3 Facts About 'A Star Is Born' You May Not Know

One of the most talked-about films of 2018 almost didn't happen. When Bradley Cooper stepped up to direct "A Star Is Born," movie studios weren't clamoring to take him to the task. However, Cooper continued to shop for his vision until someone took a chance and gave him the reigns. The film went on to earn countless award nominations and critical acclaim, especially for his costar, Lady Gaga. Take a look at these three facts about "A Star Is Born" that you may not know.

1. The Film Is a Remake

The original "A Star Is Born" came out in 1937 starring Janet Ganor and Frederic March. The film centered around a young actress and her love for an alcoholic actor. The film was remade with this premise in 1954 with Judy Garland. The third remake in 1974 was the first to feature the young artist as a singer who falls in love with a rock star who is on the decline. Barbara Streisand starred in this version, and it is the precursor to the 2018 remake.

2. Lady Gaga Was Not the First Choice - and Neither Was Cooper

Gaga was not the first singer offered the role. That honor went to Beyonce, who later dropped out when the original director Clint Eastwood did. Producers, including Heather Parry, did not want to keep Beyonce on board due to her high paycheck. When Cooper finally got the green light, he said Lady Gaga was his first choice.

3. Lady Gaga Won the Oscar

Cooper was nominated for best director at the 2018 Oscars but came up empty. However, his performance of the original song, "Shallow" with Lady Gaga stole the show. Many people speculated that Gaga and Cooper were, well, gaga over each other. The two heavily denied these rumors saying the performance was just that. Cooper didn't get love from the academy, but Lady Gaga did. She won the Oscar for co-writing the song.

The evolution of "A Star Is Born" may help give you insight into how fickle the movie industry is.

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