Jack Black Reveals Regret Over Turning Down Role of Syndrome in ‘The Incredibles’
A celebrated actor known for his versatile performances, Jack Black recently disclosed a professional regret: declining the possibility to voice the villain, Syndrome, in Pixar’s critically acclaimed film, The Incredibles. The revelation came during a December interview on Capital FM, where Black explained his reluctance to discuss passed-over roles.
Black, whose iconic roles include “Nacho Libre,” “School of Rock,” adn the voice of Po in “Kung Fu Panda,” typically avoids discussing projects he’s turned down, citing a desire not to diminish the work of the actors who ultimately secured those parts. he described it as a “tricky question” because he doesn’t want anyone to feel like a “second choice” or “sloppy seconds.”
However, he ultimately shared that he was offered the role of Syndrome in the “fantastic” The Incredibles. “I was offered – and I do regret it, saying no – I was offered Syndrome in that fantastic movie ‘The Incredibles,'” Black stated.”One of my favorites of all time, by the way. And I said no because I was like, ‘Uhhh, (director) Brad Bird? Never heard of him!'”
The role of Syndrome ultimately went to Jason Lee. Black explained that he had requested script revisions,hoping to add more depth to the character.”‘This character that you’re offering me is like a villain, but he’s kinda one-dimensional,'” he recalled saying at the time. “‘I’m interested but I’d like to see a rewrite. Will you add some dimensions to this character?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, you’re done.'”
Brad Bird’s direction of The Incredibles earned him the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Bird continued his success with the sequel, Incredibles 2, also securing another Oscar in the same category. The film The Incredibles also starred Craig T. Nelson,Holly hunter,and Samuel L. Jackson, among others.
Black reflected on the experience as a meaningful learning moment. He realized the magnitude of his misjudgment upon the film’s release, describing The Incredibles as “one of the best movies ever made.” “And I was like, ‘why was I being so difficult?'” he added. The incident serves as a reminder that even seasoned performers can underestimate the potential of a project and the vision of its director.
Why: Jack black turned down the role of Syndrome in The Incredibles because he initially underestimated director Brad Bird and requested script revisions to add depth to the character, which were denied.
Who: Jack Black, Brad Bird, and Jason Lee are the key figures involved. Black was offered the role, Bird directed the film, and Lee ultimately voiced Syndrome.
What: Black revealed his regret over declining the role during a recent interview, acknowledging the film’s quality and his misjudgment of Bird’s talent.
How did it end?: Black’s request for a rewrite was rejected, leading to Jason Lee being cast as Syndrome. Black later recognized The Incredibles as a masterpiece and expressed regret for his initial decision, viewing it as a valuable learning experience.
