Jack Black, the ever-charismatic comedic actor, is reflecting on one movie opportunity he wishes he had taken.
In a candid chat with Capital FM hosts in late December, the 56-year-old revealed he regrets saying no to a role in The Incredibles.
“I was offered, and I do regret it, saying no… Syndrome in that fantastic movie The Incredibles — one of my favorites of all time,” Black admitted, referencing the iconic 2004 animated film.
Turning Down Syndrome
Syndrome, for context, is the overzealous villain who idolizes Mr. Incredible before plotting to steal the powers of superheroes.
Initially, Black hesitated because he found the character one-dimensional and wanted to see more depth.
“I said no because I was like, ‘Uhhh, Brad Bird? Never heard of him!’” Black recalled.
He even asked Bird to rewrite the character to give Syndrome more dimensions.
According to Black, Bird’s response was polite but firm: “Yeah, you’re done. Get out of here.”
The role eventually went to Jason Lee, who brought Syndrome to life in the film that went on to earn over $600 million worldwide.
A sequel, Incredibles 2, arrived in 2018, and a third installment is currently in development.
Lessons Learned
Looking back, Black isn’t shy about what he learned from the experience.
“When that movie came out, it was one of the best movies ever made.
I was like, ‘Why was I being so difficult?!’” he said with a laugh.
Despite passing on The Incredibles, Black’s career continued to soar, with hits like School of Rock (2003), Shark Tale (2004), King Kong (2005), Nacho Libre (2006), and The Holiday (2006) keeping him in the spotlight.
Iconic Voice Roles
Black has since enjoyed considerable success in animated films.
He starred in Kung Fu Panda (2008) and voiced Bowser in The Super Mario Bros.
Movie (2023), a role he will reprise for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, set for release in April.
New Projects and Collaborations
This past Christmas, Black returned to theaters with the release of Anaconda, a remake of the 1997 film.
His co-star Paul Rudd, 56, shared his excitement about working with Black, calling him a “hero” and praising the chemistry they brought to the project.
“It happened on this one in the form of this old hunk of love,” Rudd said, referencing Black with his signature humor.
Reflecting on Career Choices
Even with the Incredibles “missed opportunity,” Jack Black’s candid reflections show a career defined by bold choices, laughter, and lessons learned along the way.
He’s proof that sometimes passing on one role doesn’t derail your path — it just adds a memorable story to your journey.
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