Brad Pitt is one of the most talked about and the biggest star in Hollywood, whose glorious journey speaks volumes about the triumphs and trials he endured while building his career in the industry. His incredible acting prowess and boyish charm have made him the fan favorite. The actor has successfully helmed dozens of action, crime thrillers, and entertaining films, making him the highest-grossing star in the American entertainment industry.
Pitt has worked with many talented actors, including Tom Cruise whom he had an alleged rivalry since they starred together in the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire. According to reports, the Academy Award-winning actor turned down the role of Tommy Williams in the 1994 American drama film The Shawshank Redemption since he chose to drop the flick and went to pursue the role of a vampire named Louis de Pointe du Lac in the Cruise starrer flick.
Brad Pitt Nearly Played Tommy Williams in The Shawshank Redemption
Brad Pitt once turned down the titular role in the Morgan Freeman-led 1994 American drama film The Shawshank Redemption. The actor has reportedly turned down a few parts and projects in his storied career. According to reports, the actor was initially offered the role of Williams in the flick, but he rejected the job and went on to work in Tom Cruise Starrer Interview with the Vampire.
After the mega success of his film Thelma & Louise, Pitt ascended to superstardom and dropped out of this film to play the part. Nevertheless, he once revealed that he has no regrets about not being part of one of the most iconic and critically acclaimed projects that have achieved iconic status in the industry. The Fight Club movie star told USA Today:
“It would have been kind of cool to be in, but I’m not a regret guy in that way. I just believe in the way things work out, and that was someone else’s role. Even the feeling of, ‘Ooh, that would’ve been nice’ would redirect a choice later down the road. So it all works in tandem in that way.”
Hollywood stars often turn down iconic roles when they think they will not fit in or because of their prior work commitments. However, Brad Pitt has rejected several high-profile film roles, including Martin Scorsese-directed award-winning film The Departed.
Brad Pitt Opens Up About His Experience Working with Tom Cruise
Brad Pitt once revealed that he was miserable filming the Neil Jordan-directed Interview With The Vampire opposite Tom Cruise. Pitt and Cruise allegedly became rivals after starring in this flick. In an interview, the 59-year-old star said,
“I am miserable. Six months in the f***ing dark…We get to London, and London was f***ing dark. London was dead of winter. We’re shooting in Pinewood, which is an old institution. There were windows there. It hasn’t been re-fabbed in decades. You leave for work in the dark — you go into this cauldron, this mausoleum — and then you come out, and it’s dark. I’m telling you, one day it broke me.”
About his potential rivalry with Cruise, the actor said,
“He bugged me. There came a point during filming when I started really resenting him. He’s North Pole, I’m South. He’s always coming at you with a handshake, whereas I may bump into you. There was this underlying competition that got in the way of any real conversation.”
Despite Brad Pitt’s claims that he wasn’t comfortable filming this movie, Interview with the Vampire received positive reviews from the audience and critics alike and earned two Oscar nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Original Score.
Source: USA Today
