Mel Gibson Considered Brad Pitt for the Lead in the 1995 Best Picture

Mel Gibson earned two Oscars for Braveheart: Best Director and Best Picture. Initially, he had no plans to play William Wallace, as he was primarily interested in directing the 1995 film. He considered Brad Pitt for the main role.

According to JoBlo, Gibson “initially wanted Brad Pitt or Jason Patric in the lead.” At 38, he felt he was too old for the part. However, Paramount insisted on his involvement, stating they wouldn't approve the movie unless Gibson also starred in it, JoBlo reports.

Braveheart was released on May 24, 1995. The American Film Institute later placed it at No. 91 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Thrills, a list of the most thrilling American films.

Randall Wallace wrote the script, inspired by a 15th-century poem by Blind Harry about the Scottish rebel. Although Gibson liked the script, he initially turned it down. Producer Alan Ladd Jr. had the project at MGM and took it with him when he left the studio in 1993.

Warner Bros. offered to finance the film if Gibson agreed to another Lethal Weapon sequel, which he declined. Ultimately, Paramount funded about a third of the budget for the U.S. and Canadian rights, while 20th Century Fox covered the rest for international distribution. The budget ranged from $53 million to $72 million.

Most of the filming occurred in Ireland, not Scotland. The initial plan was to shoot in the U.K., but the production moved after the Irish government offered 1,600 members of the Irish Army Reserve as extras. These reservists portrayed both armies in the battle scenes. Filming took place from June to October 1994.

The film received 10 nominations at the 68th Academy Awards and won five: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Makeup. Gibson also won the Golden Globe for Best Director. Braveheart grossed approximately $209 million worldwide.

Pitt had a remarkable year nonetheless. In 12 Monkeys, released in December 1995, he played a mental patient alongside Bruce Willis. This role earned him the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and his first Oscar nomination. He lost the Oscar to Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects.

Gibson has appeared in numerous other films on MJ’s lists, including his 1981 war movie Gallipoli and the action classic Mad Max 2 from the same year.

Mel Gibson was awarded two Oscars for Braveheart: Best Director and Best Picture. Initially, he did not plan to portray William Wallace, as his primary interest was in directing the 1995 film. He considered casting Brad Pitt for the leading role.

As reported by JoBlo, Gibson “initially wanted Brad Pitt or Jason Patric in the lead.” At the age of 38, he felt he was too old for the role. However, Paramount insisted on his participation, stating they would not approve the film unless Gibson also starred in it, according to JoBlo.

Braveheart was released on May 24, 1995. The American Film Institute later ranked it No. 91 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Thrills, a list of the most thrilling American films.

Randall Wallace wrote the script, inspired by a 15th-century poem by Blind Harry about the Scottish rebel. Although Gibson appreciated the script, he initially declined. Producer Alan Ladd Jr. had the project at MGM and took it with him when he left the studio in 1993.

Warner Bros. offered to finance the film if Gibson agreed to another Lethal Weapon sequel, which he declined. Ultimately, Paramount financed about a third of the budget for the U.S. and Canadian rights, while 20th Century Fox covered the remainder for international distribution. The budget ranged from $53 million to $72 million.

The majority of the filming took place in Ireland rather than Scotland. Originally, the plan was to shoot in the U.K., but the production relocated after the Irish government offered 1,600 members of the Irish Army Reserve as extras. These reservists portrayed both armies in the battle scenes. Filming occurred from June to October 1994.

The film received 10 nominations at the 68th Academy Awards and won five: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Makeup. Gibson also won the Golden Globe for Best Director. Braveheart grossed approximately $209 million worldwide.

Brad Pitt had a notable year as well. In 12 Monkeys, released in December 1995, he played a mental patient alongside Bruce Willis. This role earned him the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and his first Oscar nomination. He lost the Oscar to Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects.

Gibson has appeared in numerous other films on MJ’s lists, including his 1981 war movie Gallipoli and the action classic Mad Max 2 from the same year.