Have you ever been taken off the set of a movie, from the stage of a theatrical play, or jettisoned from a commercial shoot? If so, you know the unique sting and heartbreak of being rejected after you got the gig.
That being said, can you imagine losing the lead on one of the most anticipated movies in cinema history, with an Academy Award-winning director at the helm?
This happened to Harvey Keitel, on the set of Francis Ford Coppola’s dystopian Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now. After a long and impractical casting process, Keitel was cast to play Captain Willard, the would-be assassin going up the river to terminate a rogue officer’s command in the jungles of Saigon… “with extreme prejudice.”
By any standard, this is an outstanding role tailor-made for a young actor looking to step up to A-list distinction. And just like that, it got taken away from the Reservoir Dogs star in less than a week.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Creative Choice
Keitel was replaced with then-36-year-old Martin Sheen for the Coppola drama, and the rest is history. When asked about this creative choice, Coppola thought Keitel was an excellent actor, but felt he just wasn’t right for the role.
The director saw Capt. Willard as a calm, almost passive observer of the madness all around, as well as a soulful narrator as opposed to the type of character he thought Keitel might play. It makes sense that Keitel’s manic energy and alpha-male persona would not fit into the director’s vision. Think about the silence of Sheen in Apocalypse Now; it’s extraordinary.
If you’ve ever been dropped from a choice acting gig, or rejected by producers in possession of your dream role, just know that it doesn’t reflect on your acting prowess or your ability to deliver an unprecedented performance. There are many elements and creative choices at play behind the scenes that have nothing to do with you.
For example, one of Coppola’s reasons for bouncing Keitel is because the actor grew up as a city kid and Coppola didn’t feel like his urban vibe would work in the Philippine jungles. That shouldn’t have anything to do with anything, as kids from all different walks of life ended up in Vietnam, but sometimes show business doesn’t make any sense. And you have to be okay with that.
Harvey Keitel Reflects on His Apocalypse Now Recasting
Harvey Keitel didn’t let this unfortunate moment stop him. He soldiered on to the casting rooms of New York and Los Angeles. The American actor went on to have a storied career in such hits as Pulp Fiction, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, The Piano, The Irishman and many more classic Hollywood films.
He’s starred in productions for major film studios and is known for his association with directors Martin Scorcese and Quentin Tarintino, whom he has worked with on multiple occasions, as well as fellow actors Samuel L. Jackson and Al Pacino. Keitel has won plenty of awards and even received acting award nominations for an Oscar and Golden Globe Award, top honors in the American film industry.
As for his infamous rejection at the hands of Francis Ford Coppola, Keitel says, “Apocalypse Now was not a bump, it was an experience. And a valuable experience, because I learned a lot by getting involved with Apocalypse Now.” Although sometimes challenging, it helps to have a good attitude and a healthy perspective on life and career.
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