Quentin Tarantino wanted Adam Sandler to play iconic Donny 'The Bear Jew' Donowitz in 'Inglorious Basterds'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' filmmaker Quentin Tarantino confirmed that he wanted 'Just go with it' actor Adam Sandler to play the iconic Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz in the 2009 hit film 'Inglourious Basterds,' but the comedic actor ultimately declined as he was already filming Judd Apatow’s 'Funny People.'
'Inglourious Basterds' won multiple awards and nominations, among them eight Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay). For his role as Landa, Waltz won the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor Award, as well as the BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, Critics' Choice, Golden Globe, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film received generally positive reviews, with Waltz's performance as Hans Landa being singled out for praise, but some criticized the historical liberties taken.
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According to Variety, in a recent appearance on Bill Maher’s 'Club Random' podcast, Tarantino responded to Judd Apatow, who was also a guest, about the dream casting that never happened. “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 said.
Tarantino cut in and said, “Obviously, he should’ve done yours because of the whole thing of it. I mean, you start with the f***ing 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 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! I can’t f***ing wait!’ He was like telling every Jewish guy, ‘I’m going to f***ing play this guy who beats up Nazis with a f***ing bat.'”
Tarantino's recent 'Once upon a time in Hollywood' grossed 374 million dollars worldwide and received praise from critics for Tarantino's direction and screenplay, the performances (particularly from DiCaprio and Pitt), cinematography, soundtrack, sound design, costume design, and production values. But he hasn't worked with Adam Sandler yet but we can only hope that Tarantino dreams up another role that is perfect for the 'Uncut Gems' actor.
