“I’m not sure if that was sexism”: the rejected Sandra Bullock movie made by Clint Eastwood
Few things are more frustrating for an actor or filmmaker than dedicating years of their life to trying to get a certain movie made, only for their pleas to continually fall on deaf ears. What made it even worse for Sandra Bullock was that her passion project did happen, and she had absolutely nothing to do with it.
As one of the biggest, most popular, and bankable female stars of the modern era, Bullock realistically shouldn’t face too many difficulties convincing studios that a story she believes in deserves to be brought to the screen, with her box office track record and acting abilities speaking for themselves.
She was also a proven producer who threw her weight behind many films that turned major profits, but for whatever reason, the one she really wanted to make didn’t interest those in the corridors of power. Perhaps it was because it would have required her to play against type, with Bullock yet to truly establish herself as an elite-level dramatic talent capable of anchoring a convincing prestige picture.
That’s just spitballing, of course, but it must have stung for the actor to keep banging the drum for an intimate character-driven drama she was so invested in, only to sit back and watch as somebody else swooped in, steered it across the finish line, and led it to massive critical, commercial, and awards season success.
Once Clint Eastwood came aboard, development hell quickly became a thing of the past for Million Dollar Baby. He signed on to direct in early 2004, had principal photography in the can by the end of July, and the film released in cinemas the very same December; such is his famously economical way of working.
The end result was $216 million in ticket sales, seven Academy Award nominations, and four wins, including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’. However, Hilary Swank’s ‘Best Actress’ victory would have stung the most because the part of Maggie Fitzgerald was one Bullock desperately wanted to play.
“I don’t know if they weren’t interested in female boxers or whether they were just not interested in me playing a female boxer,” she reflected to The Times. “I’m not sure if that was sexism. I just barrelled on through. I had blinkers on for most of my career. It was only much later than I realised, ‘Oh my god, I’m being treated this way because I’m female.'”
Bullock had spent a long time stating her case as to why not only Million Dollar Baby should be made but also why she was perfect for the lead. In the end, it amounted to nothing, only for the living legend Eastwood to swoop in and make it an Oscar-winning smash hit. Her confidence in the project was justified, albeit in the worst possible way.
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