Jack Black Admits Major Regret Over Turning Down Pixar Villain Role
The comedy star opens up about rejecting a chance to voice one of animation's most memorable antagonists, revealing the demanding attitude that cost him the part.
Jack Black wishes he could turn back time on one career decision. The actor recently admitted he deeply regrets passing on the chance to voice Syndrome in Pixar's beloved 2004 film The Incredibles.
The villain role eventually went to Jason Lee from My Name Is Earl, who brought the character to life in both the original movie and its 2018 sequel. That follow-up became one of the year's biggest box office hits.
The Mistake That Changed Everything
During a recent interview promoting his latest film Anaconda, which hit theaters on December 26th alongside co-star Paul Rudd, Black opened up about the missed opportunity. "I was offered, and I do regret it, saying no… I was offered Syndrome in that fantastic movie The Incredibles. One of my favorites of all time, by the way," he confessed.
The reason behind his rejection? Black didn't recognize director Brad Bird's name at the time. "And I said no because I was like, 'Uhhh, Brad Bird? Never heard of him!'," he honestly admitted about his mistake.
Demanding Changes That Backfired
But the unfamiliarity wasn't the only issue. Black made the fatal error of trying to rewrite the character before accepting the role. He recalled giving Bird unsolicited advice: "This character that you're offering me is like a villain, but he's kinda one-dimensional. I'm interested but I'd like to see a rewrite. Will you add some dimensions to this character?"
Bird's response was swift and final. "And he was like, 'Yeah, you're done'," Black remembered.
Learning From Past Mistakes
The experience taught Black a valuable lesson about the industry. When The Incredibles hit theaters and became a critical and commercial success, he realized his error. "I learned a valuable lesson because when that movie came out, it was one of the best movies ever made," he reflected.
The actor questioned his own behavior, asking himself, "Why was I being so difficult?" This moment of self-reflection changed how he approaches future opportunities.
Black continues proving his box office appeal in 2025 with upcoming projects including A Minecraft Movie alongside Anaconda. Meanwhile, Pixar fans can look forward to a third Incredibles film, with Peter Sohn taking over directing duties from Bird.