With roles in blockbusters like Suicide Squad and The Fate of the Furious, Scott Eastwood has stepped out of the shadow of his father Clint. While the son of the iconic filmmaker and actor sometimes appears in his father’s projects, he’s never landed a leading role in one. However, it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
In 2015, Scott Eastwood shared that although he auditioned for a significant role in Flags of Our Fathers, he didn’t land it. Nevertheless, Clint Eastwood granted him an opportunity for a minor part in the movie, highlighting the importance of Scott Eastwood earning his roles through auditions.
“I was 18 years old when I called him and wanted to audition for Flags of Our Fathers,” he told London’s The Independent at the time. ‘Well, we’ll see. I’ll give you a shot to audition.’ I auditioned for one of the bigger roles in Flags… and that obviously didn’t happen. But I did a good enough job so he hired me to do a couple of lines in the film. That’s how it rolls with him on every project. I’ve auditioned for a lot of the bigger roles in his films and never got them.”
Clint Eastwood Rejected Scott for an Even More High Profile Role
However, Scott Eastwood’s desire to headline one of Clint’s films didn’t end there. The actor thought he would be ideal to play the lead in 2014’s American Sniper. Again, the elder Eastwood had Scott read for the role.
“I auditioned for American Sniper and didn’t get a role,” Scott Eastwood admitted. Of course, the role went to Bradley Cooper. The performance ended up earning Cooper an Academy Award nomination.
Still, Scott Eastwood saw a silver lining in his father rejecting him yet again. After losing the American Sniper role, he landed the lead in the romantic film The Longest Ride.
“It was actually perfect because it was around the time this film was gearing up so it was maybe a better thing,” Eastwood explained. “I would have loved to have been part of American Sniper but then I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do this film.”
Though The Longest Ride received mixed reviews upon its release in 2015. It currently holds a 31% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences enjoyed the film, which was based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. It did well at the box office, earning $63 million with a budget of just $34 million. Scott Eastwood’s success in the film elevated him to the status of a bankable leading man, leaving hearts throbbing in his wake.