CinemaWhy David Schwimmer turned down a role in MIB – Men in BlackAt the time he negotiated a role in MIB – Men in Black, David Schwimmer starred in Friends and wanted to direct Since We Left (1998)today at 11:35

When I was in the first seasons of Friends, David Schwimmer came to negotiate with the studio Miramax to star MIB – Men in Blackone of the main action and science fiction films of the 1990s.

Released on July 11, 1997 in Brazilian cinemas, the production starred Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K) and Will Smith (Agent J) and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. In an interview with the podcast Origins with Cush Jumbo, Schwimmer explained the reason for the failure of the talks to act in the film. It is worth remembering how, at the time, he wanted to direct the first film of his career, entitled Since We Left (1998).

“So it was a brutal decision. There were high expectations about it, which didn’t come to fruition,” he said. “It was kind of a bombshell. But there were high expectations and the studio, which was the Miramaxwanted 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.”

The 57-year-old artist then explained how, after negotiating for months with the studio, it was decided that he would act in three additional films for Miramaxas well as directing actors from his own theater company.

All of my best friends in the world at my theater company quit their jobs to be in this movie over the summer, which was going to be a six-week shoot in Chicago.

“It was a direct conflict with — that was my summer window of FriendsI had a four month hiatus, and MIB – Men in Black was going to shoot exactly when I was going to direct this movie with my company,” recalled David Schwimmer.

“Of course it was an incredible opportunity. I mean, you have to follow your gut, you have to follow your heart,” the actor continued in the conversation. “And look, I mean, I’m really aware — whatever, 20 years later, maybe more — that it would have made me, I guess, a movie star. If you look at the success of that movie and that franchise, I — my career could have taken a very different trajectory.”

Finally, Schwimmer admitted how he is not sure “if I made the right choice,” but commented that theater friends might never forgive him for not performing Since We Left: “My theater company and that relationship with all those people would probably have ended.

I don’t think they would have recovered. I mean, those people had quit their jobs to make that movie.