Adam Sandler was actually supposed to star in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. The idea fell through because of another movie.
Quentin Tarantino’s Nazi-hunting Inglourious Basterds is considered an absolute masterpiece by many fans. But for an iconic role in the film, the director had a bizarre casting idea that might have made the film even better. He wanted to cast comedy veteran Adam Sandler as the “Bear Jew” Donny Donowitz. Unfortunately, the plan fell through.
Adam Sandler in Tarantino masterpiece: “I get to beat up Nazis? “
Tarantino revealed this detail to comedy legend Bill Maher and fellow director Judd Apatow on the Club Random podcast. Sandler’s casting in Apatow’s How Life Plays was responsible for him having to cancel the role in Inglourious Basterds.
“He definitely should have done [How Life Goes] because it [was such a personal film for you]. But yeah, I wrote The Bear Jew for Adam Sandler. [I told him and he said,] ‘Oh man, I get to beat up Nazis with a baseball bat? Fucking great! I can’t wait! ”
Inglourious Basterds
The role of the Jewish soldier who takes revenge on the murderers of his people with a baseball bat had to be cast differently and finally went to Eli Roth. To see Sandler in such a performance brushed against his conventional role profile would certainly have been a highlight of the film for many viewers.
