Jeff Bridges needed to reject John Wayne to make his greatest fashionable Western

Jeff Bridges is not any stranger to the Western style. Lloyd Bridges, Jeff Bridges’ father, took on a number one position in a number of the greatest Westerns ever made all through the ’50s and ’60s, and his Oscar-winning son has continued the household custom.

In actual fact, The Large Lebowski star has been making Westerns since his profession started again within the ’70s, and he hasn’t stopped since. Prior to now 13 years, two of Bridges’ greatest motion pictures have been fashionable Westerns: Hell or Excessive Water, and True Grit. They’re each good movies, centered round a superb Bridges efficiency.

However, for 2010’s True Grit, Jeff Bridges was compelled to disregard icon John Wayne so as to get his position within the film spot on. Bridges’ True Grit is predicated on a guide of the identical title from 1968, and is the second adaptation of the novel. The primary adaptation, from 1969, starred John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, the identical position which Bridges would tackle 40 years later.

Nonetheless, as a substitute of trying again at Wayne’s efficiency for inspiration, Bridges did the other, and tried his greatest to disregard his predecessor. Talking with Time, Bridges was requested why his efficiency because the character was so completely different to Wayne’s take, and if that had been the intention.

“Yeah [the difference was intentional]. I imply, the man’s an icon. He was great in a few of these Howard Hawks Westerns,” he began. “However when the brothers [Joel and Ethan Coen] invited me on board, I used to be curious as to why they’d wish to make the film once more.”

Bridges continued, “And so they mentioned, ‘We’re not making it once more. We’re making the guide, as if the film by no means existed!’ So I took them up on that, and I didn’t discuss with the unique film in any respect.”

It’s a chance, however a chance that paid off for Bridges who secured an Oscar nomination for his efficiency within the film. It is sensible too: making an attempt to emulate an icon like John Wayne would at all times be a troublesome job. So, as a substitute, Bridges merely ignored Wayne and paved his personal means, turning Cogburn right into a grumbling, drunken menace.

For extra on Westerns, try our picks for the perfect Clint Eastwood motion pictures, and see the six greatest Taylor Sheridan TV collection and flicks. Or, you study extra about all the brand new motion pictures nonetheless to return this 12 months, earlier than seeing why we expect the Western style has at all times been a style for ladies too. Should you can’t get sufficient of Bridges, study how he rejected among the finest roles in Jaws.