George Clooney recently shared that he held onto lingering annoyance for years after Brad Pitt landed the breakout movie role of J.D. in the film “Thelma & Louise,” a role Clooney himself nearly secured. This revelation sheds new light on the longstanding friendship between Clooney and Pitt, who would later become close collaborators in Hollywood.
Behind the Early Rivalry Between Clooney and Pitt
Although George Clooney and Brad Pitt have enjoyed a longstanding friendship and have shared the screen in numerous films, their relationship had competitive beginnings. Clooney disclosed that, despite his positive relationship with Pitt now, he spent years refusing to watch “Thelma & Louise” because Pitt landed the pivotal part he had desperately wanted. In a candid interview with The Sunday Times, Clooney explained that he had auditioned several times for the role of J.D.—the charming drifter—making it far along in the selection process, but ultimately losing the role to Pitt.
The intense competition for the role left Clooney frustrated, especially when Pitt’s performance propelled him to instant stardom. According to Clooney, what set Pitt apart during the auditions was his on-screen chemistry with co-star Geena Davis—it was this spark that tipped the balance in Pitt’s favor. However, neither actor was the production’s first choice; Billy Baldwin was initially cast as J.D. but stepped away from the project, paving the way for Pitt’s casting and subsequent breakthrough.
Billy Baldwin’s decision to leave the film altered the course of film history, launching Pitt to fame with the role of J.D. in “Thelma & Louise.” The aftermath left Clooney questioning whether his own career trajectory would have matched Pitt’s had the roles been reversed, but despite the early rivalry, both actors eventually achieved massive individual success and shared accomplishments as frequent co-stars.
The Pivotal Moment That Launched Clooney’s Career
Before his own rise to stardom, George Clooney worked steadily as an actor, appearing in popular television shows such as “Roseanne” and “The Facts of Life” throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Clooney’s major break, however, arrived in 1994 when he was cast as Dr. Doug Ross in the hit medical drama “ER.” This role catapulted Clooney to fame almost overnight, earning him Emmy nominations and widespread acclaim, and quickly establishing him as a household name in Hollywood.
Capitalizing on his television fame, Clooney transitioned to the big screen, and while he had previously appeared in the 1988 parody “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes,” it was his starring role in the 1996 action crime thriller “From Dusk Till Dawn,” written by Quentin Tarantino, that secured his reputation as a film actor. In that film, Clooney played a charismatic bank robber determined to make it across the Mexican border, showcasing his ability to handle complex, dynamic roles and helping him shed his TV doctor image.
Both Clooney and Pitt have continued to thrive in their careers, both individually and as co-stars, repeatedly demonstrating their versatility and talent across a wide array of genres in Hollywood, while maintaining their friendship despite an early rivalry rooted in that pivotal Brad Pitt breakout movie role.
The story of Clooney’s and Pitt’s rivalry over “Thelma & Louise” highlights how a single role can shape an actor’s future in Hollywood, and how professional competition can evolve into mutual respect and collaboration at the top of the industry. As both stars continue to leave their mark on film and television, their early experiences serve as a reminder of the unpredictable and often competitive nature of show business.
