Ridley Scott clarifies how Brad Pitt was cast in Thelma & Louise
, sharing a different account than star Geena Davis. Released in 1991, the road-trip crime drama remains one of Scott’s most-loved films, with a story that follows the two тιтular best friends, played by Davis and Susan Sarandon, respectively, as they run from the authorities. Pitt memorably appears briefly in Thelma & Louise as J.D., an attractive drifter, a casting that Davis has taken some credit for in the past. Davis has revealed that she read with four male actors in total, and that she enthusiastically chose Pitt.
In a recent interview with GQ, Scott addresses Pitt’s casting in Thelma & Louise, revealing that parts of Davis’ account are accurate. When it came to the final decision regarding Pitt’s casting, however, the director reveals that he had already chosen him prior to Davis voicing her opinion. Check out Scott’s comments below:
I lost the Brad I cast about 10 days out. He took another film. “Oh, dear, what a terrible mistake.” And so I had to look fast. I got two guys, Brad and another guy. Equally kind of attractive. And I said to Geena, “Okay, I’ve got two guys. You’re going to read with both and after we’ll discuss it.” She went, “This guy, Brad Pitt,” and that’s it. She thinks she cast him. She didn’t. I already cast him.
What Pitt’s Casting Means For Thelma & Louise
How The Ridley Scott Movie Performed
Scott has made a number of iconic films over the course of his almost 50-year movie career, and Thelma & Louise is widely considered among his best. The film has a strong 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and an 82% from audiences. It was also nominated for six Oscars, ultimately winning only one for Best Original Screenplay. Made on an estimated budget of $16.5 million, Thelma & Louise grossed $45 million worldwide, making it a hit.
For Pitt, Thelma & Louise marked his first breakthrough film role, with his portrayal of the charming but mischievous J.D. putting him on the map as an actor. Two years later, Pitt had a similarly memorable supporting role in True Romance before then playing the lead in Se7en in 1995. From there, he went on to appear in Fight Club in 1999 before Ocean’s Eleven cemented his movie star status in 2001.
After two Ocean‘s sequels and a female-led reboot, George Clooney has teased that Ocean’s 14 is a possibility.
Our Take On Pitt’s Thelma & Louise Casting
Other Iconic Scott Casting Decisions Explained
Scott (and his casting directors) have been responsible for some truly remarkable casting decisions over the years. Sigourney Weaver is still most widely known for her role in Alien (1979), and Gladiator (2000) arguably remains Crowe’s most iconic role. Even though Harrison Ford is best known for Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Deckard in Blade Runner (1982) remains one of his most memorable characters. As a relatively minor character in Thelma & Louise, J.D. isn’t that type of role for Pitt, but it still speaks to Scott’s eye for finding the right actor for the part.
Source: GQ
