David Schwimmer says turning down MEN IN BLACK was “brutal” because it would have made him a movie star, but he decided to direct instead

When you think about Men in Blackyou think about Blacksmithbut it went almost in a very different way. At the time the film was shot, one of the most popular TV series on the air was Friendswhich was a couple of seasons. The show’s stars were seeing their film careers take off, and David Slave he was offered the role of Jay, which eventually went to Smith.

Schwimmer was at a crossroads in his career and explained his decision to step away from the role during a recent interview on the podcast “Origins with Cush Jumbo.” He explained:

“[It] It was a brutal decision. I had just finished shooting The Pallbearer, my first film with Gwyneth Paltrow, and there were huge expectations that didn’t come true. It was a bit of a flop, but there were huge expectations and the studio, which was Miramax, wanted to lock me into a three-picture deal at a fixed price and I said I would do it if I could direct my first film.”

Miramax finally gave him the chance to direct a film and he found the script for Since you lefta comedy about a group of adults who come together to celebrate their tenth class anniversary.

“We started pre-production. All my best friends in the world in my theater company quit their jobs so they could be in this movie over the summer, which was supposed to shoot for six weeks in Chicago. We were in pre-production, we had hired all the crew, everything was going well, and that’s when I was offered ‘Men in Black.’ It was a direct conflict with that. My summer window from ‘Friends’ was four months. I had a four-month break, and ‘Men in Black’ was going to be shot exactly when I was supposed to be directing this movie with my company. And of course, it was an incredible opportunity. […] However, my theater company and that relationship with all those people would probably be over.”

Schwimmer’s directorial debut was supposed to be a theatrical release, but instead aired as a made-for-TV movie on ABC in 1998. Men in Black continued to cast Smith in the role originally offered to Schwimmer. Smith was fresh off the blockbuster independence Day at that time, and the success of Men in Black transformed him into one of the world’s biggest stars. Schwimmer added:

“You have to follow your instinct. 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 movie and that franchise, my career would have taken a very different trajectory.”

Things seem to be working out as they should. Smith brought something truly funny and special to the role, and while Schwimmer wasn’t launched on the same trajectory, he can still say he starred in one of the greatest and most beloved TV series of all time. He’s also gone on to star in many other roles, and has several other directing credits under his belt.

via: Variety