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Brad Pitt Beat Clooney for Iconic Role
29 Nov, 2025
Summary
- George Clooney nearly landed Brad Pitt's breakout role.
- Clooney missed out on the part due to a topless scene.
- Brad Pitt's charisma impressed Geena Davis during audition.
George Clooney recently shared that he was a finalist for the breakout role of J.D. in the 1991 film "Thelma & Louise," a part ultimately given to Brad Pitt. Clooney confessed to feeling annoyed for years about losing the role that significantly boosted Pitt's career. He admitted that upon seeing the film, he understood Pitt was the ideal choice, particularly noting the impact of Pitt's topless scene.
Geena Davis, who played one of the titular characters, recounted Pitt's audition process. She recalled that Pitt's charisma was so potent that she momentarily forgot her lines. Despite being one of several actors vying for the role, including Grant Show and Mark Ruffalo, Pitt's magnetic presence stood out.
While Clooney did not secure the "Thelma & Louise" part, his own career has been immensely successful. He continues to focus on forward-looking projects rather than reflecting on past opportunities, emphasizing the pursuit of compelling scripts and roles at this stage of his life and career.
