From the times when Hollywood was famous all around the world for its iconic Wild West and outlaw films, one star in the industry has been shaping the new landscape of the business ever since. The star in conversation is none other than the legendary Clint Eastwood, a man who has seen the world of cinema change in front of his eyes and managed to capitalize on the opportunities.
And grasping those opportunities, the star has become one of, if not the most distinguished and revered individuals in the industry today for his contributions as an exemplary actor and an equally praiseworthy director. Known for making some of the most outstanding films in the industry, it’s a shame that Michael Keaton couldn’t work with the star on his Oscar-winning film.
Michael Keaton’s Argument With Clint Eastwood On The Sets Of Mystic River Led To His Removal
Known for his old Wild West films like A Fistful Of Dollars and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Hollywood trailblazer and living legend Clint Eastwood has not only left his mark on the film industry as an actor, but also as a filmmaker that has made some of the greatest Academy Award-winning films in the industry. It is common knowledge that whichever project the star helms turns into gold, also making careers of some of the most well-known stars in the business. Sadly, one of them could also have been Michael Keaton.
When looking at his directorial endeavors in the industry, the Dirty Harry star has seen just as tremendous amount of success as in his acting career, and his 2003 crime/drama film Mystic River is one of the finest examples of his greatness behind the camera. The film starred Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon as some of the main stars in the story. Although Bacon would go on to receive success and recognition for this film, the part of his character was first given to Keaton.
When the film was just in its initial phase, the Batman star was chosen to play the role of Sean Devine alongside Penn. Therefore, to bring the true essence of Boston, the place where the film was set. the star arrived in the city to truly immerse himself in his character and execute it to perfection. But when he did multiple script overviews, he had some ideas about the character that he wanted Eastwood to implement changes to in the script. Since the director is also known for his smooth operations in his films, he declined to make any last-minute changes.
This led to a very heated argument between the two, which ultimately led to the removal of Keaton as Sean Devine and Bacon getting the part instead. To this day, it’s widely regarded that if the Birdman star had gotten the role, his career might’ve been saved sooner than later.
What Was Mystic River About?
Adapted from the literary work of the same name and written by author Denis Lehane, Mystic River tells the tale of an ex-convict named Jimmy Markum, who one day comes home to find that his daughter from his first wife is murdered. Stricken with grief, he starts to suspect everyone around him.
His friend Dave Boyle was the last person who saw his daughter alive, while his other friend Sean Devine, being a homicide detective, gets on the case to find the murderer. But when Jimmy conducts an investigation on his own through various contacts, he starts to suspect Dave as the culprit.