Actor Josh Hartnett has revealed one of his biggest showbiz regrets: that he never got a chance to make out with Joaquin Phoenix.
The actor, known for his roles in The Faculty and Penny Dreadful, made the jestful remark in a new interview with News.com.au. Hartnett reveals that he and Phoenix almost snagged the leads in Brokeback Mountain, the groundbreaking gay romance that earned three Oscars.
Related: Jake Gyllenhall says ‘Brokeback’ stigma helped start a more important conversation
“I was going to do Brokeback Mountain,” Hartnett told the outlet. “And I had a contract with Black Dahlia that I had to film, so I had to drop out of it… It was a different film altogether, it was me and Joaquin Phoenix. But they went on to do it with Heath [Ledger] and Jake [Gyllenhaal].”
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“I’ve always wanted to kiss Joaquin, so that’s my biggest regret,” he then quipped.
Brokeback Mountain nabbed seven Oscar nominations, including nods for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. In addition to Phoenix and Hartnett, actors Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Ryan Phillippe were also eyed to star. More than 15 years after its release, the film is still often cited by cineasts and audiences as one of the greatest films of all time.
As for Hartnett’s lingering regret, we would point out it’s not too late to kiss Joaquin Phoenix. We’d watch that movie…
jayceecook
While I can’t imagine anybody but Jake and Heath in those roles now, I definitely would have been down for Josh and Joaquin.
“Black Dahlia” was not a very good film so he definitely should have tried to get out of that contract LOL. I’m always amazed at how many actors were attached to that film but for various reasons backed out or couldn’t make the scheduling work. I don’t believe in fate but if I did this would be a good example of the stars aligning to bring all the right people together for this film. Minus AnnE Hathaway. She was the one person who ways felt out of place. At least in the latter part of the film.
gjg64
Yes but didn’t he hook up with Reeve Carney in Penny Dreadful? Not bad.
jayceecook
If Reeve Carney played Dorian Gray then I believe so.
mateo
Joshie, there’s no shortage of guys who would love to make out with you–whether they’re movie stars or not. Including me!
Michael1500
Josh H is in the very top tier of HOT sexy actors. I’ve played that scene over and over of him kissing a guy in Penny Dreadful.
scotty
josh…one huge glass of your bathwater, please. on the rocks.
cuteguy
At least this article isn’t about that homophobe Marky Mark Wahlberg who notoriously said that “he turned down” Brokeback bc he thought it was disgusting to kiss men. If there truly was a cancel culture, I wish it would cancel him.
gorpalm
Jesus, can you Imagine? Him with his ‘roid honed body in 70s rural Wyoming? Might as well have cast The Rock.
jayceecook
I was going to mention him but since I utterly cannot stand that dude my body wouldn’t let me.
Cam
Definitely would have been better on his career resume than Black dahlia was. I can see why he is unhappy he missed out on it!
Man About Town
I always thought Josh should have done a biopic of Jan-Michael Vincent!
IvanPH
If Joaquin Phoenix played the role of Ennis, he would have probably won the Oscar. He’s a much better actor than Ledger.
bsg1967
Troll
cuteguy
@Ivan
Joaquin actually thanked Ledger when he won the Oscar for playing the Joker just like Ledger did. So everyone disagrees with your m0ronic comment, including Joaquin himself