Wes Anderson Revealed Why Gene Hackman Was "Furious" While Filming "The Royal Tenenbaums"

" We had friction . "

Earlier this year, legendary actorGene Hackmanpassed awayalongside his wife Betsy Arakawa in the couple’s Santa Fe home.

Gene was a larger-than-life talent, so it’s not surprising that we’re still hearing new stories from those who worked with him. The latest comes from director Wes Anderson, whose new filmThe Phoenician Schemejust premiered at theCannes Film Festival.

As you probably know, Gene was effectively the lead in Wes’s 2001 classicThe Royal Tenenbaums, playing Royal Tenenbaum. His performance was critically acclaimed, garnering a Golden Globe win for his efforts.

Gene, who was fairly private as a celebrity and effectively retired from acting in 2004, also didn’t show up to collect the award itself — and according to a newSunday Timesinterview with Wes, he very much wasn’t a fan of making the film either.

“Gene was very annoyed about the money,” Wes said in the interview, gesturing toward the flat pay rate thatThe Royal Tenenbaums' cast received across the board. “He was furious. Also, he didn’t want to do the film anyway."

Wes went on to claim that he had to basically convince Gene to be in the film — and that he “wouldn’t go away” until the storied actor said yes. “And everybody else said yes to the salary, so Gene just went with it — and that just became our way,” he explained.

Wes also said that Gene said “not a word” to him when they were finished filming. “In fact he left without saying goodbye," he claimed. “He was grumpy — we had friction. He didn’t enjoy it. I was probably too young and it was annoying to him.”

In fact, the last conversation the two had — according to Wes, at least — was whenThe Royal Tenenbaumsopened in theaters. “He liked it,” Wes recalled. “But he told me he didn’t understand it when we were shooting. I wish I’d shown him 10 minutes, early on. Then, maybe, he would have said, ‘OK, I get it.’”

The more you know about the movies you love! You can read the entire interview with Wes righthere.

Gene Hackman with short gray hair and a beard smiles while wearing a suit and collared shirt at an event backdrop

Wes Anderson in a black tuxedo with a bow tie on a red carpet event

Gene Hackman, Wes Anderson, and Bill Murray in winter jackets standing together, smiling. One wears a beanie and has a beard, another has glasses, and the third has a mustache

Group of men, including a child, sitting with $1 bills; a bulldog is beside them. They are dressed in vintage-style clothing and appear to gamble outdoors

Gene Hackman wearing a herringbone blazer, flat cap, and striped tie stands outdoors on a snowy street with a brick building in the background

Man in hat and uniform speaks into a phone; another man holds a bird on his gloved hand behind him

Person in a suit and beret smiles joyfully while riding a go-kart under a bridge; another person in a red tracksuit rides nearby

Two men outside talking; one in a blue winter jacket and glasses, the other in a long dark coat with a mustache

Earlier this year, legendary actorGene Hackmanpassed awayalongside his wife Betsy Arakawa in the couple’s Santa Fe home.#

Gene was a larger-than-life talent, so it’s not surprising that we’re still hearing new stories from those who worked with him. The latest comes from director Wes Anderson, whose new filmThe Phoenician Schemejust premiered at theCannes Film Festival.#

As you probably know, Gene was effectively the lead in Wes’s 2001 classicThe Royal Tenenbaums, playing Royal Tenenbaum. His performance was critically acclaimed, garnering a Golden Globe win for his efforts.#

Gene, who was fairly private as a celebrity and effectively retired from acting in 2004, also didn’t show up to collect the award itself — and according to a newSunday Timesinterview with Wes, he very much wasn’t a fan of making the film either.#

“Gene was very annoyed about the money,” Wes said in the interview, gesturing toward the flat pay rate thatThe Royal Tenenbaums' cast received across the board. “He was furious. Also, he didn’t want to do the film anyway."#

Wes went on to claim that he had to basically convince Gene to be in the film — and that he “wouldn’t go away” until the storied actor said yes. “And everybody else said yes to the salary, so Gene just went with it — and that just became our way,” he explained.#

Wes also said that Gene said “not a word” to him when they were finished filming. “In fact he left without saying goodbye," he claimed. “He was grumpy — we had friction. He didn’t enjoy it. I was probably too young and it was annoying to him.”#

The more you know about the movies you love! You can read the entire interview with Wes righthere.#