledger Almost Starred In Moulin Rouge!
Jake Gyllenhaal was on the verge of taking on the role of Christian in Moulin Rouge! During a recent chat on the SiriusXM radio program The Howard Stern Show, he disclosed that he had tried out for Baz Luhrmann’s musical film. The role of Christian, he said, was between himself, Ewan McGregor, and the late Heath Ledger. However, McGregor eventually won the role.
Recognizing that Ledger probably felt the same way, A Dangerous Woman star acknowledged that he was “disappointed” not to grab the role. To quote the latter:
“What I felt was disappointment when I didn’t get it. Both Heath and I were disappointed. But that’s Ewan McGregor’s part. You learn to go, ‘There’s another one. I can try and go in and audition for another one. I’ll get something else.’ You keep that attitude.”
Even so, in a 2022 interview with The Playlist, Buhrmann praised the actor’s skills. “He is a really great musical artist”, the director said, adding that Gyllenhaal was “very close” to landing the part. Well, in addition to being a box office hit, the movie won two Academy Awards for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
The movie was well-received by critics as well. According to Roger Ebert, the film was “all color and music, sound and motion, kinetic energy, broad strokes, operatic excess”. He gave it a rating of 3.5 stars out of 4. Newsweek lauded the performances of Nicole Kidman and McGregor.
The Audition That Got Away: Ethan Hawke’s Near Miss with Moulin Rouge!
Imagine Ethan Hawke performing ‘Come What May’ alongside the cast of Moulin Rouge! But sadly, even he couldn’t make it to grab that role. The actor, 53, described his audition for the 2001 flick as “one of the greatest screen tests of [his] life” in an interview with Screen Rant. In his words:
“Ewan doesn’t like this because he gets embarrassed, but I gave one of the greatest screen tests of my life for Moulin Rouge. I did not get the part. I crushed this audition. And it just goes to show you how much I like Ewan’s work. I still went to see the movie on opening day and loved it. So, I got over it. But I will say, someday that audition will be seen and people are gonna rethink.”
Given the success of the two-time Oscar-winning film, one could argue that not landing the role was definitely a ‘disappointment’.
Moulin Rouge! was well-received by critics and is regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. It came in at number 53 in the BBC’s 2016 poll of the top 100 movies of the twenty-first century. Jake Gyllenhaal, Hawke, and Heath Ledger may have missed out on one opportunity, but their talent and perseverance have secured their place in Hollywood’s pantheon of great actors.
You can rent Moulin Rouge! on Apple TV.
