Sharon Stone's feud with Billy Baldwin reveals disappointment over Brad Pitt's absence in 'Sliver'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Explosive revelations from Sharon Stone and Billy Baldwin have brought the behind-the-scenes drama of the 1993 erotic thriller 'Sliver' back into the spotlight, exposing a toxic environment that tainted the film's production.
Stone, fresh from the success of 'Basic Instinct,' had envisioned starring alongside Brad Pitt in 'Sliver,' only to have her hopes dashed when Baldwin was cast as her leading man.
Sharon Stone and Billy Baldwin's feud unveiled: A behind-the-scenes look
Sharon Stone hoped that in her follow-up erotic thriller, she would star alongside a young Brad Pitt. The actress imagined herself filming steamy scenes in which her character, a book editor, was graphically released from her sexual doldrums by Pitt's pretty boy charms.
William Baldwin took over the role of Pitt as Stone's leading man in 'Sliver,' emerging as a rising star after his successes with films like 'Flatliners' and 'Backdraft.'
Audiences ridiculed the film's sex scenes, particularly one set in a lift, which drew considerable scrutiny for its aggressive and non-consensual portrayal, especially in today's post-MeToo era.
Stone openly expressed her disdain for Baldwin, and their mutual animosity became palpable throughout the production.
Recently, Stone reignited the feud by alleging that 'Sliver' producer Robert Evans pressured her to sleep with Baldwin to enhance their on-screen chemistry.
"If I could sleep with Billy, then we'd have chemistry on screen and save the movie," said Stone, who claims that she refused the request.
Baldwin, the younger brother of Alec Baldwin, currently facing involuntary manslaughter charges over a fatal shooting on a movie set, retaliated, questioning, "Does she still have a crush on me, or is she still hurt after all these years because I shunned her advances?"
Baldwin added fuel to the fire by confessing to orchestrating a sex scene intentionally to avoid physical contact with Stone, ensuring that he "wouldn't have to kiss Sharon."
Director sheds Light on Brad Pitt's unintentional involvement
In a recent interview with The Mail on Sunday, Phillip Noyce, the director of the 1993 film 'Sliver,' disclosed details about the tumultuous atmosphere that prevailed on set during production.
Noyce revealed that the film's leading stars, Sharon Stone and Billy Baldwin, were far from pleased to be cast opposite each other. Stone, harboring hopes of starring alongside Brad Pitt, expressed disappointment over Baldwin's casting, setting the stage for a contentious dynamic between the co-stars.
"The two were not at all happy opposite each other. Sharon had always wanted Brad Pitt to play opposite her, so she was disappointed. I think she was genuinely regretful even though she'd taken the role. She was not at all happy in the movie."
According to Noyce, the animosity between Stone and Baldwin was palpable, with Stone's open disdain for her co-star resulting in Baldwin feeling extremely insecure.
Their on-set hostility was unmistakable, leading to challenges in filming intimate scenes and necessitating the use of stand-ins for certain close-up shots.
"There was such a great deal of animosity on set. Sharon's open disdain for Billy resulted in him feeling extremely insecure."
A crew member who witnessed their on-set hostility agreed, saying, "They loathed each other."
"They were at loggerheads through the entire film. Their sex scenes were distinctly unsexy, though you can blame a bad script and direction as much as you can blame Sharon and Billy."
