Today, it is difficult to imagine Prisoners without Hugh Jackman as the desperate father and Jake Gyllenhaal as the detective searching for his daughter. However, few people know that this dark thriller could have looked entirely different — with a completely different cast, ending, and even director. The film’s production story turned out to be just as dramatic as its plot.
Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg Instead of Jackman and Gyllenhaal
The project first entered production back in 2009. Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg were signed for the lead roles, seemingly ensuring the film’s success with such a duo. However, due to production delays, both actors left and moved on to The Fighter (2010), which ultimately won Bale an Oscar. At the time, Bryan Singer was set to direct, but he also left the project after the actors’ departure.
Hugh Jackman — Could Have Starred in Another Kidnapping Story
Long before Prisoners, Hugh Jackman was considered for the lead role in another kidnapping thriller — The Lovely Bones (2009). However, creative differences forced him to leave the project in its early stages.
Ironically, Mark Wahlberg replaced him in that film, while Jackman later ended up in Prisoners, once again replacing Wahlberg. A curious coincidence? It seems fate did not want Hugh to escape this dark theme.
Director Changes and Jackman’s Departure
When Antoine Fuqua (director of Training Day) was involved in the film’s development, Jackman was once again ready to take on the role of the father desperately searching for his daughter. However, due to disagreements with the studio, Fuqua left the project, and Jackman followed.
DiCaprio Wanted the Lead Role
After Jackman’s exit, Leonardo DiCaprio became the center of attention. The studio negotiated with the actor, who had long been considered one of the top contenders for the role. Unfortunately, no agreement was reached, and DiCaprio withdrew from the race.
Villeneuve Saved the Film and Changed Its Dark Ending
The project finally moved forward in 2012 when Denis Villeneuve took over as director. He re-invited Hugh Jackman, and this time the actor agreed — his schedule had an available window. Thus began work on a film that became one of the darkest and most powerful performances of Jackman’s career.
Notably, the director had to cut 30 minutes from the final version, as distributors felt that even 153 minutes would be difficult for audiences to sit through in theaters. In response, Denis insisted on a more hopeful ending. In the original version, the father disappeared.
It is hard to imagine what this thriller would have been like with Bale and Wahlberg under the direction of Singer or Fuqua. But, as often happens in cinema, a series of rejections and reshuffles led us to the masterpiece we know today. Interestingly, before Prisoners, Villeneuve directed another masterpiece, which was released after the success of his kidnapping thriller.
