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Brokeback Mountainis one of the iconic movies of the Hollywood industry. It is considered as one of the best movies by Ang Lee. It was a neo-Western romantic drama film produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus. It featured Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Williams in the lead roles. However, the Oscar-winning film could have been very different Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt would have played the leads.
The story focuses on a romantic relationship between two guys in the 60s and 70s era. The director was immensely appreciated for his serious attempt on the subject.
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Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt could play leads inBrokeback Mountain
The film is one of the classics of Hollywood, which won numerous awards including the Oscars, Golden Globes, etc. However, during the production phase, the film went through several development iterations, which included a tedious casting process, untilHeath LedgerandJake Gyllenhaalwere finalized.
Apparently, Ang Lee was not the director who wanted to make a film on the subject. Before him, director Gus Van Sant wanted to make a film on the topic, and he planned to cast the A-listers of the Hollywood industry. Gus Van Sant toldVariety,
“Nobody wanted to do it. I was working on it, and I felt like we needed a really strong cast, like a famous cast. That wasn’t working out. I asked the usual suspects: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillippe. They all said no.”
Since the big stars refused to take up the roles, Van Sant dropped the project. However, Ang Lee made the film, and it became one of the most appreciated films in the industry.
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Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were too busy to work in Gus Van Sant’s film
The early 2000s was the busiest time for the two action stars. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were at the peak of their careers and were doing films back to back. The actors were swamped with work, which was one of the reasons they refused Van Sant’s offer. Around that time, Leonardo DiCaprio was doing biopics likeCatch Me If You Can and The Aviator. He also did crime dramas includingGangs of New York, The Departed, and more.
On the other hand, Brad Pitt was dabbling with a big franchise for films likeOcean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Twelve. He also lent his voice to King of the Hill and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
The stars turned down the film for numerous reasons like scripts, timing, having conflicting contractual obligations, pursuing other projects, chemistry with the co-star or directors, etc. However, one of the prominent issues was playing LGBTQ+ roles, as it would have potentially affected their careers.
The film obtained critical acclaim, specifically for the performances of Ledger and Gyllenhaal. It was a commercial success, grossing over $178 million worldwide against a small budget of $14 million. It won Oscar awards for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Original Score.
Brokeback Mountainis available for streaming on Apple TV Starz.
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Source-Variety
Arushi Srivastava
Articles Published :711
Arushi is a keen follower of Hollywood movies and TV shows. She has an experience of 5+ years in content writing and loves to write on everything around Hollywood and fan fiction. An ardent Hollywood buff, Arushi loves to tell stories through her writing and has contributed to several posts. You will find her following celebrities and enjoying classics in her free time.
