George Clooney Reflects on Losing ‘Thelma & Louise’ Role to Brad Pitt

George Clooney recently shared his feelings about missing out on a significant role to Brad Pitt during a conversation. In an interview, the actor disclosed that he almost secured the part of J.D., the charming drifter portrayed by Pitt in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise.

“I took the final test for the role in ‘Thelma & Louise,’ and my mom, Brad, got it,” Clooney recounted. The role was a breakthrough for Pitt, launching him into stardom almost instantly, while Clooney was primarily known for his television roles at the time.

In the film, Thelma Dickinson, played by Geena Davis, and her friend Louise Sawyer, portrayed by Susan Sarandon, first encounter J.D. at a motel after escaping a crime scene. Thelma, stuck in an unhappy marriage to a controlling husband, becomes both enchanted and ultimately betrayed by J.D., leading to a gripping narrative.

After its release, Thelma & Louise gained critical acclaim and commercial success, boosting Pitt’s career. Clooney found success shortly thereafter, gaining fame through his role as Dr. Doug Ross on the popular TV series ER.

However, Clooney admitted to dealing with feelings of resentment for years following Pitt’s casting, expressing to the Times that he felt he could have made a significant impact on the film had he gotten the part.

“I was on TV,” Clooney reflected. “I was doing well, but at the time, it felt like movie actors looked down on TV work.” He avoided watching Thelma & Louise for years out of frustration, thinking, naturally, that the role could have been his breakthrough.

Despite those initial feelings, Clooney and Pitt eventually became friends and frequent collaborators. They starred together in films like Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels, as well as Burn After Reading and the upcoming thriller Wolves.

Clooney shared that he still gets ribbed about losing the role by Pitt, but he acknowledged that the latter was indeed the right choice for J.D. “Oh yeah, he’s been great to me,” he commented. “When I saw it, I had to admit, that was him.”

Adam Sandler, who appears with Clooney in the new film Jay Kelly, also discussed the casting choice, recalling audience reactions. “I saw it in theaters, and people were mad when Brad took his shirt off,” he remarked. “But really, it should have been you, Clooney.”

Geena Davis also recounted her audition process for Thelma & Louise, recalling that she was taken aback by Pitt’s charisma during the auditions. “He was so talented that I forgot my lines,” she laughed. She later advocated for the blonde actor to play J.D., signifying her approval of Pitt’s suitability for the role.

Davis shared a light-hearted moment, recalling a flight next to Clooney, who joked about disliking Pitt because he got the role. “I didn’t even remember him from auditions,” she chuckled.

In more recent conversations, Pitt has reflected on how Thelma & Louise represented his entry into major film roles, noting that he almost didn’t secure the part, having been in and out of consideration multiple times.