Jack Black Regrets Passing on Villain Role in Pixar Classic
The beloved actor admits he made a costly mistake when he rejected the chance to voice Syndrome in The Incredibles, calling his decision-making process 'difficult' after witnessing the film's massive success.
Jack Black's career took off after School of Rock hit theaters in 2003. But around that same period, the comedian made what he now considers a major misstep. He walked away from voicing the antagonist in what became one of Pixar's most celebrated films.
During a recent interview with Capital FM, Black opened up about declining the opportunity to play Syndrome in The Incredibles. Jason Lee eventually landed the part, but Black wishes he could rewind that decision.
Second Thoughts About Pixar's Masterpiece
"It's a tricky question because then, the person who got the role, they look like shit. 'Oh I was the second choice,'" Black explained when discussing missed opportunities. "I'm gonna answer it cause I don't care."
The actor didn't hold back about his regrets. "I was offered – and I do regret saying no – I was offered Syndrome in that fantastic movie The Incredibles, one of my favorites of all time, by the way," he continued.
Creative Differences That Backfired
Black's reasoning for passing seemed logical at the time. He questioned director Brad Bird's credentials and felt the villain needed more depth. "I said no cause I was like, 'Uh, Brad Bird? Never heard of him. The character that you're offering me is a villain, but he's kind of one-dimensional. I'm interested, but I'd like to see a re-write. Will you add some dimension to the character?'"
Bird's response was swift and final. "And he was like 'You're done, get out of here.'"
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
When The Incredibles premiered and became a critical and commercial triumph, Black realized his mistake. "I learned a valuable lesson, because then the movie came out and it was one of the best movies ever made. And I was like, 'Why was I being so difficult?'"
These days, Black stays busy with projects like Anaconda, a comedic take on the 1997 snake thriller. But that Pixar experience taught him something valuable about Hollywood decision-making.