Mark Wahlberg Wanted to Work With Anne Hathaway So Bad He Demanded $900,000 as Compensation if She Left $236M Movie
Turns out the Silver Linings Playbook, as well as Jennifer Lawrence, could have an entirely different fate since she wasn’t the first choice for the movie that took her career into a whole new trajectory. Anne Hathaway and Mark Wahlberg were among the initial choices, but people are now glad that things turned out this way since the picture won Lawrence her only Academy Award to date. Anne Hathaway was already an established star back then, with movies like The Devil Wears Prada, and Get Smart.
Mark Wahlberg was desperate to work with the talented actress when considered for the role. So much so, that he demanded the studio to compensate him if Hathaway left the project.
Mark Wahlberg was desperate to work with Anne Hathaway
The Princess Dairy’s Anne Hathaway was all the rage back in the day and still is. With movies like The Devil Wears Prada, her popularity skyrocketed to a whole new level and therefore was deemed as the “it” girl of Hollywood who had zero negative press against her. She continues to hold the title even today. Thus, when Mark Wahlberg and Hathaway were chosen for the movie initially, that won Jennifer Lawrence an Oscar, Wahlberg’s demand got a little out of hand after that.
The reason is now cited him as looking out for the film, but people could not help but wonder if he had any hidden personal agendas masked as concern. The actor’s contract stipulated he receive $900,000 if Anne Hathaway failed to end up in the project as promised. For a $21M movie, it was a bit much. Despite his efforts, the director went a different route and ended up casting Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, which turned out to be the best decision in the end.
Also Read: Jennifer Lawrence Regrets Not Taking Adele’s Advice Over Her Role in the Sci-fi Film ‘Passengers’
Mark Wahlberg ended his friendship with the director over casting decision
Mark Wahlberg was heartbroken over the fact that the crew decided to go on a different path. He has had many regrets throughout his career, but this one in particular, still bothers him and also ended up costing him his friendship with a dear friend. Not being cast in the movie he wanted so badly led him to end things with his close buddy David O. Russell. Matt Muzio, Russell’s cousin told TheWrap,
“They went with Brad Cooper because they felt he was hungrier and would work for cheaper,”
And after Hathaway drooped out, Cooper was a cheaper choice to go with, rather than casting Wahlberg, who demanded a lumpsum amount initially. Before this, the actor-director duo gifted the industry with some not-so-memorable movies such as Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees. These movies dented Russell’s reputation big time, and The Fighter was the only movie that broke the curse. Therefore many regard this as a wise decision because clearly, the friendship did not benefit either of them career-wise. Muzio added,
“If it weren’t for ‘The Fighter,’ ‘Silver Linings’ wouldn’t exist,”
Despite being connected to the project, Wahlberg’s efforts were not beneficial, and this was said to have caused a hostile relationship between the two, unlike the previous beautiful companionship they had.
Source: Business Insider
