Summary
A role in a highly acclaimed 92% Rotten Tomatoes sci-fi movie, which propelledOscar Isaac’s acting career, was almost given toJake Gyllenhaal. Known to be one of the most prolific actors of modern times, Jake Gyllenhaal has dipped his feet in several movie genres. Recently, he even dabbled with television by starring as the lead in Apple TV+‘sPresumed Innocent. Even when it comes to science fiction, the actor has been a part of several compelling flicks that have showcased his versatility and range.
Interestingly, Gyllenhaal’s role in the indie sci-fi classic,Donnie Darko, brought him into the limelight, underscoring how the movie genre has helped him grow as an actor. SinceDonnie Darko, Gyllenhaal has also appeared in other well-known sci-fi movies, likeSource Code,Life, andThe Day After Tomorrow. Almost a decade ago, he nearly added another epic sci-fi movie to his portfolio, but the role eventually went to Oscar Isaac.
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Jake Gyllenhaal Almost Played Nathan In Ex Machina
Alex Garland Wanted Oscar Isaac To Play The Part
During the 2024 Edinburgh Film Festival (viaDeadline), Alex Garland’s producer, Andrew Macdonald, revealed that Jake Gyllenhaal was initially considered to play Nathan inEx Machina. The movie’s sales companies wanted to have Gyllenhaal as the character because"he was bankable," which would allow them to sell the film to foreign territories. Unfortunately, when it came down to negotiating with Gyllenhaal’s team, his casting started making a lot less sense.
As Macdonald recalled, he realized that Jake Gyllenhaal’s casting would not work after he had a word with the actor’s lawyer. As a result, the part eventually went to Oscar Isaac. Although the producer agreed that neither Oscar Isaac nor Alicia Vikander carried enough weight to “raise the money through international sales," Universal International was willing to back the project because Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander were both starring in films they believed were going to win big in the award season.
Ex Machina Would Have Become Jake Gyllenhaal’s Best Sci-Fi Role Since Source Code
Source Code Remains Gyllenhaal’s Most Acclaimed Sci-Fi Movie
AlthoughDonnie Darkohas acquired a cult classic status over the years,Source Coderemains the most acclaimed science fiction film Gyllenhaal has starred in. With an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%, the film adopts the familiarGroundhog Daytime travel trope but brings its own twists and turns to it to keep viewers hooked. The film’s narrative is primarily driven by Jake Gyllenhaal, who does an incredible job of capturing the sense of urgency his character experiences during his time-bound mission.Source Codewas also a box office successafter it grossed $147 million against a $31 million budget.
87%
32%
45%
92%
Life
67%
Unfortunately, sinceSource Code,Jake Gyllenhaal has not starred in any critically and commercially successful sci-fi films. He was one of the leads in 2017’sLife, but the movie neither landed favorable reviews nor performed well at the global box office.Ex Machina, too, struggled at the box office but received wide acclaim for its VFX, performances, and screenplay. Alex Garland also got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for the film. If Gyllenhaal had starredinEx Machina, it would have easily been his best sci-fi film sinceSource Code.
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Oscar Isaac Was Perfect For Ex Machina (& It Helped Make Him A Star)
It’s Good That Jake Gyllenhaal Did Not Land The Role
Given his acting forte, it seems likely that Jake Gyllenhaal, too, would have been incredible asEx Machina’s elusive billionaire character, Nathan. His star power might have also helped the film earn better numbers at the global box office. However, after watching theAlex Garland movie, it is hard to imagine anyone else as Nathan because of how perfectly Oscar Isaac embodies the character.
Since Oscar Isaac’s performance is crucial in driving the film’s tension and exploring its philosophical themes surrounding morality and the implications of AI, it is good that the role eventually went to him.
From the character’s immoral tendencies to his brutality towards his AI robots, from his quirky dance sequence to his preachings about technology,Oscar Isaac brings a unique depth and intensity to the characterthat is hard to forget. SinceOscar Isaac’s performance is crucial in driving the film’s tension and exploring its philosophical themes surrounding morality and the implications of AI, it is good that the role eventually went to him. However, considering howJake Gyllenhaalhas also given compelling performances in sci-fi flicks, it is hard not to hope he will get to play more roles in the genre soon.
Ex Machina
Young computer programmer Caleb is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment by evaluating the human qualities in a new and improved female artificial intelligence. But in the luxurious, isolated mansion of the man who created this technology, all may not be as it seems.
