Brad Pitt is NOT Achilles

From Eonline:

Achilles Heel

by Josh Grossberg
Sep 13, 2002, 10:45 AM PT

You heard it here first: Brad Pitt is a Trojan man.

No, you sickos, Jennifer Aniston isn't spilling any boudoir secrets. Rather, her A-lister husband has signed on to play Greek hero Achilles in Troy, director Wolfgang Petersen's big-screen version of The Illiad--a move that puts on indefinite hold the project Pitt had been working on, Darren Aronofsky's long-in-development time-travel epic The Fountain.

The casting--and the scuttling--was confirmed Friday by Warner Bros., the studio behind both pictures.

"We are very pleased that Brad will be teaming with Wolfgang Petersen and joining the cast of Troy," says Jeff Robinov, president of production at Warner Bros. "He will make the perfect Achilles."

The film, written by novelist-turned-screenwriter David Benioff and coproduced by Warner Bros. and Regency Enterprises, is a retelling of the Trojan War and will feature such timeless themes as destiny, loyalty and who gets the extremely hot babe.

Pitt has taken some heat in recent days as he has considered bagging The Fountain. His departure from the project for the foreseeable future jeopardizes the Aronofsky film, which had already been shelved once for a year due to script problems, budget concerns and costar Cate Blanchett's pregnancy. The Fountain had been in preproduction in Queensland, Australia, and was just weeks away from principal photography.

We're guessing the chance to wear a toga (hey, it won an Oscar for Russell Crowe in Gladiator) was a strong selling point for Pitt, but he reportedly had other reasons for pulling the plug on The Fountain and heading to Troy.

E! Online's Ted Casablanca reported that Pitt--having developed the project with Aronofsky for nearly two years--was unhappy with the latest draft of the script, which hastened his departure. Casablanca also said that Pitt would be forced to pay millions of dollars in restitution for bailing on the Aronofsky film, but Warners refused to confirm that. Pitt, meanwhile, hints he hasn't completely given up on the project.

"Given my friendship and respect for Darren and the year and a half we've dedicated to working on this project, I too am disappointed. Still, I remain encouraged that The Fountain will yet have its day," the actor says in a statement.

And Warner Bros. also asserts The Fountain is still in the pipeline. "Although we are disappointed not to be moving forward with The Fountain right now, we remain committed to working with the film's director, Darren Aronofsky, a filmmaker with unique vision and exceptional taste," says Robinov. There are reports the film could be made as early as next year.

Still, that's little consolation for the 400-person crew of The Fountain, which is now out of work.

Early this week, the crew took its beef to the Internet, blasting Pitt in a scathing open letter to the Ain't It Cool News Website.

"Do these stars, who get paid a huge percentage of a film's budget, understand that they are responsible for the livelihood of so many others? It appears that Brad surely doesn't," the letter stated. "He may have a good reason for pulling out now, but to us it just appears like Hollywood prima donna antics."

Prima donna or not, Pitt needs to make like Hermes and get cracking on those bow-and-arrow skills. Troy is set to begin filming sometime in spring 2003.

This movie has potential. Wolfgang Peterson is good, and god knows the source material kicks ass. But Brad Pitt as Achilles? Please. . .

 

Paris, maybe. But not Achilles.

 

haven't read the book yet...so I could not form an opinion on which character....but it would be better if he wasn't in the film at all


this was my 3100th post

 

I think he could play the jealous goddesses pretty well...

 

But Brad Pitt as Achilles? Please

Why not? Who else would you suggest? It's not the initial strongman vision I have of Achilles either, but I don't have a problem with it.

 

I have to agree, even though he can really act when he wants to.
He just doesn't seem right for that crucial role.
I hope this movie is good but it will probably suck.

 

Why wouldn't he make a good Achilles? I can't really think of anyone else for the role, and Brad's a good actor.

-sj loves kevin spacey

 

I thought Brad Pitt was awesome in Top Gun.

 

I guess they could cast Howie Long as Achilles, and while he would fit the mold, I don't think he'd be very good.

 

I thought Brad Pitt was awesome in Top Gun.

Brad was not in Top Gun.

 

Oh c'mon, Howie as Achilles... Terri as Helen and Troy could be a Radio Shack!

Did someone say Oscar?!

 

Brad Pitt most certainly was in Top Gun, he played "Ricky"

 

Worst.

Casting.

Ever.

 

Howie as Achilles... Terri as Helen and Troy could be a Radio Shack!

Throw in that Dell guy as Odysseys, and I don't see how another movie could give it any competition. "Dude, let's build a giant horse."

 

Brad will be perfect for Achilles. He's good looking and in shape, a fantastic actor, and I have a feeling he can play jealous rage very very well. Bravo job, IMO.

JMA

 

Yeah, not sure that Pitt can keep this film from being buried under bad reviews...

Thank goodness they're calling it "Troy" and not "The Iliad" considering the serious lack of the Olympian pantheon, which was one of the highlights of Homer's epic poem...

Guess we've got to keep it p.c. and cast big-name stars and gloss over the pagan elements of the original work <rolleyes.gif>

 

<LOL at B'omarr>

Ya Nabooty, I agree. Let's just hope this doesn't turn out as bad as First Knight (my last recollection of Hollywood tackling this kind of material).
They dummed it down and moderned it up. A nice receipe for sucking.

 

Thank goodness they're calling it "Troy" and not "The Iliad" considering the serious lack of the Olympian pantheon, which was one of the highlights of Homer's epic poem...

WHAT?! They're not having the Gods! what a stupid stupid move!

JMA

 

I haven't seen it in several years, but I seem to remember that the TV movie version of The Odyssey was pretty good.

 

You think that's bad? Word has it that Leonardo DiCaprio has been cast as Alexander himself in the screen adaptation of the great conquerer's life.
I'm sorry, I just can't see him as a stocky, ruddy, virile Macedonian warrior.

 

greek culture maybe but NOT Achilles

 

I really dont see what the problem is. Brad Pitt is a very diverse actor who doesnt get enough respect due to his looks.

 

Brad Pitt is a good actor, he adapts to roles very well. I bet he could pull this off.

 

Mel Gibson has good looks, look how much respect he has...

 

"I feel teh need, teh need for teh speed!"
-Ricky (Brad Pitt) to Maverick - Top Gun, 1989