Director was offered money to replace an actor in his film as he had Down Syndrome

Director reveals he was offered money to replace Oscar-tipped actor with Down’s syndrome in his film because he doesn’t have a ‘marketable face’

  •  Zack Gottsagen plays lead role in forthcoming film The Peanut Butter Falcon
  • Tyler Nilson revealed he was offered money to replace Zack with another actor 
  • Was told Zack wouldnt appeal to streaming services as face isn’t ‘marketable’  

A director has revealed he was offered money to replace an actor with Down’s syndrome in his film because he didn’t have a ‘marketable face’.  

Zack Gottsagen, 34, from Florida, appeared on This Morning alongside the director of his debut film ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ – in which he plays a young man who follows his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. 

Tyler Nilson,from North Carolina, revealed on the show that movie bosses weren’t convinced the film would be profitable, and offered him money to change the lead actor.  

Zack Gottsagen, 34, from Florida, (left) appeared on This Morning alongside the director of his debut film Tyler Nilson,from North Carolina (right) 

Zack has been tipped for an Oscar for his lead role in drama-comedy film 'The Peanut Butter Falcon'

Zack has been tipped for an Oscar for his lead role in drama-comedy film ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’

He said: ‘We were offered money if we replaced Zack, and that was something for us that was a major no go. 

 ‘If we made it for two hundred or two million it didn’t matter. We got the best people on board . ‘ 

Tyler was told that audiences wouldn’t watch the movie and streaming services would be hesitant to pick it up, describing the production process as an ‘uphill battle every step of the way’. 

He said: ‘Every step of the way it has been a little bit of an uphill battle. Until recently, we were told that the movie we made would not be marketable, because he’s not a marketable face.’ 

However the movie, which also stars Shia LaBeouf,33,  and Dakota Johnson, 30, has grossed $16.8 million in the US so far, with a budget of just $6.2 million and Zack has been tipped for an Academy Award for his role in the film. 

The movie also stars Shia LaBeouf (left) 33, and Dakota Johnson (right), 30, and has grossed 16.8 million in the US so far, with a budget of just 6.2 million

The movie also stars Shia LaBeouf (left) 33, and Dakota Johnson (right), 30, and has grossed 16.8 million in the US so far, with a budget of just 6.2 million

In the film Zack plays a young man with Down Syndrome who follows his dream of becoming a professional wrestler

In the film Zack plays a young man with Down Syndrome who follows his dream of becoming a professional wrestler 

He said: ‘We came out swinging and people are taking to the story really well and I think we’ve made over like 16 million dollars over there.’ 

 Zack has been studying acting since he was just three and insisted that his career is ‘everything to him’ with Tyler hailing his work on the film a ‘really special performance’. 

He said: ‘We hope for a lot but we expect nothing. 

‘It’s really special people are acknowledging Zack’s work it is a really special performance.’ 

Tyler is seen with Zack and the film's screenwriter Michael Schwartz at the film's London premiere at the BFI on London's Southbank

Tyler is seen with Zack and the film’s screenwriter Michael Schwartz at the film’s London premiere at the BFI on London’s Southbank 

He went on to insist that he’s been ‘moved’ by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the film, and has heard reports of fans ‘cheering and crying’ at the end of the film.  

He said: ‘It is truly moving a lot of reports of people cheering at the end of the movie and crying it’s dope’. 

Zack met Tyler at an acting camp and was captivated by his ‘phenomenal’ performance, which soon inspired him to make a film. 

Tyler explained today he's been 'moved' by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the film, and has heard reports of fans 'cheering and crying'

Tyler explained today he’s been ‘moved’ by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the film, and has heard reports of fans ‘cheering and crying’

He explained: ‘He was giving a performance that I thought was phenomenal and it was something I hadn’t really seen before. 

‘We started having a talk about Zack’s hopes and dreams and so we were like let’s make a movie. 

‘Then and he had never made movie and kind of all banded together and decided to tackle that.’  

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