Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
If there is one thing that is undeniable, it is the fact that Jake Gyllenhaal is an exceptionally talented actor. He has a tendency to completely lose himself in his characters, providing an utterly immersive experience for the viewer. On top of this, his characters are some of the most versatile out there, having unique and distinct personalities. Gyllenhaal has starred in massive projects likeBrokeback Mountain, Prisoners, and Nightcrawler,and has worked in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mysterio. Outside of these, if there is one project that perfectly encompasses just how good of an actor Gyllenhaal is, it is his 2015 film,Southpaw.
Here, the actor played the role of Billy Hope, a boxer who faces tragic loss and tries to get his life back on track. Interestingly enough, the Oscar-nominated actor wasn’t the first choice of the producers. The legendary rapper, Eminem, was originally supposed to play the role until he walked away. Gyllenhaal however, as not the first choice even after Eminem rejected the role.
Also Read:“The guy does everything”: Forget Chris Hemsworth, Jake Gyllenhaal is the ‘Perfect Specimen’ According to Celebrity Trainer Who Has Trained Bradley Cooper and Matt Damon
Eminem Was Supposed To Star InSouthpaw
When producers, Alan and Peter Ritchie were coming up withSouthpaw,their vision was clear. They wanted rapper Eminem to star in the role of Billy Hope, agreeing that he had a very distinct screen presence. They needed this quality of his as Hope’s relationship with his daughter is a big part of his character. They were confident that Eminem would be able to portray the role perfectly, having a daughter himself. So, hoping he would agree, the two reached out to him, asking him to be a part of the project.
The rapper loved the film so much, that he signed on within 24 hours and agreed to take on all that came with playing such a complex character. Antoine Fuqua joined the project to direct it and the two got along very well. After the project was greenlit, the rapper was supposed to start training extensively, like any boxer would. However, four weeks before he was scheduled to start, he backed out. The reason for this was that he wanted to focus more on his rapping career rather than his acting, wanting to devote himself to an upcoming album.
Also Read:Spider-Man: Far From Home Isn’t Jake Gyllenhaal’s Proudest Movie: It’s A Forgotten Thriller
Jake Gyllenhaal Wasn’t Even The First Choice After Eminem
While this news was devastating for producers, Alan and Peter Richie, they knew that they had to keep going with the project, regardless of whether or not Eminem was part of it. They reached out to several different actors who could play the role of Billy Hope as well as Eminem. These included Aaron Paul, who is best known for his work onBreaking Bad, Travis Fimmel, who was inVikings,and Charlie Hunnam, who is known forSons of Anarchy.
The producers ultimately ended up settling onJake Gyllenhaal, even though he wasn’t their first choice. This is quite surprising considering Gyllenhaal was at the height of his career at that time, having recently starred inPrisoners,andNightcrawler,both of which received immense critical acclaim, specifically for his acting. The actor, however, managed to blow all of these expectations and predispositions, going above and beyond for this role, not only in his acting but in his training as a boxer as well.
As for Eminem, the rapper absolutely adored Gyllenhaal’s performance in this movie. While he wasn’t able to star in the main role, he did produce two songs specifically for the movie, releasing them under his record label.
Also Read:
Ananya Godboley
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2219
Ananya Godboley is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows, with over 2,000 articles published. She has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from K.R. Mangalam University, Ananya also likes to fangirl as a full-time job. She covers news and analyses on anything from Rick and Morty to Hannibal and even Arcane. In between these lines, she also enjoys superheroes and Taylor Swift.A philosophy enthusiast, Ananya enjoys digging deeper into the media she consumes, trying to understand the root of her favorite characters' behavior.
More from Ananya Godboley
I’m 100% Sure Harley Quinn’s Funniest Superman Scene Is a Modern Family Homage
Ranked: Every Superhero Team Confirmed For Avengers: Doomsday vs RDJ’s Doctor Doom
Is The Rainmaker Based on a True Story? The Real-Life Inspiration Behind the USA Network Series
Recommended
Mystery About Justin Herbert’s Girlfriends: Did He Really Date Taylor Bisciotti Before Madison Beer Speculation?
“From origin to legend”: LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight Delivers the Bruce Wayne Story I Expected From Rocksteady
Noah Hawley Confirms Alien: Earth Is Planned for Multiple Seasons
Why Sakamoto Days Has More Views Than One Piece in Japan? A Critical Analysis
Aubrey Plaza Reveals How She Fought Writers to Save Andy and April’s Love Story
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Story Will Deliver Even More Twists as Devs Warn “It’s a world of fear”
Jake Gyllenhaal
