Looking back, practically any film studio would have eagerly seized the opportunity to bring the cinematic marvel that is Good Will Hunting to life. Nearly 25 years after its debut, the movie continues to hold cultural significance, remaining profoundly resonant in its themes. This poignant drama, centered around a clandestine mathematical prodigy working as a janitor, made a spectacular splash at the 1998 Academy Awards, amassing an impressive nine nominations, including a nod for Best Picture.
The memorable night also saw Robin Williams securing the win for Best Supporting Actor, while Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were honored with the accolade for Best Original Screenplay. Damon and Affleck opted for Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax Studios as the film’s producer, but their decision was influenced by a clever ploy involving a fabricated intimate scene.
How Harvey Weinstein Secured The Rights To The Film
Harvey Weinstein’s reputation as a Hollywood producer took a severe hit in light of numerous allegations of s*xual misconduct. However, prior to the revelation of these scandals, he shared the story of how he secured the rights to Good Will Hunting.
Weinstein said on The Graham Norton Show (via Huffpost):
“[Affleck and Damon] were young kids, just really starting out, but they had some good roles behind them. They came to my office, and I read the script [before] the meeting, and we walked in and everything was pleasant, and then about 10 minutes into the meeting I said, ‘Guys, there’s just one thing on the script … I just have one really big note. About page 60, the two professors give each other oral s*x and they’re on their knees and this whole big s*x scene. What the hell is that? Because the guys are straight, and there’s no hint of anything like that … I don’t get that scene.'”
As the tale goes, Matt Damon conceived the script as a culmination of his screenwriting course at Harvard. Initially, Castle Rock acquired the script rights, yet they missed the chance to bring the movie to life, despite their contribution to shaping the final iteration.
The Scene Was Added To the Script As A Test
Weinstein’s meticulous approach ultimately earned him the film rights, besting Castle Rock Entertainment, the initial script purchasers. Weinstein elaborated, describing how the scene served as a deliberate test.
Weinstein continued:
“They go, ‘That’s the scene that we wrote to find out whether guys in your job actually read the script, because every studio executive we went to … no one brought that scene up, or maybe people thought it was a mistake or maybe nobody read it themselves.’ They said, ‘You’re the only guy that brought it up. You get the movie.'”
Good Will Hunting achieved both critical acclaim and impressive commercial success, enduring as a beloved classic. Weinstein expressed his satisfaction that he dedicated the time to thoroughly peruse the entire script, a decision that paid off handsomely.
Good Will Hunting is available for streaming on Prime Video.
Source: Huffpost
