The part eventually ended up going to Will Smith who, of course, completely OWNED it so it’s hard to imagine anyone else play it.
Schwimmer explained on The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast Awards Chatter why he had to turn it down.
The actor, 49, who played Ross in the popular sitcom, was gearing up to star and direct the TV movie Since You’ve Been Gone when he was approached to do Men In Black.
Schwimmer explained on The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast Awards Chatter why he had to turn it down.
The actor, 49, who played Ross in the popular sitcom, was gearing up to star and direct the TV movie Since You’ve Been Gone when he was approached to do Men In Black.
Friends star David Schwimmer has revealed that he was originally offered the role Agent J in Men in Black.
But Schwimmer had already cast everyone in the theatre company he co-founded in Chicago in the movie and felt he couldn’t let them down.
He said: ‘I had told everyone in the theatre company, “You’re all cast. Here are your roles. Don’t take any other jobs for this six-week period.”
‘So everyone turned down all these opportunities — teaching jobs, other plays; everyone was banking on doing this first film with me.’
He said: ‘I had told everyone in the theatre company, “You’re all cast. Here are your roles. Don’t take any other jobs for this six-week period.”
‘So everyone turned down all these opportunities — teaching jobs, other plays; everyone was banking on doing this first film with me.’
He added: ‘About a month before production, I get the call about Men in Black, which was a direct conflict with doing, directing that film. And I just said, “I can’t.”
‘These are my closest friends in the world. This is their first shot at a movie, my first shot at directing. It wasn’t even like a choice. It was like, “I can’t.”‘
Aw, now that’s a true friend!
‘These are my closest friends in the world. This is their first shot at a movie, my first shot at directing. It wasn’t even like a choice. It was like, “I can’t.”‘
Aw, now that’s a true friend!