Josh Brolin Would've Loved to Be in BIRDMAN, He Talks About Dropping Out and Being Replaced by Edward Norton
When you’ve had a career as varied as Josh Brolin, you’re bound to have a few regrets of projects you turn down. The Goonies alum has been open about his missteps before with Jonah Hex remaining a sore spot, but one missed opportunity still lingers in the back of his mind: turning down a role in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s 2014 film Birdman.
The Oscar-winning film, shot to look like one continuous take, was a career highlight for Michael Keaton. Brolin wasn’t in the running for Keaton’s lead role, though, he was offered the part of Mike, the arrogant and unpredictable stage actor ultimately played by Edward Norton.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Brolin revealed: "I love that film. This happens all the time, you know?" While he admits there’s a little FOMO over skipping Birdman, he’s more than happy with how things turned out.
"But when I saw Edward in that role ... he was perfect. He kills it. I had done the table reading, and it was funny, and I pulled out because I went and saw my son in Thailand. I know why I pulled out, and I wouldn't have changed it even today. But I would have liked to do that movie, and I love Iñárritu. I think he's amazing."
Brolin’s career has been stacked with big franchises, but not all roles are meant to be. One he’s certain he doesn’t regret passing on is HBO Max’s upcoming DC Studios series Lanterns. At one point, Brolin was a frontrunner to play Green Lantern legend Hal Jordan, a role that’s now going to Kyle Chandler alongside Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.
“I'm super excited to see it ... I can't wait to see it, because I love Kyle Chandler, I think he's solid. He's fantastic.”
As for future comic book roles, Brolin makes one thing clear, he’d happily return to the MCU as the Mad Titan himself. “If they called me in London right now, and said, 'Let's do this,' I'd be like, 'I'll be there tomorrow.’”
Whether or not he ever gets the chance to pit Thanos against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, it’s clear Brolin has zero regrets about the choices that kept him close to family, even if it meant missing out on an Oscar-winning classic.