After desperately clinging to his dream project, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, when the film got postponed by decades, Terry Gilliam shifted his focus to The Brothers Grimm. Making a winning combination from the start, Gilliam used his specialization in the bleak and strange to turn Heath Ledger and Matt Damon’s 2005 movie into the most beloved, dark fairy tales of all time.
Although The Brothers Grimm featured a stellar cast including Jonathan Pryce, Monica Bellucci, Lena Headey, and more, it was reported that Terry Gilliam initially wanted Johnny Depp instead of Matt Damon. Considering Gilliam’s preference towards Depp, even Damon was baffled when he was hired for the $105M movie, in place of the Pirates star.
Matt Damon was Terry Gilliam’s Last Choice for The Brothers Grimm
Having mainstream successes like The Fisher King and Twelve Monkeys under his belt, Terry Gilliam was once fixated on his dream project The Man Who Killed Don Quixote during the early 2000s. Set to star Johnny Depp in the potential movie, Gilliam’s project unfortunately got delayed by decades. Therefore, shifting his focus from the movie, Gilliam came up with The Brothers Grimm.
Narrating the tale of the two trickster brothers Jake and Will Grimm, who cheat people with stories of enchanted creatures and exorcisms, Terry Gilliam’s movie eventually puts the duo to the test when they encounter a real magical curse. 2005’s The Brothers Grimm starred Heath Ledger and Matt Damon in titular roles, alongside other A-listers like Jonathan Pryce, Lena Headey, and more.
However, when the movie was in production, it was reported that Matt Damon wasn’t Terry Gilliam’s initial choice. In fact, Damon was the filmmaker’s last choice for the role of Will Grimm. Apparently, according to IGN, the role was initially set for Johnny Depp. Considering the Sweeney Todd actor as his best preference, Gilliam wished for Depp to appear as Will in the 2005 movie.
Matt Damon Replaced Johnny Depp in the $105M Movie
Unfortunately, according to reports, back when the movie was in production, Johnny Depp was not considered enough of a box office draw. It was noted that, after Terry Gilliam spoke with producer Bob Weinstein, to star Depp in the movie, the filmmaker was turned down as Weinstein claimed that Depp was not commercial enough to turn the movie into a success.
Eventually, although Pirates of the Caribbean was released during the production of The Brothers Grimm in 2003, and changed Depp’s status overnight, it was already too late as Matt Damon was already signed for the role. Well, even Damon was shocked to get offered a role in Gilliam’s movie, replacing Johnny Depp. Since the Pirates star was the filmmaker’s top preference, Damon was curious to know how he replaced Depp.
“The reality was, for me, I was the last one. Heath was already in and Terry was already doing it. By the time it came to me, I just couldn’t believe it. This role in a Terry Gilliam movie is available? How does that even happen?… we went and met in Chuck’s [Roven] guest house and it was the three of us. The first thing I said to Terry was, ‘Why isn’t Johnny Depp doing this movie?’ And, you know, Chuck instantly went, ‘No, no, no! We want you!’ But I was just like looking at Terry.” Damon shared.
Realizing instantly that there was something fishy, Matt Damon charged Terry Gilliam to speak the truth about his casting. Eventually, the director revealed how the studio wouldn’t let him do the movie with Johnny Depp, and that’s when Damon agreed to do the role. Through the interview with IGN, the Oppenheimer star noted how the notorious Weinstein brothers must have realized their mistake after Pirates of the Caribbean catapulted Depp’s fame.
“Halfway through production, Pirates of the Caribbean came out, so I’m sure Bob Weinstein was like, ‘F**k! We could have had Depp!’ They’re still kicking themselves.”
But ultimately, the role of Will Grimm went to Matt Damon, alongside late actor Heath Ledger’s Jake Grimm, who turned The Brothers Grimm into a $105M success, via The Numbers. Although the movie failed to create its position at the box office, the 2005 movie eventually turned into a gothic fantasy staple of Hollywood.
The Brothers Grimm is available on Prime Video.
