George Clooney Reflects on Missing Out on a Legendary Role to Brad Pitt: “That f–ker…”

George Clooney recently reflected on a role he lost early in his career, admitting that it took him years to come to terms with missing out on a part that would later boost Brad Pitt’s career.

In an interview with ScreenRant about his new film Jay Kelly, Clooney recalled competing with Pitt for the role of J.D. in the 1991 classic Thelma & Louise.

“Well, I had a couple of films that I tried to get. It came down to Brad Pitt and me, and both of us were kind of struggling at the time, for Thelma & Louise. Pitt got it, and I was pissed! [Laughs] I didn’t watch the movie for years, and that was a launching pad for Brad. I remember thinking, ‘That f****…,’” Clooney said.

He admitted that over time, he came to understand why Pitt was the right choice. “And then I saw it, and I go, ‘Of course, he should have gotten it.’ There are a couple of things that got away over time, but for the right reasons. People’s careers kind of come and go; they work out when they work out. You can’t look back and go, ‘S**** I should have done that one.’”

Clooney’s career at the time was focused on secondary roles in TV shows like Bodies of Evidence, while Pitt’s role in Thelma & Louise helped him rise to stardom. The film, directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri, starred Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon as two women on a road trip that turns dangerous. The supporting cast included Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, and Brad Pitt.

Upon its release, Thelma & Louise was both a critical and commercial success. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1991 and received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Actress for Davis and Sarandon. Khouri won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The film has since been recognized as a landmark in feminist cinema and was preserved by the Library of Congress in 2016 for being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.

Critics at the time praised the film’s fresh take on the road movie genre. Janet Maslin of The New York Times highlighted the “unexpected resources” of the lead actresses and the vibrant storytelling, while Roger Ebert admired the film’s sympathy for human comedy and the strong teamwork between Davis and Sarandon.

Clooney’s reflection shows how even highly successful actors experience “what ifs” in their careers. “People’s careers kind of come and go; they work out when they work out,” he said, emphasizing the importance of timing and perspective in Hollywood.

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