Right from the beginning, especially during the making of A River Runs Through It, Robert Redford held a heroic status in Brad Pitt’s eyes. As Pitt embarked on his own acting journey, he was captivated by the magic Redford created both in front of and behind the lens. Eager to learn and grow, and most importantly in a desperate attempt to impress his idol, Pitt decided to forego an opportunity in a spy universe, a decision that would later prove unfortunate as that very franchise turned out to become a billion-dollar sensation.
While Brad Pitt may not regret the missed opportunity, there is only one minor regret lingering in his mind and that is, he wishes he had focused more on his acting rather than solely trying to impress the director and actor he idolized.
Brad Pitt Desperately Wanted To Impress Robert Redford
Robert Redford’s unparalleled contribution to Hollywood remains unmatched, as both a distinguished director and actor. His remarkable body of work defined an entire era of cinema, leaving a mark on the industry that can never be forgotten. And thus, Brad Pitt was undoubtedly a fan of the personality’s work. He once revealed to Collider,
“Redford was one of my heroes, growing up–He and Newman, and these guys, were really big in my house,”
Thus, his happiness knew no bounds when he was first offered, A River Runs Through It, directed by none other than Redford. Despite the movie propelling him into newfound stardom, Brad Pitt couldn’t help but feel somewhat dissatisfied with his own performance in the film. He said,
“Maybe it was the pressure of the part, and playing someone who was a real person — and the family was around occasionally — and not wanting to let Redford down,–I’m sure I was more trying to impress him, each day. I should’ve been focused more on the part, itself”
As it turned out, the actor’s deep desire to impress his hero, Robert Redford, had a great impact on him while delivering his performance and thus, prevented him from meeting the high standards he set for himself.
Brad Pitt Rejected the Bourne Identity For Robert Redford
Pitt was rather eager to redeem himself in Spy Game, which brought him together again with his superstar. Thus, rejected a Bourne movie in the process. Thus, many might not know that, in a twist of fate, Pitt was once considered to play Jason Bourne, before Damon.
Pitt’s prior commitments to Tony Scott’s Spy Game got in the way and made way for Damon, to step in and make it one of the most successful franchises ever. The film for which Pitt rejected the Matt Damon franchise also raked impressive numbers such as, $62 million in the United States and a whopping $143 million world wide, solidifying its status as a blockbuster hit.
Thus, ultimately, the success of Spy Game and the subsequent rise of the Bourne franchise made both the fans as well as Brad Pitt happy.
Source: Collider
