In Hollywood, one actor's loss is another one's gain, and another actor's gain is another one's loss. But even if some actors miss out on pretty great roles, it does not mean that their careers are over. In fact, it can help lead them towards the right path, and this is how "Southpaw" star Jake Gyllenhaal chooses to look at the roles of Batman and Spider-Man.
In an interview with Daily Mail UK, Gyllenhaal revealed that he tried out for both roles but neither went to him. He has no doubt that both would have helped his career, but he is not wasting any time crying over what could have been because missing out on both helped him find other roles that are better suited for him.
"I believe whatever happens, happens for good. I was definitely open to both the roles (of Spider- Man and Batman). However at a certain point you realize there is always someone more interesting, talented and ready to do the role. In any case, you are not going to get every role you go for. So you can say I neither rue nor am I thankful for having not worked on these superhero films," he said.
While creating Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2," lead star Tobey Maguire had an injury while filming "Seabiscuit," and for a while it looks like he will not be able to reprise his role. Gyllenhaal was then considered as a replacement, but in the end, Maguire was ready to report back to work as Spider-Man.
On the other hand, he auditioned for the role of Bruce Wayne in "Batman Begins," but the role landed on the lap of Christian Bale, who went on to play Batman in "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises."
Despite missing out on two amazing roles, Gyllenhaal is not lacking for any great ones either, since he got to highlight his talents in movies such as "Donnie Dark," "Brokeback Mountain," "Zodiac," "Source Code," and "Nightcrawler."
"At the end of the day for an actor to sustain, he must know how to strike a balance between creative satisfaction and what is widely known as box-office largesse," said Gyllenhaal.
He might have been born to film producer-screenwriter Naomi Foner and director Stephen Gyllenhaal, but his acting career can be attributed not to familial connections, but to sheer hard work. "It (being born into films) has not been exactly an advantage to me. I would like to believe it is hard work, talent and persistence that get you through," he said.
