During a recent interview with Howard Stern, Brokeback Mountain actor Jake Gyllenhaal was asked if the 2005 film, a movie starring two publicly straight actors playing two closeted gay men, could get made today or if the actors would receive backlash for not letting the roles go to real-life queer actors.
Gyllenhaal’s answer? A simple “no.”
“Probably the answer is no,” Gyllenhaal responded. “But then when I look at it now, as a way in which it paved an opportunity in a time when there was no real chance that two straight actors were going to play roles like that openly…”
Gyllenhaal goes on to say that before signing onto the part of Jack Twist, a role that would earn him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, there were some “stupid” people in his life that told him not to play a gay man.
“Early on, there were people going, ‘What are you doing'” revealed Gyllenhaal. “What am I doing? This is the most beautiful story I’ve ever read. I was like – with Ang Lee? I mean, with Ang Lee?! One of the best.”
During the Stern interview, the actor also revealed that after taking his part in Brokeback, many went on to continually question his sexual orientation and assume that because he played gay, he must be gay himself.
“The amount of flack we got for [taking the roles of gay men] was crazy,” he told the radio host. “For a year after that, it was like, the amount of conversations about what my sexuality was was just crazy.”
Watch the interview with Gyllenhaal below and if you’re interested, you can head here to see the hottest scenes from 2005’s Brokeback Mountain.
Jake really cannot construct sentences. He comes off as dumb in real life as his characters he plays. That aside …
Could Brokeback be made today, and with straight actors? Yes, but the Twitteratti would have to be ignored. It would also have to be a breakthrough movie for THIS era. It would have to take on harsh issues in the trans or black community as they wrestle with the religious indoctrination of their families. John Leguizamo and Wesley Snipes would have to play angry Catholic and Baptist fathers with a transgendered son and a transgendered daughter who fall in love as a drag king/queen couple who enrage the gay community.
A beautiful story of a young couple finding love while their mere relationship upsets everyone else. I don’t think it be as simple as 2 bisexual men discovered anal.
I have always called this a gay movie for straight people. I wanted more depth than Ag Lee’s mostly straight audience was ready to see.
But then again…the short story it’s based on ismore an outline than a story. Given that I think it’s a good movie. But not a great one.
Brokeback Mountain…one of the most moving, touching, emotionally powerful movies I have EVER seen. Both actors did an incredible job, and I left the theater (each time I saw it) in “bits and pieces,” shaking with feelings from deep within.
Good movie but if they do a remake, use all gay actors. Granted that Brokeback Mountain was 16 years ago much has changed and there are a lot of out gay men who’d o great in the roles.
Yeah but at the box office it was not a hit very few people saw it.
Understandably 95% of the population is straight they have no interest in that especially straight men
Seriously? It was a huge hit at the box office!
Why do they have to use gay actors; because it’s gay roles? About choosing the best actors for the rolls?
One of the best MCs I’ve heard is the woman, yes, the woman who played it in Vienna. There’s a cast album. She’s so exciting.
Yeah but at the box office it was not a hit very few people saw it.
Understandably 95% of the population is straight they have no interest in that especially straight men
I agree. Heartbreaking and yet beautiful.
On another subject, I just read about bitching because Eddie Redmayne is getting flack for portraying the Emcee in a West End production of Cabaret. I saw both Neil Patrick Harris and Alan Cumming, both gay play the part in revivals on Broadway. Both excellent.
The bitching ones obviously haven’t done their homework. Joel Grey didn’t come out until 2015. He (I think) won a Tony for the role in the late 60s. Definitely won an Oscar in the 70s film version. He was still in the closet.
As straight men, I appreciated both Jake and Heath more for taking on these gay roles. Knowing the likely backlash and questioning of their sexuality, they chose to go ahead anyway and portrayed beautifully the heartbreaking love story that is Brokeback Mountain.
Totally agreed , it was taboo topic but the end result was breathtaking and to me the most beautiful love story told and still the leaves me emotionally move and deep down glad it was done and wanting to have a Love like it.