John Leguizamo Made Fun Of Steven Seagal With His Performance In The Menu
John Leguizamo hates Steven Seagal, so he used the former action star as the basis for his washed-up actor in The Menu.
It’s no secret at this point that John Leguizamo isn’t a fan of his Executive Decision co-star Steven Seagal. Last November, he told Entertainment Weekly that Segal is “a horrible person,” and during a recent interview with Comic Book, he shared that he drew inspiration from the Under Siege star for his role in last year’s dark comedy The Menu. In the Mark Mylod-directed picture, Leguizamo plays a washed-up actor who’s absolutely despised by Ralph Fiennes’ character.
Daniel Radcliffe was reportedly up for the role prior to John Leguizamo being cast in the critical hit. The Harry Potter actor would have portrayed an over-the-top version of himself, as a former child star, instead of Leguizamo’s washed-up action star character. While speaking with Comic Book, Leguizamo said he never intended to play himself in The Menu.
What am I, going to spoof myself like I’m a failed actor? Hell no. I wouldn’t have done that. I used Steven Seagal because I hate him.
– John Leguizamo on his role in The Menu
As an accomplished actor and comedian, John Leguizamo has had his fair share of interactions with various personalities in Hollywood. With that said, there doesn’t seem to be anyone he despises more than Steven Seagal. The Violent Night star has been vocal about his dislike for Seagal on multiple occasions, citing various reasons for his distaste toward the actor.
In an interview with The New York Post in 2020, John Leguizamo shared an anecdote about his experience working with Steven Seagal on the set of the 1996 action flick Executive Decision. According to Leguizamo, Seagal refused to shoot any scenes that required him to wear a parachute, citing concerns about his safety. Additionally, Leguizamo has criticized Seagal’s reputation for treating others poorly on set, including stunt performers and production staff.
During his interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2022, John Leguizamo said that he considers Steven Seagal to be awful due to his actions and comments regarding race and social justice issues. Leguizamo cited Seagal’s support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his derogatory remarks about Mexicans as examples of his problematic behavior. Leguizamo has been an outspoken advocate for social justice and has used his platform to speak out against inequality and injustice.
Finally, John Leguizamo doesn’t think Steven Seagal is a talented performer. While speaking with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in 2019, Leguizamo joked that Seagal “moves like a baby deer on ice” and imitated his stiff, robotic movements. His comments were met with laughter and applause from the audience, suggesting that his criticism of Seagal’s acting abilities is a common sentiment among fans and industry professionals alike.
It’s probably safe to say that John Leguizamo and Steven Seagal won’t be teaming up for a project anytime soon. Of course, it’s not like Leguizamo would benefit from appearing alongside a washed-up action star at this point in his career. Seagal is likely too busy supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine to take on a film role.
John Leguizamo currently stars in the Amazon Prime series The Power alongside Toni Collette, Halle Bush, Adina Porter, and Eddie Marsan. Based on the New York Times bestseller, the story follows teenage girls as they suddenly and mysteriously develop a special power that allows them to electrocute people at will. The show was created by Naomi Alderman, Sarah Quintrell, and Raelle Tucker.
