Brokeback Mountain Casting Nearly Looked Very Different
- 01. Stars Who Almost Got Brokeback Mountain Roles: The Complete Casting History
- 02. The Josh Hartnett and Joaquin Phoenix Casting That Nearly Happened
- 03. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt Were Considered by Gus Van Sant
- 04. Matt Damon, Edward Norton, and Mark Wahlberg All Passed
- 05. The Complete List of Stars Who Turned Down Brokeback Mountain
- 06. Why So Many Actors Passed on Brokeback Mountain
- 07. How Heath Ledger Finally Got the Role of Ennis
- 08. Jake Gyllenhaal's Casting and the Final Breakthrough
- 09. The Legacy of Brokeback Mountain's Casting Decisions
- 10. Key Dates in Brokeback Mountain's Casting Timeline
Stars Who Almost Got Brokeback Mountain Roles: The Complete Casting History
Seven major A-list actors almost starred in Brokeback Mountain before Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal landed the iconic roles: Josh Hartnett was set to play Ennis Del Mar alongside Joaquin Phoenix as Jack Twist, while Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillippe, and Mark Wahlberg were all approached but turned down the parts at various stages of the film's nearly decade-long development. Screenwriter Diana Ossana confirmed that "nobody would commit" to the groundbreaking gay cowboy romance during its long development, with the project nearly moving forward under director Gus Van Sant with Damon and Phoenix attached before Ang Lee eventually helmed the 2005 Oscar-winning film.
The Josh Hartnett and Joaquin Phoenix Casting That Nearly Happened
Josh Hartnett reveals he was contractually obligated to drop out of Brokeback Mountain just months before filming began. During a December 2021 interview with News.com.au, the Pearl Harbor alum disclosed he was supposed to star as Ennis Del Mar-the role eventually played by Heath Ledger-but had to exit due to contractual obligations with the 2006 film The Black Dahlia.
What makes this casting near-miss even more remarkable is Hartnett's revelation about his intended co-star. Joaquin Phoenix was set to play Jack Twist opposite Hartnett's Ennis, creating a completely different dynamic for the landmark queer cinema film. Hartnett stated directly: "Unfortunately, I was going to do Brokeback Mountain. I had a contract with The Black Dahlia that I had to film, so I had to drop out of it".
This pairing would have represented a major departure from the final cast, with both actors being prominent young heartthrobs in the early 2000s rather than the Australian Ledger and American Gyllenhaal who ultimately delivered performances of their lives.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt Were Considered by Gus Van Sant
Before Ang Lee secured the directing gig, My Own Private Idaho director Gus Van Sant was attached to Brokeback Mountain and had Leonardo DiCaprio in mind for one of the lead roles. DiCaprio, then one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars following his Titanic success, was among Van Sant's top choices for the groundbreaking drama film.
Brad Pitt was also approached by Van Sant to star in Brokeback Mountain but reportedly turned down the opportunity. Pitt's refusal came despite the script's literary pedigree and the potential for critical acclaim, illustrating how prominent young actors hesitated to commit to an LGBTQ+ love story at that time.
Matt Damon, Edward Norton, and Mark Wahlberg All Passed
Matt Damon was approached to star in Brokeback Mountain according to Van Sant, but he also said no to the project. Screenwriter Diana Ossana later revealed that at one point the movie was set to go forward with Matt Damon and Joaquin Phoenix in the lead roles under Van Sant's direction.
Edward Norton was sent the script with consideration for directing, but like dozens of other filmmakers, he came back saying he loved it but wouldn't commit. Mark Wahlberg was also considered for a role at one point during the lengthy casting process, according to Ossana's 2018 screening appearance.
The Complete List of Stars Who Turned Down Brokeback Mountain
The following table summarizes all major actors who were approached but did not ultimately star in Brokeback Mountain, with their intended roles and the reasons they passed:
| Actor | Intended Role | Director at Time | Reason for Passing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hartnett | Ennis Del Mar | Ang Lee | Contractual obligations with The Black Dahlia | |
| Joaquin Phoenix | Jack Twist | Ang Lee / Gus Van Sant | Did not commit (paired with Hartnett or Damon) | |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Lead role (unspecified) | Gus Van Sant | Turned down opportunity | |
| Brad Pitt | Lead role (unspecified) | Gus Van Sant | Reportedly turned down | |
| Matt Damon | Lead role (unspecified) | Gus Van Sant | Said no to project | |
| Ryan Phillippe | Lead role (unspecified) | Gus Van Sant | Turned down opportunity | |
| Mark Wahlberg | Unspecified | Unknown | Was considered but passed | |
| Marky Mark | Unspecified | Ang Lee | Was "creeped out" by the script |
Why So Many Actors Passed on Brokeback Mountain
Screenwriter Diana Ossana admitted during a special screening at Santa Monica's Aero Theatre that finding two Hollywood stars willing to take the 'risk' of fronting an LGBT love story proved remarkably difficult. She stated plainly that "nobody would commit" despite the script's quality, with actors seeing it as "too difficult" without giving real excuses.
