Friends Star Turned Down Sci-Fi Blockbuster Classic In The ’90s
David Schwimmer, best known for his role as Ross on Friends, was nearly the star of the 90s mega hit Men In Black. The actors recently reflected on the decision to turn the role down, explaining why and speculating about how different his career may have been if he’d taken the job. While the actor claims he doesn’t regret the decision, he described it as “brutal” nonetheless.
Chose Directing Over Starring In Men In Black
While the fact that David Schwimmer was offered the lead role in Men in Black has been fairly well-known for years, it was always assumed that it conflicted with his Freinds shooting schedule. The actor recently revealed that wasn’t the case and that he decided not to take the role so he could direct his first movie Since You’ve Been Gone. While limited time off from Friends played a role, he chose his directorial debut over acting in the blockbuster.
Since You’ve Been Gone
David Schwimmer’s decision to prioritize Since You’ve Been Gone over Men in Black was influenced by the fact he’d already cast his acting troupe in Since You’ve Been Gone. He was close friends with those actors and saw the film as a way to show off their talents and make them known in Hollywood. Since You’ve Been Gone was in pre-production when the role was offered to him, without the ability to reschedule before the next season of Friends, he turned the role down.
Says Men In Black Would’ve Made Him A Movie Star
Despite saying he doesn’t regret the decision, David Schwimmer admits that Men in Black could have made him into a movie star. It was certainly a major step in Will Smith’s career, helping him transition from his own hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air into more movie roles. Given their similar backgrounds as sitcom actors, Schwimmer’s belief that the movie could have been his ticket into movie stardom makes sense.
Men In Black Was A Mega Hit
Of course, David Schwimmer didn’t know when he turned down the role that Men in Black would be one of the biggest hits of 1997 and spawn a franchise. With Will Smith as the lead, it earned over $589 million at the box office, coming in behind only The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Titanic that year. Given the film’s success and multiple sequels, it’s easy to see why the actor would have some strong feelings about turning it down in hindsight.
Wouldn’t Be The Same Without Will Smith
Of course, there’s no guarantee that the David Schimmer version of Men in Black would have been a major hit the way the Will Smith version was. Will Smith had already started his ascent into movie stardom, having already starred in blockbuster hits like Bad Boys and Independence Day. Will Smith’s involvement was also a huge boon for the movie as he wrote a theme song that received frequent radio play leading up to the movie’s release.
Will Always Have Friends
It’s hard to imagine what the ripple effects would have been if David Schimmer had played the lead in Men in Black. It certainly could have propelled the actor into more roles in major blockbusters and completely changed his career. The opportunity to become a movie star may have slipped him by, but he can always take comfort in the fact he was one of TV’s biggest stars for a full decade.
Source: Origins with Cush Jumbo
