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Topics: Film and TV, Jack Black, Entertainment
Phoebe Tonks
Topics: Film and TV, Jack Black, Entertainment
Throughout his career it’s safe to say Jack Black has starred in some fan favourite movies, with everything from Jumanji: The Next Level through to School of Rock among his most beloved films.
Yet there is one role, that the actor turned down, which he has come to regret, as the film went on to become one of his all-time favorites.
Dishing the dirt on the role that could have been in a recent interview with Capital FM, Black was asked to name a movie role he had turned down. Initially seeming reluctant, he admitted it was a ‘tricky question’.
"Because then the person who got the role, they look like s--- because, 'Oh, I was a second choice? I was sloppy seconds!'"
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One of the hosts, Jordan North then responded that he had ‘never thought of that’ and promised he wouldn’t ask the question again.
Yet as it transpired, Black was only teasing, as he playfully quipped: “No, I’m going to answer it because I don't care.
"I was offered, and I do regret it, saying no... I was offered Syndrome in that fantastic movie The Incredibles — one of my favorites of all time, by the way," the actor said.
In the Disney Pixar classic, Syndrome was eventually voiced by Jason Lee, and was designed as an obsessive fan of the title hero Mr.Incredible, who became a super villain and attempted to steal the superpowers of the world’s heroes.
The 2004 film’s voice cast also included a number of A-list names, including the likes of Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, Samuel L. Jackson and Elizabeth Peña.
"And I said no because I was like, 'Uhhh, [director] Brad Bird? Never heard of him!'" Black teased.
The star then went on to reveal his real reason behind turning down the role as he continued: "This character that you're offering me is like a villain, but he's kinda one-dimensional. I'm interested but I'd like to see a rewrite."
Black remembered telling the director: "'Will you add some dimensions to this character?' And he was like, 'Yeah, you're done. Get out of here.'"
Despite Black’s reservations, the film went on to be a huge success, raking in over $630million at the box office, and spawning an equally successful sequel The Incredibles 2 in 2008. While it’s safe to say the star could have beaten himself up over missing out on the role, Black revealed he had taken a far different approach as he considered it a humbling learning moment.
"I learned a valuable lesson because when that movie came out, it was one of the best movies ever made," the star said. "I was like, 'Why was I being so difficult?!'"