Reese Witherspoon has opened about leaving the 2014 thriller Gone Girl while the film is in development. At the time, Witherspoon was attached to the adaptation star as Amy Elliott Dunn. She received approval from author Gillian Flynn and was shepherd the project through her production company, now known as Hello Sunshine. But when coach David Fincher came on board, he opposed throwing her into the role.
“David let me sit — and this isn’t for David — but David said, “You’re totally wrong about this part and I’m not putting you in,” and Reese spoke on an episode of the “Rascalchurista” podcast on Wednesday. “I was having all these conversations with writer Gillian Flynn, and she was like, ‘No, I really want you to do that.’ …But (Fincher) seemed to “you’re wrong.” ”
The tricky role went to Rosamund Pike, who led a dark romantic comedy with Ben Affleck. The thriller proved to be a breakthrough for Pike. Pike was nominated for the film’s first Academy Award, and landed a nod for the best actress. The film was also at the box office. It ranks as the best release of Fincher’s career, at $369 million worldwide.
“First of all, it was an ego check for me,” Witherspoon recalled about his conversation with Fincher. “It was like, ‘No, you’re not right for everything.’ He was right.
Witherspoon won the best actress Oscar nomination that same year anyway, and soon led the biopic from “Big Little Lies” director Jean Marc Valle. Witherspoon produced both “Wild” and “Gone Girl.” Currently she is appearing in the fourth season of “The Morning Show,” and premiered on Apple TV+ on Wednesday.
