WAYNE’S WORLD Director Penelope Spheeris on Why She Was Fired Before WAYNE’S WORLD 2

Wayne’s world director Penelope Sphere made one of the biggest movies of the 90s. It’s one of, if not the best, character-driven films on SNL, and it comes as one of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history. One of the people we have to thank for this film is the film’s director, along with its stars and producer Lorne Michaels.

But rumors have circulated over the years about the lack of cohesion between Spheeris and Mike Myersand actually led to her being fired from the film’s sequel.

Spheeris told THR’s It Happened in Hollywood podcast (via CB):

“It wasn’t an uncomfortable set. Mike is hypoglycemic so if he had low blood sugar he could get grumpy. Big deal. I’ve worked with Richard Pryor and Albert Brooks. They’re going to give you a heart attack.”

However, he admitted that Myers was responsible for his failure to direct the second film. Not because he was so difficult to work with, as some have suggested, but because he exercised his power as star and director to push Paramount away from her when they clashed in the final cut. It certainly wasn’t a fun experience, but it’s quite a different narrative than what’s been pushed for years.

Spheeris claimed Myers didn’t vibe with the “Bohemian Rhapsody” scene, which has become the film’s most iconic moment, arguing it wasn’t funny. She told THR that everyone involved knew it wasn’t going to be easy to butt heads with Myers, and she basically told her she was doing it on her own—the studio wouldn’t tell Myers that she rejected her changes, she should have.

“Lorne pulled me aside and said, ‘Penelope, if you don’t change the movie, you won’t be able to direct Wayne’s World 2. Mike won’t approve of you.'”

He quotes Paramount executives as saying, “We really want to do Wayne’s World 2 with Mike. We won’t tell him you won’t change it, you have to tell him. And Lorne said, ‘I’m not telling him, you tell him.’ So I told him and I got fired.”

The final version of Wayne’s world it’s something Spheeris is happy with, having incorporated only a few of Myers’ notes and remaining largely untouched by the version that blew people away at test screenings. However, he stung and left a mark. When she was officially replaced, Spheeris said she yanked the phone off the wall in anger.

“[I] cried for two weeks. And then I got over it,” Spheeris said, though he hasn’t spoken to Lorne Michaels since, with whom he’s collaborated for nearly 20 years.

It’s a real shame to hear that. Wayne’s World is such a beautiful and hilarious film, and the latter has its moments, but pales in comparison. I would have liked to see Spheeris return to direct the second film. I wonder if Myers feels his decision was rushed after all these years.