Colin Farrell says Tom Cruise ‘wasn’t happy’ on set of MINORITY REPORT after showing up hungover and needing 46 takes to nail down a scene

Colin Farrell recently shared a brutally honest behind-the-scenes story about the time he tested his patience Tom Cruise during the making of Steven SpielbergIt’s a sci-fi thriller Minority reportand it all started from a hard morning after a wild night.

During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen ColbertFarrell spoke about what he called “one of the worst days” he ever spent on a film set. The actor, who was struggling with substance abuse at the time, admitted that his 26th birthday turned into a nightmare for the production.

“I had one of the worst days I’ve ever had on a movie set [on ‘Minority Report’]It was my birthday on May 31st, we were filming and I begged the production: who did I think I was? – of a $120 million movie if they [could] Don’t make me work on my birthday.

“So, obviously, my pick-up was at 6 a.m. on May 31st, and I had done a lot of nonsense the night before. And I remember I got into bed and as soon as I turned the light off, the phone rang and it was the driver, [who] he said, “It’s 10 past 6.” And I was like, ‘Oh, shit.’”

When he arrived on set, things only got worse. Farrell was in no shape to perform and was assistant director David H. Venghaus Jr. called him immediately. “You can’t go on set like this,” Venghaus told him.

Farrell’s solution? Not exactly one for the Hollywood record books.

“And I said, ‘Just get me six Pacifico Cervezas and a 20-pack [Marlboro] Red.’ Now, listen, that’s not good because two years later I went to rehab, right? But it worked at the time. All the holy people we look to on how to live a life would say that the present is all that matters.

Fueled by a couple of beers, Farrell headed to set and immediately regretted it.

“I had a couple of beers and went on set and it was terrible. I’ll never forget the line I had that I couldn’t get out of. It was, ‘I’m sure you all have grasped the fundamental paradox of pre-crime methodology.’

This was the line that started the scene. I remember [the crew] walking over and saying, “Do you want to go out for some fresh air?” And I remember thinking, “If I go out and get some fresh air, when I come back I’ll be under more pressure to get better.” And I said, ‘No, we’ll just look into it.'”

What followed was a marathon of frustration.

“We did 46 takes. Tom wasn’t very happy with me. Tom, who I love, wasn’t very happy!”

Based on Philip K. DickIt is a 1956 novella, the film is set in a future where a specialized police unit uses psychic “precogs” to stop crimes before they happen. Cruise plays the head of the PreCrime division who becomes a fugitive after being accused of a future murder, while Farrell plays the government agent who pursues him.

Despite the hard morning on set, Minority report became a critical and commercial success, grossing $358 million worldwide and cementing both actors’ places in science fiction history.

Farrell’s heartfelt remembrance may make fans appreciate his more down-to-earth and thoughtful approach to cinema today, and serves as a reminder that even A-list productions can have moments that go completely off the rails.