‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ remains one of the most beloved Westerns ever made. But did you know that one iconic Hollywood rivalry helped in giving us the legendary chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford?
Originally, the role of Sundance Kid was first offered to Steve McQueen. But a feud cost him the role and launched Redford into superstardom.
Why Steve McQueen Passed On His Role In ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’
During the 1960s, Steve McQueen was one of the rising movie stars in Hollywood. He was nicknamed the “King of Cool” because even his off-screen persona was equally rebellious and tough. But this came with another notoreity. He was reportedly extremely difficult to work with.
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This difficult nature and his demands resulted in one of the biggest losses when he walked away from ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’. The 1969 Western went on to become the highest-grossing movie of that year and an instant classic.
Today, it is impossible to imagine anyone other than the iconic duo being portrayed by Paul Newman and Robert Redford. However, the role of the Sundance Kid was always meant for McQueen.
The problem began when he clashed with Newman, who was already a Hollywood legend by then. But McQueen was allegedly furious that he wouldn’t be the one receiving top billing. According to reports, McQueen also demanded the exact same number of lines in the script.
The dispute turned into a very big obstacle, and the production team had to come up with a compromise. Half of the movie posters and prints would feature Newman’s name first, while the other half would list McQueen first.
Still, it wasn’t enough for McQueen, and he ultimately walked away. This decision brought in Redford, and he went on to become a major star as the Sundance Kid. More importantly, Newman and Redford had effortless chemistry instantly, becoming a classic Hollywood duo cherished to date.
Steve McQueen and Paul Newman’s Feud Continued Beyond The Film
Steve McQueen and Paul Newman’s conflict didn’t end with ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid‘ in 1969. A few years later, the actors reunited for the 1974 disaster film ‘The Towering Inferno’, and once again the same argument was brought up. Newman was the biggest star in the ensemble case, and McQueen wasn’t very happy.
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History threatened to repeat itself. But fortunately, the studio had a very clever idea. The posters were designed in a way that both actors received dual top billing, as their names were written diagonally. Whether it was Newman or McQueen’s domination, the answer depended on which side the viewers read it from.
McQueen probably learned from the past and accepted the deal. The agreement allowed ‘The Towering Inferno’ to move forward and it eventually become one of the standout films of McQueen’s whole career. Moreover, the long-standing feud between Newman and McQueen also boiled down when they shared the screen together.
Looking back now, it seems like everything worked out for the best. McQueen rejecting the role of Sundance Kid gave us the iconic chemistry between Redford and Newman. Later, McQueen also got his moment to shine in ‘The Towering Inferno.’ Still, the original pairing of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ remains one of the biggest “what ifs” in Hollywood history.
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