Gene Hackman was reportedly very angry about his pay for The Royal Tenenbaums.

      The passing of Gene Hackman has prompted many to reflect on his impressive career and some of his finest performances. One of those standout roles was as Royal Tenenbaum in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. However, the director has now shared fresh insights regarding Hackman's hesitance to join the project.

      “Gene was really unhappy about the salary,” Anderson mentioned in a recent interview with The Times, revealing that Hackman was unwilling to accept a flat fee for the movie. “He was irate. Additionally, he didn’t actually want to do the film. I persuaded him — I just wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

      Anderson noted that this approach had worked for him in his prior film, Rushmore, when Bill Murray consented to work for the same pay as Jason Schwartzman, who was much younger and less established at that point. “He said he would participate and agreed to take the same salary as Jason — the young guy,” Anderson recounted. “He stated, ‘I’ll take what he’s getting, but I need to be able to leave for a golf tournament.’”

      Hackman was the sole cast member of The Royal Tenenbaums to contest the payment arrangement. “Everyone else accepted the salary, so Gene just went along with it — and that became our standard,” Anderson remarked.

      The director also mentioned that he didn't stay connected with the late actor after the shooting was completed.

      “Not a word,” Anderson said. “In fact, he left without bidding farewell. He was surly — we had some tension. He didn’t find it enjoyable. I was probably too young, which irritated him.”