It's hard to imagine the iconic Thelma & Louise without Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, but according to a new book the film could have ended up very differently.
In the new book, Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge, author Becky Aikman explains how the feminist script drew the attention of a number of leading female actresses before the role of Thelma and Louise were given to Davis and Sarandon.
According to Vanity Fair, the film's director, Ridley Scott experimented with a whole host of actresses before settling on the final two.
Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer were on the original bill but both ended up dropping out for other projects. Other names in the mix then included the likes of Kim Basinger, Meg Ryan, Andie MacDowell and Julia McDonald. However, none could commit because of conflicting schedules. Plus, according to Aikman, Cher was even suggested by one of the studio chiefs but was dismissed by Scott.
When it came to Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, they were both desperate to play the part, and personally called the studio to ask to be considered.
‘They didn't have their agents make the call; they did it themselves. No one would have expected the two friends, box-office champs and Oscar winners, to campaign for parts, but they showed up prepared to kill,’ Aikman wrote.
However, neither were quite right for Scott's vision and he went about auditioning Geena Davis for the part of Louise. Although, after seeing her in action he quickly decided she was better suited to Thelma. With one part down it was time to find his Louise, and this is where Susan Sarandon came in. 'Susan had the authority, the sensibility. She was Louise,' Scott said on seeing Sarandon for the first time.
A career-making moment for both of them that's for sure.
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