Clint Eastwoodis nothing short of a Hollywood legend. His first acting credit dates back to nearly 70 years ago, and he would go on to become a force both in front of and behind the camera, appearing in iconic films like theDollarstrilogyandDirty Harry, and directing others likeLetters From Iwo Jima(2006) andAmerican Sniper(2014).Often, his acting and directing work has overlapped, and these overlaps are some of the most memorable titles of his filmography.
Unforgivenremains Eastwood’s most iconic pre-2000s movie as both a director and star, and the new millennium saw see him occupy these dual roles for some notable titles.Million Dollar Baby(2004) andGran Torino(2008) were hits from the early 2000s, and Eastwood most recently served as star and director forCry Machoin 2021at the age of 91. One film before this, however, stands out as a memorable instance of Eastwood’s ability to juggle both directing and acting.
Clint Eastwood Recalls His Decision To Star In The Mule
Eastwood Originally Just Wanted To Direct
Eastwood reflects on getting the script forThe Mule(2018) and what pushed him to star in the project instead of just directing it. Written by Nick Schenk and Sam Dolnick,The Muleis inspired by a true story, with Eastwood starring as Earl Stone, a broke Korean War Veteran and horticulturalist who becomes a drug mule for a Mexican cartel.Reviews for the film were generally positive, and the film was a box office success, grossing $174.8 million worldwide on a $50 million budget.
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During a recent interview withIndieWireto promote his new film,Juror #2, Eastwood reflects onThe Mule, revealing that he initially didn’t intend to star in it. Though he was interested in directing,it wasn’t until pushed by someone working in his office that he considered also taking on the leading role of Earl. Check out Eastwood’s comment below:
“When I did […] ‘The Mule,’ I liked the script, but I had no idea of starring in it. I thought, ‘That’s just something I’ll direct.’ My gal in the office said, ‘You’ve got to play it.’ I said, ‘You’re kidding.’ I just thought it was a good script and an interesting project. Sometimes you have to listen to what’s going on around you. Good idea. Why not?”
The Mulecurrently sports a 70% critics' score onRotten Tomatoesand a 66% audience score.
What Eastwood Starring In The Mule Meant For The Film
The Film Needed Eastwood To Achieve Success
Though Eastwood may not at first have thought of starring inThe Mule, it’s probably the choice that ended up driving the film to success. There aren’t many actors in their 80s or 90s, after all, who can still bring audiences to theaters. In fact,it’s hard to imagine the movie getting made at all without Eastwood starring. Eastwood, over his long and successful career, has amassed a passionate following, and he remained a draw at the time ofThe Mule’s release, especially with older audiences.
Source:IndieWire
Clint Eastwood
Discover the latest news and filmography for Clint Eastwood, known for Dirty Harry and Unforgiven.
