What movie role did Eminem turn down? Years back, Hollywood icon Matt Damon wound up starring in a big-time action film because Eminem passed on the Blockbuster.
Director Neill Blomkamp ended up casting actor Matt Damon as the lead in his polarizing modernistic action film Elysium (2013). After raking in numerous Academy Award nominations for his debut motion picture District 9 (2009), Blomkamp was a hot commodity and sought to reel in a big name for Elysium.
The director’s newly acquired free range swayed him toward the direction of rapper Eminem. However, the 8 Mile star had a different agenda.
In actuality, Blomkamp’s first choice for the lead role in Elysium was Watkin Tudor Jones (better known as South African rapper Ninja). The famed director gave Eminem a call after Jones passed on the role. However, Jones did make an appearance in Chappie (2015), another feature directed by Blomkamp.
What Movie Role Did Eminem Turn Down & Why — Here’s Your Answer
The fact of the matter is Eminem was hard-pressed on Elysium being filmed in Detroit (his hometown). Blomkamp was unable to honor the request, thereby, Matt Damon became the third option. Pretty ironic considering Damon is a megastar Oscar-winning actor.
Nonetheless, the Bourne Identity actor held no malice in his heart about being the third choice. Damon even confirmed in an interview that Eminem was Blomkamp’s first choice for the lead (well, second, technically).
“That’s true – people have been asking that. Probably half of the movies I do have somebody else’s fingerprints on them. It’s the nature of the business. I’ve passed on things other actors have taken. You never know exactly what the alchemy is going to be. Sometimes you end up with somebody and you can’t believe that wasn’t your first choice the whole time. I’ve always felt the right actor gets the part,” Damon told Variety.
Do you feel Eminem would have been a better choice than Matt Damon for ‘Elysium’? Sound off below!
Main Image: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
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