George Clooney Opens Up About Losing a Key Role to Brad Pitt: “I Didn’t Watch the Movie for Years”

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George Clooney recently shared a story about an early audition he didn’t get, explaining that Brad Pitt ended up landing the part and it stuck with him ever since.

George Clooney recently told ScreenRant that he and Brad Pitt both auditioned for the part of J.D. in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise. He was recalling the experience while discussing his new movie, Jay Kelly.

Clooney revealed he and Brad Pitt both auditioned for Thelma & Louise when both of their careers were just starting out. Pitt ultimately landed the role, which Clooney admits frustrated him. He was so upset, he didn’t watch the film for years, but he acknowledges it was a major breakthrough for Pitt. He jokingly recalled being very angry at the time.

Eventually, Clooney understood why he hadn’t been chosen for the role. He explained, “Looking back, it was clear someone else deserved it. There have been a few opportunities I missed over the years, but it all happens for a reason. Careers naturally have ups and downs, and you can’t dwell on what might have been.”

At the time, George Clooney was taking on smaller TV parts, like in the show Bodies of Evidence. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt’s appearance in Thelma & Louise significantly boosted his career. Directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri, Thelma & Louise follows two friends—played by Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon—on a road trip that goes awry. Pitt had a supporting role in the film, which also starred Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, and Christopher McDonald.

Released at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1991, Thelma & Louise was a success with both critics and audiences. It earned six Academy Award nominations – including nods for director Ridley Scott and actresses Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis – and Callie Khouri won the award for Best Original Screenplay. Today, the film is celebrated as an important work in feminist film history and was added to the Library of Congress’s national film registry in 2016.

Reviewers loved the movie, especially its unique approach to the classic road trip story and the actors’ compelling performances. Janet Maslin from The New York Times specifically praised the lively and original connection between Davis and Sarandon. Roger Ebert agreed, pointing out that the film’s focus on women as the main characters gave the genre a fresh, new feel.

George Clooney’s career path shows just how unpredictable Hollywood can be, and how important luck and good timing are. As he puts it, “Careers rise and fall – they succeed when the moment is right.”

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2025-12-01 11:44