Lady Gaga was almost cast in the upcoming Brad Pitt action-thriller Bullet Train, and the film’s director is now explaining why it didn’t work out.
David Leitch, director of the upcoming action-thriller Bullet Train, has explained why Lady Gaga isn’t in the film. The pop star turned actress found instant acclaim for her role as Ally, a struggling musician who makes it big in Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake of A Star is Born. The film afforded Gaga the first Oscar of her career and her performance kicked off a promising acting career that most recently saw her star in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci.
In recent years it has often seemed as though Gaga is slowly but surely growing loyal to the idea of acting over making music. Some would argue that the acting aspect of her career is just another talented side to her multi-faceted persona, but anyone who saw the 2020 documentary Lady Gaga: Encore was faced with a pop superstar in constant pain from years of dancing, singing, and touring. Acting might not always be an easy job, but compared to the demands put on a world-famous musician, it can often be far less hectic. And while Gaga has only appeared in one film since 2018, that isn’t to say that she’s not very much in demand.
As a matter of fact, Lady Gaga would have followed up 2021’s House of Gucci with the upcoming Bullet Train had it not been for a case of bad timing. While speaking with EW, Leitch explained that Gaga was once in early talks to star in the film but that things came to an abrupt end when the shooting schedule for House of Gucci was revealed. Some surmise that Gaga’s role was filled by Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock – a rumor that Leitch is unwilling to verify. But as for how close the world came to seeing Gaga in her first action-thriller, Leitch had this to say:
“It really all came down to her schedule with the Ridley [Scott] film. There were short discussions and then, this isn’t going to work because she was preparing for the Ridley movie [House of] Gucci. They shot right before us and overlapped with us and it really didn’t work.”
Bullet Train is produced by Brad Pitt, who also stars in the film’s lead role as a reluctant assassin known as Ladybug. While taking on what seems to be a relatively easy assignment to locate a briefcase on a Japanese bullet train, Ladybug learns that four other assassins are also tasked with the same mission – the likes of which will have disastrous consequences. The film already has a strong bit of momentum behind it, but that being said, House of Gucci was not only widely anticipated but was also predicted by many to earn Gaga the second Oscar of her career. Unfortunately, the film failed to meet box office expectations, with more than a few critics and even celebrities outright mocking House of Gucci.
For fans of Lady Gaga, the idea of seeing her in an action film might seem like a new and exciting side to the celebrated popstar. There’s no doubt that any film with Brad Pitt and Lady Gaga in it would stand a considerable chance of being a hit – especially one in which both were potentially fighting for their lives onscreen. It does look as if Gaga made the wrong choice regarding which film might be a better fit for her career. Nonetheless, Gaga’s House of Gucci performance was in no way bad, and timing has been the cause of many could’ve been moments in the film industry. Gaga’s action-thriller opportunity might not have arrived with Bullet Train, but her acting future seems bright all the same.
Source: EW
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.
Mike Jones is an author, screenwriter, world traveller and cinephile. His work has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, and he’s also a Berlinale Talents alumnus. Cinema has always moved him in a big way and aside from having seen The Talented Mr Ripley more times than any other living person, he maintains a pretty darn healthy physical media collection. His favourite filmmakers include: Jordan Peele, David Lean, Alfred Hitchcock, Mike Leigh, Steven Spielberg, the Dardenne Brothers, Noah Baumbach, Michael Haneke, Barry Jenkins and Andrea Arnold. Often jet-lagged, Mike once turned down a certain A-list celebrity’s offer to join them for a night of partying after a strange encounter in an airport.
Dune: Part Two adapts the second part of Frank Herbert’s novel, and Denis Villeneuve’s sequel changes the Dune book story and characters many times.
The Matrix is rightly considered one of the most influential sci-fi action movies of all time, but some aspects of the film haven’t held up.
The latest Bad Boys 4 casting update confirms the return of another major character from the most recent installment as filming continues.
The Fast & Furious franchise is ending after the eleventh movie. However, after declining box-office returns, the decision makes plenty of sense.
Dune 2’s ending delivers an epic conclusion to this chapter of Paul Atreides’ story, as the sequel also teases what is next for the sci-fi franchise.
Frank Herbert’s Dune is notoriously difficult to adapt thanks to its dense story and themes. Accordingly, some movies have been better than others.
