It has been almost a decade since ‘Gone Girl‘ hit the theatres. But while the thriller surprised us with its shocks, the biggest surprise happened off-screen. Now, Reese Witherspoon, who produced the film and once thought she might star in it, has opened up about the tragedy that happened to her off-screen.
Of course, we all remember how Rosamund Pike’s femme fatale enamoured and terrified everyone in this 2010s offering. But what was the reason for Reese getting rejected?
The ‘Gone Girl’ Casting Clash Faced By Reese Witherspoon
Back in 2012, when Gillian Flynn’s novel first became popular, it quickly became one of the most talked-about books of the year. Obviously, its chilling portrayal of the whole marriage scenario, plus the jaw-dropping final act, made it a prime material for film adaptations.
Related: Top 10 Morally Questionable TV Characters We Can’t Stop Rooting For
Excited by the plot, Witherspoon soon snapped up the producing rights through her company. And, because the book was her company’s first big project, Witherspoon naturally pictured herself as Amy, the lead. She wasn’t alone in thinking so, and even Flynn encouraged the same idea.
But things changed when David Fincher came in as the director. Witherspoon recalled on the Las Culturistas podcast that Fincher wasted no time sharing his view. She recalled how he sat her down and told her directly she was “totally wrong for this part” and that he would not cast her.
And naturally, for Witherspoon, hearing that was a shock. After all, she not only had the author’s approval but also the power of her production company behind her. The experience was no less than an “ego check” for Reese. Even though she had all the experience and the influence, she had to gulp down the fact that she wasn’t right for everything.
Why David Fincher Said “No” To Reese
Even with all the influence, experience, and writer’s nod, Fincher didn’t agree to move ahead with Reese. He even went against Flynn in this case and stuck to his decision. Recalling it now, Reese said maybe her fame was part of the problem. Maybe she carried an audience that naturally wanted her to win, and that warmth wouldn’t have helped Amy’s darker, manipulative character.
Fincher really wanted the “sinister and diabolical” qualities in Amy, which Reese clearly lacked. On the podcast, co-host Bowen Yang suggested that casting her might have been a surprising twist for viewers. But to this, Witherspoon disagreed and said the integrity of the story came first. She added that Fincher had been “totally right,” because Rosamund Pike brought exactly what the role required.
And, as we all saw, the film proved Reese right. Watching diabolical and scheming Pike opposite Ben Affleck became one of the highlights of the adaptation. And, Witherspoon couldn’t help but credit Fincher for putting together a cast that made the story work so powerfully on screen.
Reese Learned Her Lesson
Surely, being turned down after having three Oscar nominations as an actress seemed hard for her. But that rejection helped Reese get perspective on herself as a producer. She explained that producing isn’t about putting yourself into every spotlight. Stressing on it, Reese added, “Producing also means getting out of the way when you’re supposed to. Do your job to promote, continue to pull people together, continue to build creative groups so that the ultimate result is the best work that it could possibly be.”
In case you missed it: Top 15 Cult Classic Films That Were Box-Office Disasters
And that’s just what she did for ‘Gone Girl‘. It wasn’t a compromise. She still benefited from the film’s success, despite not being part of it, and despite a couple of issues, like credits and all. But the challenges of establishing herself as a producer didn’t end there. Even after producing the hugely successful film, she struggled to gain recognition as a serious producer.
It wasn’t until she and Nicole Kidman produced ‘Big Little Lies’ the following year that things began to change. That success finally convinced actors and directors to take her seriously behind the camera. Even though it has been a long road, Reese didn’t shy away from admitting that it wouldn’t have been possible without the reality check from Fincher.
