Adam Sandler; Quentin Tarantino.Photo: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty, Jonas Walzberg/picture alliance via Getty
Quentin Tarantinooriginally wantedAdam Sandlerfor a key role in his 2009 filmInglourious Basterds.
“I was like hanging out with [Apatow’s] crew for a while. We went to a bunch of different things together,” Tarantino continued, after explaining that he and the comedy producer-director met through Sandler while he did a cameo in the 2000 movieLittle Nicky.
“But alsoFreaks and Geekshad just went off the air or it was on its way to go off the air and I had missed it, but that whole Happy Madison crowd was, like, crazy for it.”
During the conversation, Apatow said while makingFunny Peoplewith Sandler he “wasn’t aware that that was the exact time [Tarantino was] trying to use him forInglorious Basterds,” according toVariety.
Eli Roth and Brad Pitt inInglourious Basterds(2009).Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
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“Obviously he should’ve done your [movie] because of the whole thing of it,” Tarantino said during the podcast appearance. “I mean, you start with the f—ing video cassette of you guys as kids. But yeah … I wrote the Bear Jew for Adam Sandler.”
“When I was doingLittle Nicky, he’s telling me like, ‘Oh man, I get to f—ing beat up Nazis with a bat? F—ing script! F—ing awesome! I can’t f—ing wait!’ " Tarantino added. “[Sandler] was like telling every Jewish guy, ‘I’m going to f—ing play this guy who beats up Nazis with a f—ing bat!’ "
The director joked during the conversation that Apatow “wrapped up all the good Jews” as cast members forFunny Peoplewhile he was makingInglourious Basterds.
“That was the problem. Seth Rogen and all the good Jews were doingFunny People,” Tarantino said. “I’m killing Hitler with baseball bats and there’s no good Jews available! David Krumholtz, nobody. All the good Jews were all wrapped up! I’m doing the Jewish male fantasy!”
Despite Tarantino’s troubles casting the role, he eventually found his Donny Donowitz inEli Roth, who starred alongsideBrad Pitt’s Nazi-hunting group of soldiers in the fictional World War II film. The cast also included Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Laurent, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, B.J. Novak and Léa Seydoux
Tarantino and Apatow’s full appearance onClub Randomwill be available on Dec. 18.
source: people.com
