> At a Glance
> – Jack Black was offered the role of Syndrome in The Incredibles but turned it down
> – He regretted the decision after the film became a massive hit in 2004
> – Black asked for a character rewrite, but director Brad Bird moved on to Jason Lee
> – Why it matters: It’s a rare Hollywood admission of passing on a now-iconic animated role
Jack Black has voiced some of the most memorable animated characters of the past two decades, but one major role slipped through his fingers – and he still feels it. In a candid interview, the Kung Fu Panda star opened up about the part he wishes he hadn’t turned down.
The Role That Got Away
During a Dec. 25 interview on Capital FM, Black admitted he was offered the role of Syndrome, the tech-savvy villain in Pixar’s The Incredibles. He passed, partly because he didn’t know director Brad Bird at the time.
> “I was offered – and I do regret it, saying no – I was offered Syndrome in that fantastic movie The Incredibles,” Black said. “One of my favorites of all time, by the way.”
Black also felt the character lacked depth and asked for changes.
> “This character that you’re offering me is like a villain, but he’s kinda one-dimensional,” he recalled telling Bird. “I’m interested but I’d like to see a rewrite. Will you add some dimensions to this character?”
Bird’s response was swift and final: “Yeah, you’re done.”
A Lesson Learned
When The Incredibles premiered in 2004, it was hailed as a masterpiece. Black realized his mistake.
> “I learned a valuable lesson because when that movie came out, it was one of the best movies ever made,” he said. “I was like, ‘Why was I being so difficult?!'”
Despite the missed opportunity, Black went on to voice several beloved animated characters:
- Zeke in Ice Age
- Lenny in Shark Tale
- Po in Kung Fu Panda
Co-Star Perspective
Black’s Anaconda co-star Paul Rudd, who joined the same interview, offered a diplomatic take on turning down roles.
> “I always think that if they were really good,” Rudd said, “they were really good because of the people that were in there.”
Key Takeaways
- Jack Black turned down the role of Syndrome in The Incredibles due to unfamiliarity with the director and character depth concerns
- The role ultimately went to Jason Lee, and the film became a Pixar classic
- Black calls it one of his biggest career regrets
- He now voices Po in Kung Fu Panda 4, alongside co-star Awkwafina, who admitted to ruining takes by laughing at his performances
Sometimes, even the biggest stars miss out on legendary roles – but Black’s honesty shows it’s never too late to learn from the past.
