David Schwimmer shares that 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. During that time, Schwimmer was starring in the beloved 1990s sitcom Friends, playing Ross Geller. According to Schwimmer, he chose to turn down the role so that he could focus on directing.
While appearing on the podcast Origins with Cush Jumbo (via IndieWire), Schwimmer talked about choosing to direct a movie over starring in Men in Black. According to Schwimmer, after starring in Miramax’s 1996 film The Pallbearer, the studio wanted him to agree to a three-picture deal at a fixed price. The actor was told that if he agreed to the deal, he would be able to direct his first film, which was Since You’ve Been Gone. As part of the deal, Schwimmer was able to cast his theater company in the film, and put a spotlight on unknown actors.
While Schwimmer was in pre-production for Since You’ve Been Gone, the actor was offered Men in Black. Since Men in Black was scheduled to begin filming at the same time as Since You’ve Been Gone, Schwimmer decided to focus on directing instead. Although the original intention was to release the film in theaters, Since You’ve Been Gone would later premiere on ABC in 1998. Schwimmer’s full quote about choosing to work on Since You’ve Been Gone instead of Men in Black can be found below:
We found this amazing script and we were developing it. We started pre-production. All my best friends in the world in my theatre company quit their jobs so they could be in this film over the summer, which was going to be a six-week shoot in Chicago. We’re in pre-production, hired the whole crew, everything’s going and that’s when I was offered Men in Black. It was a direct conflict with this. My summer window from Friends was four months. I had a four-month hiatus and Men in Black was going to shoot exactly when I was going to direct this film with my company. And of course, it was an amazing opportunity. However, my theatre company and that relationship with all those people probably would have ended.
Although Schwimmer has no regrets about choosing to direct instead, he also shared that he does feel that Men in Black could have changed his career, adding:
You have to follow your gut. You have to follow your heart. Look, I’m really aware, whatever 20 years later maybe more, [Men in Black] would have made me a movie star. If you look at the success of that film and that franchise, my career would have taken a very different trajectory.
What David Schwimmer’s Almost-Casting Means For Men In Black
Will Smith Brought A Lot Of Himself To Agent J
Schwimmer would have most likely 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 role, and 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 had a different type of on-screen chemistry with Jones’ Agent K.
Our Take On Schwimmer Almost Starring In Men In Black
While Schwimmer Is A Great Actor, Smith Was Perfect Casting As Agent J
Although Schwimmer could 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 portrayal was also influential for the animated version of Agent J in Men in Black: The Series, who was voiced by Keith Diamond. Although Smith didn’t appear in Men in Black: International, the character was shown in a painting as a tribute, along with Jones’ Agent K, further highlighting his importance to the franchise.
Men in Black: International instead starred Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the two lead agents.
Although Schwimmer didn’t get to appear in Men in Black, he has gone on to have other memorable roles. In the animated Madagascar franchise, Schwimmer voices Melman, the giraffe. He’s also shown his dramatic acting in roles like Robert Kardashian in the first season of American Crime Story. However, even if he had starred in Men in Black, it’s hard to imagine Schwimmer without first thinking of Ross Geller.
Source: Origins with Cush Jumbo (via IndieWire)
Men in Black
Men in Black (MIB) is a science fiction franchise that began with the 1997 film, based on the Marvel comic series by Lowell Cunningham. The franchise follows a secret organization that monitors extraterrestrial activity on Earth. The series includes four films, an animated TV series, and several video games, blending action, humor, and sci-fi. The franchise is notable for the performances of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, who portrayed Agents J and K, respectively.
- Created by
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Lowell Cunningham
, Barry Sonnenfeld - First TV Show
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Men in Black: The Series
- Latest TV Show
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Men in Black: The Series
- First Episode Air Date
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October 11, 1997
- TV Show(s)
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Men in Black: The Series
- Character(s)
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Agent J
, Agent K
, Agent O
, Agent H
, Agent M
, Zed
, Frank the Pug
, Edgar the Bug
, Boris the Animal
, Serleena