The primary concern among A-list actors appears to have been fear of typecasting, with many worried about being pigeonholed after taking on such a controversial role in 2004-2005. The film was known around town as the "gay cowboy" movie, which carried significant career risk at that time.
- Fear of typecasting after playing an LGBTQ+ character
- Concerns about career risk in 2004-2005 Hollywood climate
- Studio resistance (Focus Features felt Ledger "wasn't macho enough")
- Contractual conflicts with other projects
- Personal discomfort with the script's intimate content
How Heath Ledger Finally Got the Role of Ennis
Ossana and co-writer Larry McMurtry had longed for Heath Ledger to fill the role of Ennis from early on, but the studio Focus Features initially resisted. The studio felt the late Australian actor "wasn't macho enough" for the rugged cowboy part, despite Ossana's strong conviction.
The breakthrough came when another actor who'd been signed up for six months pulled out of the project. Ossana immediately went back to Ledger's representatives, and he agreed to star on the advice of his then-girlfriend actress Naomi Watts.
"Heath read it on the way home to Australia... and he said Naomi read it and she was jumping up and down on the bed telling him you've got to do this role for all kinds of reasons - for your career and for the world"
- Diana Ossana, screenwriter
Ledger's performance ultimately earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, proving Ossana's instincts correct about his perfect onscreen pairing with Gyllenhaal.
Jake Gyllenhaal's Casting and the Final Breakthrough
After Ang Lee took over as director from Gus Van Sant, he tapped Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal for the leads, completing the Oscar-winning cast that would change cinema history. Gyllenhaal's casting came after the lengthy struggle to find willing stars, with both actors delivering performances that won heaps of critical praise.
The film premiered at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2005, and was released in the United States on December 9, 2005, by Focus Features. It ultimately won three Academy Awards including Best Director for Ang Lee, with eight total nominations.
The Legacy of Brokeback Mountain's Casting Decisions
Looking back, it's hard to imagine anyone else playing Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar as well as Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger did. Their performances became the definitive portrayal of the star-crossed lovers in Annie Proulx's 1997 short story.
The film stands as one of the more pivotal films in all of queer cinema history, with its Oscar-winning status cementing its place in Hollywood legend. The nearly different casting could have fundamentally altered the film's reception and cultural impact, but fate ultimately paired the perfect cowboy couple for cinema history.
Today, Brokeback Mountain remains a catchphrase and pop culture touchstone, having made bank at the box office and changed Hollywood's approach to LGBTQ+ storytelling. The 20th anniversary in 2025 marked two decades since the film changed movie history, proving that despite the casting struggles, the final result was exactly right.
Key Dates in Brokeback Mountain's Casting Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Annie Proulx publishes short story in The New Yorker |
| 1999-2004 | Nearly decade-long development with multiple directors |
| Early 2000s | Gus Van Sant attaches as director, considers DiCaprio, Pitt, Damon |
| 2004 | Josh Hartnett set to star, drops out for The Black Dahlia |
| 2004 | Unnamed actor signed for 6 months, then pulls out |
| 2004 | Ang Lee takes over as director |
| 2004 | Heath Ledger signs on (advised by Naomi Watts) |
| 2004 | Jake Gyllenhaal cast as Jack Twist |
| Sept 2, 2005 | Premieres at 62nd Venice International Film Festival |
| Dec 9, 2005 | US theatrical release by Focus Features |
| March 5, 2006 | Wins 3 Academy Awards (8 nominations total) |
The casting of Brokeback Mountain demonstrates how close Hollywood came to a completely different film, with seven major stars passing on roles that would become iconic. Without the perseverance of Ossana, McMurtry, Ang Lee, and ultimately Ledger and Gyllenhaal, queer cinema might have lost one of its most important films.
What are the most common questions about Brokeback Mountain Casting Nearly Looked Very Different?
Which actors were almost cast as Ennis Del Mar?
Josh Hartnett was contractually set to play Ennis Del Mar before dropping out for The Black Dahlia, while Heath Ledger was Ossana's early choice despite Focus Features feeling he "wasn't macho enough". Another unnamed actor was signed for six months before pulling out, which allowed Ossana to pursue Ledger.
Who was almost cast as Jack Twist alongside Hartnett?
Joaquin Phoenix was set to play Jack Twist opposite Josh Hartnett's Ennis Del Mar before both actors became unavailable for the project. Phoenix was also part of the earlier Damon-Phoenix pairing that nearly materialized under Gus Van Sant.
Did Anne Hathaway audition for Brokeback Mountain?
Yes, Anne Hathaway auditioned for a role in Brokeback Mountain, reportedly wearing a princess outfit during her audition. However, she did not land a part in the final cast.
How long did Brokeback Mountain casting take?
The casting process took nearly a decade, with the film going through approximately nine years of development before Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal signed on. One actor was even signed for six months before pulling out.