David Schwimmer says he turned down the chance to star in the original Men in Black Movie. The first film in the sci-fi series starred Will Smith as Agent J and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K, and was released in 1997. At the time, Schwimmer starred in the beloved sitcom of the 1990s. FriendsPlaying Ross Geller. According to Schwimmer, He chose to turn down the role so he could focus on directing.
While appearing on the podcast Origins with Cush Jumbo (via Indiewire), Schwimmer talked about choosing to direct a movie about the star Men in Black. According to Schwimmer, after starring in Miramax’s 1996 film The fallerThe studio wanted him to agree to a three-picture deal at a fixed price. The actor is said that if he agrees to the deal, He would be able to direct his first film, which was Since you’re gone. As part of the deal, Schwimmer could cast his theater company in the film, and spotlight unknown actors.
While Schwimmer was in pre-production for Since you’re goneThe actor was offered Men in Black. Since Men in Black was scheduled to begin filming at the same time as Since you’re goneSchwimmer decided to focus on directing instead. Although the original intention was to release the film in theaters, Since you’re gone would later premiere on ABC in 1998. Schwimmer’s full quote about the choice to work on Since you’re gone Instead Men in Black Can be found below:
We found this amazing script and we are developing it. We started pre-production. All my best friends in the world at my theater company quit their jobs so they could be in the film over the summer, which would be a six-week shoot in Chicago. We are in pre-production, hired the whole crew, everything is going and that’s when I was offered Men in Black. There was a direct conflict with this. My summer window of Friends was four months. I had a four-month hiatus and Men in Black Was going to shoot just when I was going to direct the film with my company. And of course, it was an amazing opportunity. However, my theater company and the relationship with all these people would probably end.
Although Schwimmer does not regret being chosen to direct instead, he also says that he really feels that Men in Black May have changed his career, adding:
You have to follow your gut. You have to follow your heart. Look, I’m really aware that 20 years later maybe more, [Men in Black] Would have made me a movie star. If you look at the success of the film and the franchise, my career would have taken a very different trajectory.
What the near-casting of David Schwimmer means for Men in Black
Will Smith brought a lot of himself to Agent J
Schwimmer would most likely have played Agent J in Men in Black. However, the character would have felt pretty different than he did when he was played by Smith. Smith brought a lot of himself to the roleAnd made the character of Agent J his own. Throughout the film, Smith showed his comedic style, which was similar to his other films and The fresh prince of Bel-air Sitcom. Since Schwimmer and Smith have different comedic styles, Schwimmer’s version of Agent J would likely have a different type of on-screen chemistry with Jones’ Agent K.
Our take on swimmers almost starring in men in black
While Schwimmer is a great actor, Smith was perfectly cast as Agent J
While Schwimmer may have made Agent J his own, it’s hard to imagine the character not played by Smith. Smith’s version of Agent J is one of the most memorable parts of the first three Men in Black Movies. His image was also influential For the animated version of​​​​ Agent J in Men in Black: The SeriesWho was voiced by Keith Diamond. Although Smith did not appear in Men in Black: InternationalThe character is featured in a painting as a tribute, along with Jones’ Agent K, further highlighting his importance to the franchise.
Although Schwimmer did not appear to enter Men in BlackHe went on to have other memorable roles. In the animated Madagascar Franchise, swimmer vote Melman, the giraffe. He also showed his dramatic acting in roles like Robert Kardashian in the first season of American Crime Story. However, even if he starred in Men in BlackIt is difficult to imagine a swimmer without first thinking about Ross Geller.
Source: Origins with Cush Jumbo (via Indiewire)