A wannabe law graduate turned into an actor, Matthew McConaughey is surely one of the most charismatic actors of this generation. The actor’s passion for acting grew when he met a casting agent, who invited him to appear for an audition in Dazed and Confused. Little did know that the invitation would change his life for good as he became the lead man in the film.
Even though the Amistad actor had defining qualities of an actor, he became a subject of mockery when he demanded that he wants to play the lead man alongside Sandra Bullock in A Time to Kill. Matthew McConaughey has acknowledged that the 1996 drama made him a big name that could be recognized around the streets.
Matthew McConaughey’s Demand Made Everyone Laugh At Him
The 1996 drama showcased an ensemble cast of Samuel L. Jackson and Sandra Bullock in the lead role of the film. Matthew McConaughey was showcased in a minor role, where he played the role of a newly-graduated lawyer trying to defend his client accused of murder. However, the film would have looked quite different if the Bernie actor’s demands would have met by Joel Schumacher, the director of A Time to Kill.
During an exclusive interview, McConaughey expressed his thoughts when Schumacher asked who should be the protagonist of the film. The actor said with a straight face, “I think I should,” which made the veteran director burst out into laughter.
“I totally straight-faced him. He laughed and said, ‘That’s a great idea but it will never happen. I think you’d be great and it won’t happen.’ But I left feeling good that I’d at least gotten the Klan part.”
Even though Joel Schumacher laughed at Matthew McConaughey’s face, he cleared his delusion as he told the ambitious actor that the studio was looking for big names. Moreover, John Grisham, the author of the book of the same name has a major role in the casting of the film.
“He told me, ‘The studio will never go for this.’ They were after Kevin Costner, actors like that, for the role, and John Grisham had approval.”
Even though the Interstellar actor was not the lead role alongside Sandra Bullock, his performance left a lasting impression on the director as well as the author of the book.
Sandra Bullock Was Impressed With Matthew McConaughey’s Performance
During an exclusive interview with Sandra Bullock and her A Time to Kill co-star, she was asked how she felt about her co-star’s performance in the film. Bullock had nothing but praise for him, as he was an honest actor, and his work ethic with a grounded personality made him unique as an actor.
“I said, ‘If it’s a strong, honest actor, it’s my privilege to be opposite him.’ He’s a character actor in a leading-man’s body, and he’s going to change the face of what we demand from male actors. We’ll demand for them to push themselves more. He’s not just another beautiful face.”
She also said that her co-star would take on Hollywood by storm, and he “will do it right.” Fast forward to 2023, he is one of the biggest actors in Hollywood, with a net worth of $170 million, appearing in numerous smash-hit Hollywood films that are praised by critics and fans alike.
A Time to Kill can be rented on AppleTV.
Source: Cigar Aficionado
