True Grit star Jeff Bridges says he had to ignore John Wayne's Oscar-winning performance as he took on the same role in the Coen brothers' remake.
Wayne won his only Academy Award for playing the one-eyed cowboy Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 western.
But Bridges’ version of the character - and the film itself - is attracting a lot of praise from critics, with many saying the remake is a certainty for Oscar nominations.
It is already the Coen brothers’ biggest grossing film in the US and critics say they have breathed life into a tired genre.
Jeff Bridges told Sky News the key to its success was disregarding the first film and going back to the 1968 Charles Portis novel.
This helped reduce the pressure of following in John Wayne's footsteps.
He said: "The Coen brothers said [we are] going back to the original book and to forget the film so I didn't worry about stepping into [the Duke's] shoes at all."
The film also stars Matt Damon and is an interesting addition to the Coen's eclectic back catalogue.
Bridges said it was inspirational working with them again. The last time they collaborated was for The Big Lebowski.
"Those guys are real masters. They know how to make movies so well and know how to make it look so easy.It was a very relaxed and comfortable set."
Bridges enjoyed making the film and revealed he is a cowboy at heart.
He says: "I love riding. My father was an actor and when he'd do a western I would be thrilled when he'd come home covered in dust and wearing chaps and cowboy hat and I used to dress up in all that stuff."
Wayne won his only Academy Award for playing the one-eyed cowboy Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 western.
But Bridges’ version of the character - and the film itself - is attracting a lot of praise from critics, with many saying the remake is a certainty for Oscar nominations.
It is already the Coen brothers’ biggest grossing film in the US and critics say they have breathed life into a tired genre.
Jeff Bridges told Sky News the key to its success was disregarding the first film and going back to the 1968 Charles Portis novel.
This helped reduce the pressure of following in John Wayne's footsteps.
He said: "The Coen brothers said [we are] going back to the original book and to forget the film so I didn't worry about stepping into [the Duke's] shoes at all."
The film also stars Matt Damon and is an interesting addition to the Coen's eclectic back catalogue.
Bridges said it was inspirational working with them again. The last time they collaborated was for The Big Lebowski.
"Those guys are real masters. They know how to make movies so well and know how to make it look so easy.It was a very relaxed and comfortable set."
Bridges enjoyed making the film and revealed he is a cowboy at heart.
He says: "I love riding. My father was an actor and when he'd do a western I would be thrilled when he'd come home covered in dust and wearing chaps and cowboy hat and I used to dress up in all that stuff."
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