Josh Hartnett is an American actor and producer who has been active in the entertainment industry since the late 1990s. He is known for his good looks, intense performances, and ability to portray various characters on screen. Hartnett began his career in 1997, appearing in television series such as Cracker and Homicide: Life on the Street. He got his big break in 1998 when he starred in the slasher film Halloween H20: 20 Years Later.
In 1999, Hartnett appeared in the teen romance film Here on Earth, which was followed by his breakout role in the war drama Black Hawk Down in 2001. He received critical acclaim for his performance as Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann, and the film went on to win several accolades, including two Academy Awards. However, the actor also seems to have missed out on a major role.
Josh Hartnett Lost A Major Role In An Acclaimed Film
In December 2021, the actor who gained fame through his role in Pearl Harbor, disclosed that he had been selected to portray Ennis Del Mar, Heath Ledger’s character in the 2005 romantic drama Brokeback Mountain. Regrettably, scheduling constraints forced him to withdraw from the project as he was contractually obligated to participate in filming The Black Dahlia.
Josh Hartnett went on to reveal that Joaquin Phoenix was originally supposed to play the character of Jack Twist, but he also backed out. He said his biggest regret is not getting to kiss Phoenix, expressing his desire to work with him.
“Unfortunately, I was going to do Brokeback Mountain. I had a contract with The Black Dahlia that I had to film, so I had to drop out of it,” he said. “I always wanted to kiss Joaquin. So that’s my biggest regret.”
Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee, depicts an emotional and s*xual relationship between two men, played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, in the American West from 1963 to 1983. It won numerous awards and critical acclaim for its powerful performances and portrayal of a taboo subject matter.
Did Josh Hartnett’s Hiatus Affect His Career
Following the success of Black Hawk Down, Hartnett starred in several high-profile films, including the thriller 40 Days and 40 Nights and the romantic drama Wicker Park. He also appeared in the horror film The Faculty, the crime drama Sin City, and the war drama Pearl Harbor.
Hartnett’s career took a bit of a hiatus in the mid-2000s as he took a step back from acting to focus on personal projects and his education. However, he returned to the screen in 2006 with the romantic comedy Lucky Number Slevin and has since appeared in several films and television series, including Penny Dreadful and Oh Lucy!
In addition to his work in front of the camera, Hartnett has also worked as a producer, co-producing the films August and Nobody and the television series Penny Dreadful.
Brokeback Mountain is available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: USMagazine
