Director Stephen Herek’s 2001 movie, Rock Star, was actually inspired by the real-life story of Tim “Ripper” Owens, who gained fame when he joined the heavy metal band Judas Priest. The comedy/drama film featured Mark Wahlberg as Chris “Izzy” Cole and Jennifer Aniston as Emily Poule.

Aniston once revealed that she almost declined the offer to star in the movie after Mark Wahlberg was selected to play the lead role.

Initially, actor Brad Pitt, Aniston’s then-husband, was selected for the role, however, changes were made at the last minute. Many fans speculate that Aniston was reluctant to star in the movie mainly because Wahlberg stole the role from her ex-husband.

Jennifer Aniston didn’t want to star in Rock Star (2001)
Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston
In a past interview with Female AU, actress Jennifer Aniston revealed that she was asked to play the role of Emily Poule in 2001’s Rock Star, however, the filmmakers then delayed the project and after one year, she was approached again but this time the lead actor was Mark Wahlberg. The actress said,
“They were working on the film for a while and then it went away. Then about a year later I got the call from my manager, and she said do you remember Rock Star?

I said, yes. And she said, Mark Wahlberg’s doing it, how would you feel about playing the love interest? At the time I remembered there not being much of a part, so I said no, but she explained that they were writing it in. They’d create it and put it together. So I said, sure, that sounds great.”
It is to be noted that actor Brad Pitt was initially selected to play the role that ultimately went to Wahlberg. Sources claimed that Aniston was interested in starring in the movie with her then-husband, but due to the changes, she was unsure. Pitt was removed from the movie due to creative differences.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt started dating in the late 1990s

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt
Aniston and Pitt met through their managers in the late 1990s. Rumors about their romance began swirling around and finally, they made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 1999 Emmy Awards. In November 1999, they got engaged and got married in July 2000.

Unfortunately, things took a turn in 2005, it was announced that the two have ended their relationship. Their divorce was finalized in October 2005 and they were officially separated. Many sources claimed that Pitt’s relationship with his Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-star, Angelina Jolie ended his marriage.

Jennifer Aniston praised Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston in Rock Star (2001)
Despite Wahlberg replacing Pitt in the movie, Aniston praised his work and talked about the experience of working with him,
“It was amazing, I love him [Mark Wahlberg]. First of all, he’s so talented and makes such amazing, seamless transitions from character to character.

He’s good at what he does and he becomes that character. He put on those leather pants, and that was pretty much all he had to do. There was no Marky Mark anywhere to be seen.”
Looking back at it, Aniston should’ve rejected the movie as it ended up being a major flop. The movie managed to earn only $19 million on a budget of $57 million.