Mark Wahlberg, known for his roles in “The Departed” and “The Transformers” franchise, turned down a significant opportunity to star in the iconic 2005 film “Brokeback Mountain” due to discomfort with its same-sex storyline.
Wahlberg, now 53, revealed that the “graphic, descriptive” nature of the script, which portrays the romantic relationship between two cowboys, made him uneasy.
In a 2007 interview, Wahlberg admitted that the film’s first sex scene between the characters Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist left him convinced that the project wasn’t for him. He stated, “I met with Ang Lee for that movie, I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out”
Before Ang Lee, who ultimately won the Best Director Oscar for the film, directed “Brokeback Mountain,” Gus Van Sant, known for “My Own Private Idaho,” was approached to helm the project. Van Sant shared in a 2018 IndieWire interview that several A-list actors, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Ryan Phillippe, turned down the film.
Despite the initial casting challenges, “Brokeback Mountain” earned critical acclaim and became one of the most successful LGBTQ+ films in history, securing eight Oscar nominations. The film won awards for Best Director, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay. However, it famously lost the Best Picture Oscar to “Crash,” a decision often cited as a significant upset in the awards’ history.
Wahlberg’s decision to pass on “Brokeback Mountain” underscores the film’s challenging yet ultimately celebrated narrative, which has left a lasting impact on audiences and the film industry alike.
