The Oscar-winning cult classic Brad Pitt turned down: “He couldn’t trust it”
Brad Pitt is one of the most prolific actors working today, with an ever-evolving and dynamic career comprising some of the most influential feats of modern filmmaking. Whether it be his desperate search for truth and humanity in Seven, the effortlessly cool character of Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood or his touching portrayal of an actor faced with imminent obsoletion in Babylon, Pitt has starred in many iconic stories over the years, forging a reputation through his vibrant supporting roles.
However, while his creative resume is stacked and overflowing with impressive roles, there is one part he missed out on that would have changed cinematic history as we know it.
Cameron Crowe made his mark on the film industry with personally driven and colourful character-driven stories, first finding success as a screenwriter after penning Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He later reached a huge audience with his 1996 film Jerry Maguire, starring Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger. While this could be the peak of success for many filmmakers, this was barely the tip of the iceberg for Crowe, with his subsequent film release becoming his defining legacy.
To put it simply, Almost Famous is one of the most glorious and magical films ever made, capturing the community created through music and humanity in its most vibrant form. Based on Crowe’s real-life experiences as a teenager, it follows a young boy called William who aspires to be a rock journalist, accidentally finding himself on tour with a rising rock band and being tasked with interviewing them for Rolling Stones magazine.
The entire film exists on its own plane of reality, creating a dream-like stream of images that take you into another realm of the world that is entirely detached from real life. It creates a joyously out-of-body experience as you embark on this adventure with William, completely enamoured by the glamour and grit of the 1970s and the people who made it most alive. However, much of this is achieved through the central performances in the film, something that might have looked very different due to early conversations about another actor being cast in one of the lead roles.
Billy Crudup famously plays Russel, but Crowe revealed that they entertained the idea of working with Pitt. The director explained why this collaboration didn’t come to fruition, saying, “His head was still in Fight Club, and the part was a little underwritten. It was the most underwritten in the script, and he couldn’t trust it enough. I’ve talked to him since. I love the guy. I think he’s hilarious, and I thought he would have been funny in the movie. If I had waited a few more months, he might have come around to it, but we had to get going. But Billy Crudup worked out great”.
Ultimately, it is borderline criminal to imagine this part going to anyone else, with Crudup oozing that effortless rockstar quality and slightly frustrating level of charisma and charm that allows him to get away with absolutely anything. While Pitt certainly possesses similar qualities, everything happens for a reason, and it was most definitely a trick of fate that he wasn’t given the role that Crudup seems as though he was made for.
