Reese Witherspoon has played many roles, but there’s at least one that got away.
The actor, who once famously charmed us with the “bend and snap” technique in “Legally Blonde,” has captivated audiences for decades. But her sweet demeanor cost her the leading role in the 2014 film adaptation of “Gone Girl.” On Wednesday’s episode of the podcast “Las Culturistas,” Witherspoon revealed that her then-production company, Pacific Standard, produced the movie — and that she had originally planned to play the leading role.
“I had optioned it to star in it, and I was supposed to star in it,” she said.
The “Sweet Home Alabama” star went on to say that when she eventually writes a book, there will be “a whole chapter” dedicated to the project because “it started” her journey into production. Witherspoon then shared that director David Fincher ultimately decided that she wasn’t the right fit for the role.
“David was like ‘You’re totally wrong for this part, and I’m not putting you in it,’” she recalled.
Witherspoon added that the book’s author, Gillian Flynn, wanted her for the role — but Fincher stood his ground, a moment she described as an “ego check.”
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It helped her realize that, even if she wanted the part, she “wasn’t right for everything,” later admitting that Fincher was “totally right.”
The part ultimately went to Rosamund Pike, who earned an Oscar nomination for her performance.