Writer/director Kevin Smith recently revealed the only requirement for comic book legend Stan Lee to appear. Rats. The 1995 comedy was panned by critics and was a box office disappointment. was not an immediate success for Smith. But thanks to his self-awareness, witty dialogue and the appearance of the late Stan “The Man” Lee, Rats has achieved the status of a cult classic since its release almost three decades ago.
In the video for GQ Magazine, in which he talked about his most iconic films, Smith shared an anecdote about how Lee’s cameo came about. The director stated that he had written the role of a comic book guru like Stan Lee, but producer Jim Jacks, who knew Lee, suggested that Smith rewrite the script to include the Spider-Man co-writer. He agreed, and Jax sent the script to Lee, which resulted in Smith receiving a call from Stan himself. It was during this phone call that Lee expressed his caution to Smith about appearing in the film:
And he said, “Hey, this is Stan Lee,” and I was like, “Oh my God, I know who you are.” I said, “This is crazy, man, I grew up listening to you. I’m a big fan. Obviously a great lover of his work. He says, “I could tell I was reading the pages. I’m very honored.” And I thought, “Well, can you do this? Do you want to do this? Come play with us? And he says, “Well, here’s the thing, Kevin. In this film I talk about a girl who left in a very sweet monologue. If in a film I talk about a girl who ran away, then the girl who is at my house will close the door and will not let me back into the house. I suggest adding another scene where I talk about how I was just joking. Then Joan Lee won’t be angry.” And I thought it was incredibly cute, so I wrote another scene where Stan meets Jeremy London’s character TC… I’ve known him for a long time and I’ve learned that Stan has been absolutely brilliant in expanding the Stan brand. So Stan figured out how to get another scene in the movie. Stan didn’t really care what Joan thought. It was a movie. He didn’t care. For God’s sake, this was the guy who came up with Thor. But he said, “You know, it would be a good way to expand my role in the film.” So he was smart. Damn smart, old Stan Lee.
What Stan Lee’s Cameo Meant for Mallrats
Ensuring trust in computer professionals
Kevin Smith already established himself as a computer geek with cardsthanks to the iconic The Empire Strikes Back/Conversation with the Death Star in his hit indie comedy. Clerks. The director doubled down Ratswhich further cemented his place in the geek universe. Brody (Jason Lee) is a walking encyclopedia of comics and even foreshadowed the 1996 Marvel/DC crossover in a conversation with Renee (Shannen Doherty). However, Stan Lee’s cameo made a big difference.
Connected
By that time, Stan Lee was already a household name among comic book readers. Rats was released to see him appear in a film that was so focused on them gave much needed authority. Rats was not Lee’s first on-screen role, as he appeared in a cameo role in the 1989 TV movie. The trial of the Incredible Hulk. However, as Smith notes in the video, his role here is more than a cameo, as he has multiple scenes and many lines of dialogue. Lee even appeared on the film’s poster.
Our look at Stan Lee’s Mall Rats cameo
This set the tone for future films
To RatsStan Lee did little acting except for voice work and voice work in various Marvel projects in the 1980s. But Rats demonstrated that Lee was not only a prolific storyteller, but he also knew how to act. This set the stage for his nearly 40 cameos in Marvel-related films and television series. In fact, Stan Lee’s cameos have become so synonymous with MCU films that his absence from them has been noticeable since his passing. And it’s all thanks to Lee trying to squeeze a little more screen time out of the film. Rats.
Source: GQ