Quentin Tarantino confirmed old rumors about Adam Sandler and the “Inglorious Basterds” during his latest appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast.
In Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino‘s 2009 masterpiece, one of the most iconic characters is certainly Sergeant Donny, “The Bear Jew,” played by Eli Roth. While the latter is perfect for the part, the Pulp Fiction director had a completely different person in mind when writing the role. Host Maher and co-interviewee Judd Apatow joined Tarantino; on the podcast, he confirmed he created the character of Donny, keeping Adam Sandler in mind. But Sandler was already committed to Apatow’s film Funny People, and the role went to Eli Roth.
“Judd and I met each other through Adam Sandler during the time that I did ‘Little Nicky,’ said Tarantino, referring to his cameo in Sandler’s 2000 comedy. “I was like hanging out with that crew for a while. We went to a bunch of different things together. But also, ‘Freaks and Geeks’ had just gone off the air, or it was on its way to going off the air, and I had missed it, but that whole ‘Happy Madison’ crowd was crazy for it.”
“I feel bad because when I did ‘Funny People’ with Sandler, I wasn’t aware that that was the exact time you were trying to use him for ‘Inglorious Basterds,'” Apatow cut in.
“He should’ve done yours because of the whole thing,” Tarantino replied. “I mean, you start with the f**king video cassette of you guys as kids. But yeah, the Bear Jew was going to. I wrote the Bear Jew for Adam Sandler. When I was doing ‘Little Nicky,’ he’s telling me, “Oh man, I get to f**king beat up Naz!!s with a bat? f**king script! f**king awesome! He was like telling every Jewish guy, “I’m going to f**king play this guy who beats up Naz!!s with a f**king bat.'”
Finding a substitute proved just as challenging for Tarantino. He explained, “Here’s the problem. [Judd] wrapped up all the good Jews [for ‘Funny People’],” Tarantino said. “That was the problem. Seth Rogen and all the good Jews were doing ‘Funny People.’ All the good Jews were all wrapped up! I’m killing H!!tler with baseball bats, and there are no good Jews available! David Krumholtz, nobody! I’m doing the Jewish male fantasy!”
Via – Variety
