Jim Carrey, the generational talent who established himself as the definitive star and comedic royalty of the 90s and early 2000s with films ranging from The Mask to Bruce Almighty, often had his fair share of bad days. Although he was already an affirmed actor in Hollywood, his movie, The Truman Show, faced many challenges in getting out into the world and varied hugely from the original script.
Jim Carrey was highly depressed that his movie had to go through so many changes but as the film was too dark and horrific to common people, it had to be done. Although he felt that the rewrites made the film tame and that they lost some of the power of the original concept, it was necessary for the movie’s release.
Jim Carrey’s The Truman Show Underwent 16 Rewrites
The 1998 movie starring Jim Carrey underwent numerous rewrites before it was deemed complete because of its overtly horrific tone. With millions in worldwide box office receipts, The Truman Show was both a critical and financial triumph. However, the production of the movie wasn’t without its difficulties. The initial screenplay for the movie was far darker and more horrifying than the final cut.
In the main script, Truman Burbank had no idea that he was the star of The Truman Show, a reality program that had been airing for more than 30 years. For him, the show’s creators had constructed a whole false reality, complete with fictitious parents, friends, and a wife. Jim Carrey was captivated by the part of Truman as soon as he read the original script. However, he was worried about the tragic and dark tone of the movie.
“The most expensive art film ever made where he [Niccol] had it depressing, I could make it light. It could convince audiences they could watch a show in this scope 24/7.”
Peter Weir shared his view on The Truman Show via IMDb.
The Truman Show went through 16 rewrites before it was finally ready to be filmed. To make sure Carrey was happy with the writing and that the movie had a consistent tone, Andrew Niccol and Peter Weir worked closely with him. The film’s dark tone was one of the reasons why it was initially difficult to get the project made and many studios were worried that the film would be too dark and disturbing for audiences.
But the team’s compelling script ultimately persuaded a studio to take a gamble on the movie. The Truman Show became a cult favorite after being a critical and financial triumph as it explores themes such as the power of media, social media, and the nature of reality, the movie is still relevant to date. The movie made a huge $264 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of only $60 million.
Jim Carrey’s Fight With Depression
Jim Carrey has been candid in the past about his battles with depression. He has acknowledged that he has battled depression all of his life and that it has affected him significantly. Carrey further said that the pressures of fame and riches had made his depression worse and that he has been able to have significant career success despite his battles with depression. He is among the most well-known and prosperous actors in the world.
Carrey has said that counseling and medicine have helped him overcome his depression. Additionally, he has stated that it is critical to dispel the stigma associated with mental illness and communicate openly about depression. Carrey’s tale serves as motivation for many depressed individuals and he showed everyone that despite dealing with mental illness, it is still possible to have a successful and rewarding life.
Source: IMDb.
