Brokeback Mountain was released in 2005 to huge critical acclaim, winning three Oscars out of eight nominations, and becoming an instant classic, lauded for its telling of a gay love story.
Before director Ang Lee brought the story to life, Gus Van Sant was initially slated to direct – and told IndieWire that the script had been circulating Hollywood since the late 90s as “nobody wanted to do it.”
“I was working on it, and I felt like we needed a really strong cast, like a famous cast. That wasn’t working out. I asked the usual suspects: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillippe. They all said no.”
IndieWire confirmed the story with Brokeback Mountain producer and screenwriter Diana Ossana, who said all the actors named said no “for various reasons.”
Joaquin Phoenix was also linked to the project, but told The Hollywood Reporter he didn’t get the gig:
“I would have done that movie in a second. I was desperate to do it. I feel so honoured that people would think that I was worthy enough to be in it, but it was never offered to me.”
Matt Damon told Entertainment Weekly in 2007 that Brokeback Mountain is the one movie he regretted turning down:
“Years ago, Gus Van Sant wanted to do it with me and Joaquin Phoenix. But I was on my way to Italy to do The Talented Mr. Ripley and then All the Pretty Horses. And Gus wanted to do Brokeback right after. And I was like, ‘Gus, I’m going to do a gay movie, then a cowboy movie. I can’t follow it up with a gay-cowboy movie!’’’
Images: Focus Features
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