Matt Damon and Brad Pitt are two big names in the industry. After all, who hasn’t watched the Bourne films or Se7en? Both of them are famous actors, but it can’t be denied that one is a bit more famous-er than the other one. Damon has even claimed that Brad Pitt is jealous of his low-key stardom.
However, what many don’t know is that Damon probably would have had a harder time climbing up in Hollywood without Pitt’s support. After all, it was a Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese film that propelled The Martian star to critical acclaim and further stardom.
Brad Pitt Revealed The Magnanimous Reason Why He Left Martin Scorsese’s The Departed
Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film The Departed grossed 289 million at the box office and starred actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. The film was nominated for five Oscars and won four, including Best Picture and Best Director. However, initially, it was Brad Pitt who was set to star in the film alongside DiCaprio. Not to mention the fact that he was involved in getting the movie made from the ground level after the rights to the Hong Kong film Internal Affairs were bought.
So why did Damon take his place? It’s because the Ad Astra star wanted to focus on producing more and give younger actors a chance to shine. In an interview with Interview Magazine, he stated:
“Yeah, I developed that for two and a half years. We fought for that movie, and then we got William Monahan on the script… Once [Martin] Scorsese became involved, I thought it would be better if they were younger guys that were just starting their lives. Guys coming out of the academy, guys who were hungry. I thought I was too old for it.”
Thankfully, DiCaprio and Pitt did team up later on in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. As for Matt Damon, he talked about how thankful he is that he and the Bullet Train actor are on different levels of fame.
Matt Damon Revealed That Brad Pitt Is Jealous Of Him
In an interview, Matt Damon revealed that Brad Pitt was jealous of him regarding one thing- the fact that he was able to take his kids to school without being bothered by paparazzi. He said:
“I remember telling him that I walked my kids to school, and his face just fell. He was very kind, but he was like, ‘You b****rd.’ Because he should be able to do that, too. And he can’t.”
Damon also revealed that he often thinks if he would like to trade lives with the Inglourious Basterds star because even though Pitt’s a bonafide star, there are downsides to that as well. He said:
“If you can control the celebrity side of a celebrity, then it’s worth it. I look at Brad — and I have for years — and when I’m with him I see the intensity of that other side of it. And the paparazzi and the insane level of aggression they have and their willingness to break the law and invade his space — well, I wonder about that trade.”
Even though the Good Will Hunting star wonders about that trade, it feels like the actor is secure where he currently is.
The Departed is available on HBO Max.
Source: Interview magazine
