The film industry mourns the loss of one of its greatest talents, Gene Hackman, whose death was confirmed today, February 27.
As tributes pour in, fans reflect on a career that saw him shine in classics like Enemy of the State and Superman. Yet a lesser-known fact about Hackman’s illustrious journey involves his exit from a project that would later sweep the “Big Five” at the Oscars.
The venerable actor, found dead aged 95 with his wife Betsy Arakawa, aged 63, at their Santa Fe abode, leaves behind a legacy highlighted by monumental films — including his Oscar-heralded roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, and memorable performances in The Royal Tenenbaums and Mississippi Burning.
However, many are now discovering that Hackman once stood on the cusp of starring in—and directing—a cinematic masterpiece that garnered Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
Despite ultimately leaving the film, the acclaimed Silence of the Lambs went on to immortalise Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, alongside director Jonathan Demme and screenwriter Ted Tally for his adaptation of Thomas Harris’s novel.
Curiosity stirred amongst fans rehashing memories of The Silence of the Lambs and its precursor, Manhunter, has led to questions regarding the series’ cast and crew alterations. Inquisitiveness spawned online discussions, with one user probing: “Why wasn’t Brian Cox brought back for The Silence of the Lambs?”
Cox, famous for his role in the celebrated series Succession, initially portrayed the cannibalistic murderer, a character that later garnered Anthony Hopkins an Oscar.
A fan responded with a detailed explanation, writing: “Because Silence Of The Lambs isn’t a sequel to Manhunter. Manhunter is to Silence Of The Lambs what the Rankin/Bass version of the Hobbit is to Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
“Silence is an adaptation of the book that is a sequel to the book Manhunter was based on. They don’t take place in the same ‘universe’, so to speak.”
The fan also shed light on the casting of Hopkins as Lecter, adding: “And Hopkins became Lecter because director Jonathan Demme wanted him for the role. His first choice was Sean Connery. But when Connery turned the role down, Demme went to Anthony Hopkins who he had seen in the movie The Elephant Man.”
“And in the beginning, when Gene Hackman was slated to direct the movie and possibly play Jack Crawford, they offered the role to even more actors. Jeremy Irons was among them but turned it down because he didn’t want to play another dark role.”
The commentary continued to touch upon other big names considered for the iconic part: “Other actors who were at one point or another considered for the role were Jack Nicholson, John Hurt, Robert Duval, Robert De Niro, Louis Gossett Jr, Patrick Stewart and Christopher Lloyd.”
Gene Hackman, known for rejecting numerous significant roles such as in Back to the Future, Se7en, and Apocalypse Now, still boasts an impressive filmography with classics like The Birdcage, The Quick and the Dead, and Wyatt Earp to his name.