When Daniel Day-Lewis’ methodical performance deterred his opponent

But Day-Lewis is controversially known for this role, in part because of the infamous on-set stories that highlight the extreme lengths the actor will go to to quench his own curiosity, a technique that even caused one of his co-stars to quit the role of the actor. project completely.

It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Paul Dano in the role of Eli Sunday, but originally the role went to another actor named Kel O’Neill. However, O’Neill was too intimidated by the intensity of Day-Lewis’ method and was replaced by Dano. It’s easy to understand why. Getting screamed at by Day-Lewis seems as close as I can get to an exorcism, and my hat goes off to Dano for being able to hold his own after only having four days to prepare for the sudden role change.

O’Neill later stated that his dismissal from the project was in no way Day-Lewis’ fault, but due to his own shortcomings. It’s another one of those butterfly effect moments in cinema where you imagine an alternate reality where something so groundbreaking didn’t exist, especially given the chemistry between Dano and Day-Lewis that seems impossible to untangle from the film’s legacy. One door closed for O’Neill and film history was written elsewhere. Thomas Anderson later recounted how he wrote the role for Day-Lewis despite never having met him, another fateful moment when someone can fulfill a vision so far removed from reality.

In addition to chasing O’Neill off the set, Day-Lewis also threw real bowling balls at Dano during the infamous milkshake scene. Dano later explained that when one of them hit his leg, he realized they were real, and quickly ducked as more were thrown at him with surprising conviction. Day-Lewis also read old letters and diaries from oilmen of the time to prepare for the role, trying to understand the mentality and strength required to work in this profession.

After Day-Lewis retired from acting in 2017, filmmakers and moviegoers alike were shocked to learn that he would return to the screen in his son Ronan’s feature debut, Anemone. While the plot is kept under lock and key, with the story loosely described as a tale of family relationships between men of different generations, everyone waits with bated breath to see what Day-Lewis will do next and whether he will continue with the film. style that defined his stunning and completely intoxicating screen presence.