Filmmaker Kevin Smith revealed he was approached to direct the highly beloved drama Good Will Hunting for stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Smith last directed the stoner comedy sequel, Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, which offered a litany of surprising cameos, including appearances from Damon and Affleck.
Good Will Hunting starred Damon as a janitor at M.I.T. that happens to be a mathematical genius, but requires help from a psychologist in order to give his life meaning and direction. The film was directed by Gus Van Sant and had a supporting cast that included Affleck, Robin Williams, Stellan Skarsgård, Casey Affleck and Minnie Driver. The film was written by both Affleck and Damon, a screenplay that won the duo an Academy Award. Williams also won for supporting actor for his work in the film as the psychologist who helps Will get his life back on track. Good Will Hunting garnered nominations for best picture, actor, actress and director, cementing itself as a critical darling.
In an interview with Variety, Smith opened up about turning down directing Good Will Hunting for longtime friends and collaborators Damon and Affleck. In the interview, when asked if he ever considered directing the film after the two stars brought the project to him, he responded by saying:
I still don’t think I would be good at making Good Will Hunting. Even 22 years on. Gus [Van Sant] knew exactly what to do that with that. Harvey, at one point, when I brought the script in, he was like, “Why don’t you direct it? You know the boys.” And the boys were like, “Oh my God! You direct it.” They were coming from Castle Rock and Andy Scheinman wanted to direct it, and I think they were like, anybody but Andy Scheinman.
The beloved film had a fascinating transformation before it finally came to fruition. The drama was originally intended to be a thriller, the main character remaining the same, but with the twist that he would become a cryptanalyst for the FBI. The film also had Michael Mann attached to direct at one point, the director wanting to recast Damon and change his character and his close group of friends into car thieves. Even Van Sant, who ended up directing the film, requested a change of his own that would kill off Affleck's character Chuckie in a construction accident, but the idea was ultimately scrapped.
Smith has been no stranger to working with both Damon and Affleck. The director has worked with both of them on his films Dogma, Chasing Amy, Jersey Girl and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. The writer/director is still hard at work during isolation, finishing up scripts for sequels, Clerks 3 and Mallrats 2. He even recently revealed the title of the latter will be Twilight of the Mallrats and the former will take place almost entirely at the Quick Stop, the main location from the original film. Both of the original films weren't financially successful, but developed cult followings after hitting home video.
Good Will Hunting is a drama that is beautifully told, directed and performed, with a truly fantastic turn from the late Williams that tugs at the heartstrings in all the best ways. Though Smith has proven to be a versatile and talented director in his own right, his sensibilities wouldn't have meshed well with the characters and story of the film. Van Sant is a director that has a better grasp on character and emotion, and proved to be a far better choice for the material. Though it is fascinating to imagine how the film would've turned out if Smith was at the helm, it appears as though he also feels he wasn't the right choice for the job. If he hadn't passed on the opportunity, it's hard to say if Good Will Hunting would carry the same emotional weight and acclaim it does to this day.
Source: Variety