In an ideal world, the biggest stars in Hollywood would be able to take on all the roles that they desire. Unfortunately, this is not reality, and the biggest stars on the planet miss out on huge roles regularly.
Some actors turn down roles, some blow their audition, and others are replaced while filming. No matter the reasoning, there is nothing worse than losing out on something that becomes a hit.
Johnny Depp has missed on some big projects, and at one point, he had issues with a project thanks to none other than Brad Pitt. It's a unique reason, and we have the details below.
Johnny Depp Has Passed On Some Major Films
One of the most curious aspects of looking back on an actor's career is noticing all the big opportunities that they missed along the way. To be successful, you need the right movie at the right time, and surprisingly, major stars, like Johnny Depp, have missed out on massive projects.
For example, back in the 1980s, when Johnny Depp was still a television star, he missed out on starting in a little movie called Ferris Bueller's Day Off. As we know, this is one of the most iconic movies of the entire decade, and yet, it will be little more than a missed opportunity for Johnny Depp.
According to Notstarring, the actor has also missed out on notable films like Backdraft, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Legends of the Fall, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and even The Matrix. Unbelievably, he has also missed out on superhero movies like Ghost Rider and Hulk.
Years back, the actor turned down working on a project, and Brad Pitt actually had something to do with it.
He Passed On 'Shantaram'
Shantaram is a project that has been in development for well over a decade, and at one point, things looked like they were coming together nicely. Johnny Depp was attached to the project for some time, but eventually, after many setbacks, Depp departed the project.
Filmmaker, Mira Nair, spoke at the International Film Festival, letting the world know that Depp was not going to be part of the project anymore.
"The script is brilliant and we were almost ready with the project when it collapsed because Hollywood Writers Guild of America went on a strike. Actor-producer Johnny Depp took on other projects. The subject is as ripe and as alive as it was. It is definitely a piece of my heart but there is no hope of bringing it alive in near future. However, I certainly hope that one day we will be able to bring it on the big screen," said Nair.
Even with Depp not taking the part, the filmmaker was still optimistic about the project.
"The subject is as ripe and as alive as it was. It is definitely a piece of my heart but there is no hope of bringing it alive in near future. However, I certainly hope that one day we will be able to bring it on the big screen," Nair added.
As was already stated, Depp's schedule was a primary reason for him not starring in the project. However, there was another factor at play, and the factor stemmed from none other than Brad Pitt.
What Happened?
So, how did Brad Pitt affect Johnny Depp's decision to work on this highly-anticipated project? Turns out, it was an experience that Pitt had while working on another film that scared Depp off from the location.
Actor Irrfan Khan, who was set to star with Depp, said, “From what I understand, Johnny Depp wasn’t keen to come to India. Brad Pitt and he are good friends and what happened with Brad and Angelina (Jolie) in Mumbai during The Mighty Heart shoot apparently scared him off. He requested that Mumbai be recreated in Mexico but Mira was adamant. She pointed out that the heat, dust and magic of Mumbai’s streets wouldn’t be reflected in a set however authentic."
It's not uncommon to see actors make major demands, especially when they are a huge star, but it's not too often that something like this is made public. It certainly hampered the film's development, and it showed the world that even the biggest names in entertainment have places they won't go for work.
Shantaram is finally being made, but it will come in the form of a series on AppleTV. While Depp is not part of it, there is no denying that many fans of the novel are thankful that this is finally coming together.
