Key Takeaways:
– Amber Heard starred in the 2011 action film Drive Angry alongside Nicolas Cage.
– Heard portrayed Piper, a gritty waitress helping Cage’s character, Milton, on a rescue mission.
– Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ star Brie Larson, who plays Captain Marvel, also auditioned for Piper’s role.
– Despite its unique concept and 3D gimmicks, Drive Angry set an unfortunate record as the lowest-grossing opening weekend for a 3D film in the U.S.
Amber Heard, a Marvel Overcomer
Long before her rise to fame with DC, Amber Heard showcased her talent in various roles, one of which was in the action blockbuster Drive Angry. The film was released in 2011, with Heard starring alongside legendary actor Nicolas Cage. Few people know that this significant role became Heard’s after she won it over Brie Larson, now famous as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Behind the Scenes of Drive Angry
Drive Angry features Heard as Piper, a tough-as-nails waitress. She joins Cage’s character, Milton, a Dad hell-bent on saving his granddaughter from a ruthless cult. Piper’s role was significant to the film’s narrative, making the news that Larson also auditioned for the part pretty intriguing.
Interesting fact, Larson listed Drive Angry as one of the films she auditioned for on her YouTube channel segment. Although she didn’t mention the character she tried for, it is reasonable to conclude she had her sights set on capturing Piper’s role. Unfortunately for her but fortunately for Heard, it was the latter’s gritty depiction of Piper that won the filmmakers over.
Drive Angry: A Stepping Stone
Following her stint in Drive Angry, Heard went on to become a recognizable face in Hollywood, especially for her role as Mera in the DC Extended Universe. On the flip side, Larson’s unsuccessful audition seems to have worked in her favor. She went on to clinch her career-defining role as Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel in the MCU.
The Unwanted Record of Drive Angry
Drive Angry was not just an ordinary action film. With a unique blend of supernatural horror, action, and revenge drama, it provided a cinematic experience like no other. However, despite the stellar performances from Heard and Cage, the film struggled at the box office.
The film, helmed by director Patrick Lussier, set an unfortunate record: it had the lowest opening weekend earnings for a 3D film in the U.S. Rather than hitting the expected $5 million mark, the movie brought in a lowly $1.6 million during its opening weekend. The film managed to accumulate a global gross of just over $41 million, failing to recover its production cost of $45-$50 million. The overuse of 3D elements didn’t bode well with the audiences, who saw it more as a marketing gimmick than an enhancement of the viewing experience.
Despite its lack of success at the box office, Drive Angry did manage to lay the ground for Amber Heard’s successful career, proving once again that not all that glitters is gold. The film is currently available to stream on Apple TV.
As for Larson, she went on to make her mark in the world of superheroes, proving the journey to stardom sometimes demands going through the grind of rejection.
The world of Hollywood is, indeed, full of surprises, and as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. This phrase perfectly sums up the careers of both Amber Heard and Brie Larson, giving us a beautiful insight into where they started and how far they’ve come.
