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Updated 14 minutes ago, September 29, 2026

George Clooney has revealed that he came within one audition of landing the role that turned Brad Pitt into a movie star. Clooney made it to the final test for J.D. in 1991’s Thelma & Louise, only to lose out to Pitt — a breakthrough that left Clooney so frustrated he avoided the film for years.

“I got to the final test for a role in Thelma & Louise. And, motherf—er, Brad got it,” Clooney told The Sunday Times in November 2025. “I didn’t watch Thelma & Louise for years because I was annoyed.”

Thelma & Louise (1991) is Ridley Scott’s iconic road movie and feminist crime drama, a sharp mix of buddy film, dark comedy, and outlaw Western that follows two Arkansas women—repressed housewife Thelma (Geena Davis) and no-nonsense waitress Louise (Susan Sarandon)—who set off on a weekend getaway that spirals into a desperate flight from the law after Louise shoots a man who tries to rape Thelma. What begins as a bid for freedom turns into a series of impulsive crimes, police chases, and moments of defiant camaraderie as the pair become folk-hero outlaws heading toward the Grand Canyon.

The film also marked the moment Pitt broke through to stardom. In a relatively small but electric supporting role as J.D., the smooth-talking hitchhiker Thelma picks up, Pitt’s charm, physical presence, and the now-famous motel scene made him instantly unforgettable, turning a bit part into the performance that launched his career as a leading man.

When Clooney eventually saw the film, he agreed Pitt had been the right pick. “Of course, when I saw it, I was like, ‘Well, it had to be that guy,’ ” he said.

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