Christopher Nolan rose to fame in Hollywood with the release of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful film, Memento, in 2000. The film’s unique storytelling approach piqued the interest of both viewers and critics, thrusting the 52-year-old director into the spotlight as a rising star.
Despite being appreciative of the attention, Nolan thought that the lead actor, Guy Pearce also merited praise for his contribution to the movie. But did you know that the Troy star, Brad Pitt, was previously connected to the project, but he declined it because of other commitments?
Some people might find it surprising that Pitt initially declined the chance to play the lead in Nolan’s 2000 film Memento. Though, it turns out, that it was this rejection that allowed Nolan to become one of Hollywood’s most renowned directors. Really?
This holds true that Nolan’s films have consistently received positive reviews and have performed well at the box office. Also, he has established a reputation for his distinctive non-linear storytelling, complex characters, and large-scale productions.
Then, how did the Babylon actor’s rejection help Nolan establish his career in Hollywood?
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The critically acclaimed and financially successful film Memento, which starred Guy Pearce as a man dealing with memory loss, helped to establish Christopher Nolan as a budding talent in Hollywood.
Despite the unconventional plot and non-linear narrative structure of the movie, both critics and viewers praised Nolan’s expert direction and storytelling. Pearce was astounded by the script, and his performance contributed to the movie’s status as a cult favorite.
Brad Pitt though, could have taken on the role of Leonard Shelby before Pearce made it his own. The actor’s performances in films like Fight Club and Seven definitely would have come to Nolan’s mind when thinking about the casting of this 2000 film.
In an interview with Yahoo! Movies, the 52-year-old director admitted that:
“[Pitt] did read the script [for Memento]. He read the script, and he met with me about it when he didn’t have any reason to know who I was or anything about it. And nothing came of it.”
Even though he was never officially cast in the lead role, the British-American director further claimed that the Fury actor had expressed interest in the Memento script. In fact, because of the actor, producers became interested in the project and helped it gain traction with the studios.
Thus, it is safe to say that even though the 59-year-old actor turned down Memento, his involvement with the project enabled Nolan to secure studio support.
Why Did Brad Pitt Refuse To Accept Memento?
In 2000, when Memento was still in the planning stages, Brad Pitt was given a copy of the script and he even expressed interest in playing Leonard Shelby, the film’s main character.
The renowned actor, despite his initial enthusiasm, ultimately made the decision not to pursue the role. Pitt’s choice did not change Christopher Nolan‘s mind, and he was still appreciative of the actor’s early support for the film.
Even though the World War Z actor seemed to enjoy the script, Guy Pearce ultimately won the role and helped in launching the movie’s production. Well, the film’s powerful screenplay, written by Nolan and his brother (Jonathan Nolan), is also the reason for the movie’s success, despite Pitt’s decision not to star in it.
Carrie-Anne Moss, Jorja Fox, and Joe Pantoliano were also cast in the movie.
After Memento’s commercial success, Nolan went on to helm a number of critically acclaimed movies, including The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, and Interstellar. He has established himself as one of his generation’s most creative and influential filmmakers by consistently pushing the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking with each new endeavor.
And thus, it can be said that Pitt’s rejection of Memento had a profound effect on Nolan’s professional growth. This is because the Bullet Train actor’s interest in the film was enough to do its magic for the British-American filmmaker’s film to gain momentum.
Anyway, HBO Max offers the Memento movie for streaming.
Source – Yahoo! Movies
