Brad Pitt and George Clooney attend the “Wolfs” photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on September 1, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by JB Lacroix/FilmMagic)FilmMagic
George Clooney recently opened up about losing a career-defining role to his longtime friend Brad Pitt, admitting the rejection still stings decades later.
The actor revealed in a Nov. 29 interview with The Times that he was “annoyed” after failing to land the part of J.D., the charming drifter in “Thelma & Louise.” The 1991 film became a breakout moment for Pitt, launching his movie career.
“I didn’t watch Thelma & Louise for years because I was annoyed,” Clooney said. At the time, the “Gravity” star saw the role as his potential big break. “The part launched [Pitt’s] career in film. He was doing sitcoms and crap before, so when it was the thing that could’ve launched me? F—!” he told the publication.
While Pitt’s career took off after the movie, Clooney remained in television during the early 1990s, working on shows including “ER,” “Baby Talk,” and “Bodies of Evidence.”
Clooney eventually made peace with the casting decision. “Of course, when I saw it, I was, like, well, it had to be that guy,” he admitted. He also noted that Pitt continues to tease him about losing out on the role.
Geena Davis, who starred in the film, recalled a similar conversation during a 2016 interview with “Good Morning America.” She remembered sitting next to Clooney on a plane when he jokingly said, “You know, I hate that Brad Pitt… I hate him because he got that part in Thelma & Louise.”
Clooney and Pitt became friends after working together on “Ocean’s Eleven” in 2001, and their fun chemistry on screen is just like how they are in real life. They’ve worked together many times since then, including the rest of the “Ocean’s” movies, the comedy “Burn After Reading” (2008), and “Wolfs” (2024).