Josh Hartnett, known for his brooding charm and roles in major films like Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, didn’t always have a clear path to stardom. Before he became a household name, his career took an unexpected turn when he landed his breakout role in The Faculty.
The movie not only earned a staggering $63 million at the box office but also skyrocketed Hartnett into the spotlight. However, the story of how he landed this iconic role is quite interesting, similar to how an unexpected twist worked in Matt LeBlanc’s favor when he secured his role in Friends.
From Unprepared Audition to Box Office Hit: Josh Hartnett’s Breakout Story
The year 1998 marked a significant milestone for Josh Hartnett, as he starred in not one but two highly regarded films: Halloween H20: 20 Years Later and The Faculty. Although Halloween H20 positively impacted his career, it was the latter that truly propelled him into the Hollywood limelight. However, the story behind how he landed that pivotal role is quite fascinating, as Hartnett shared in an interview with BuzzFeed UK.
The actor admitted, “I was not prepared for that audition,” and approached the same with a hint of uncertainty. But despite his reservations, it was director Robert Rodriguez who saw something special in him. When he later asked Rodriguez why he was cast despite his lack of acting knowledge.
The director explained, “Precisely because you didn’t know the lines, you were too cool to figure it out to do the work; that’s the character I wanted in Zeke.” Hartnett’s offer to do anything for Rodriguez, including something as menial as mopping the floor, was his way of showing his commitment to working with the director again.
Rodriguez later called Hartnett back for a scene that was initially just a test to persuade Frank Miller to grant the rights for the movie adaptation. The actor filmed the scene in one day, and Miller’s positive reaction to the same led to Rodriguez directing the movie. Hartnett’s role was initially minimal, but he was brought back at the end of filming to shoot a concluding scene that would bookend his earlier test scene.
Interestingly, Josh Hartnett’s story mirrors that of Matt LeBlanc’s in many ways. Just as The Faculty actor’s lack of preparation led to a breakout role, LeBlanc’s entry into the iconic Friends had its own interesting story.
How a Drunken Mishap Led Matt LeBlanc to Stardom?
Matt LeBlanc and his tales are always amusing. But he took the entire world by surprise when he detailed how he bagged his iconic role of Joey Tribbiani on Friends. In the reunion episode that happened all the way back in 1994 (via Independent), the actor detailed that a drunken mishap secured him the role of Joey.
The actor added that he had been preparing for his final callback with a friend. That friend suggested that since the show is about a group of friends, they should go out for drinks. LeBlanc agreed, leading to a night of barhopping. The next morning though, he stumbled in his apartment and ended up falling face-first into the toilet, resulting in a severe face injury.
But despite this, he arrived at his audition with a noticeable scar on his face. When co-creator Marta Kaufmann noticed his injury and asked about it, he recounted the truth. Further, it was his honesty and the accident that helped him secure the role.
You can rent The Faculty on Fubo TV and Apple TV. Further, Friends is available to stream on Max, Disney+ and Hulu.
