Steven Spielbergis a director whose name carries a lot of weight in Hollywood. Whether it’s crafting the blockbuster as we know it withJawsorsecuring A-list cameos forCasper, Spielberg’s influence reaches far and wide. For that very reason, he’s managed to work with many talented people and turned out many great movies. Who could forgetTom Cruise’s sci-fi collabs with Spielberg, which led toMinority ReportandWar of the Worlds? Or the career-best performanceLiam Neesondelivered inSchindler’s List?Yet there’s one actor who’s never found himself on the set of a Spielberg movie:Jim Carrey, and it isn’t for lack of trying. Both Carrey and Spielberg have tried, and ultimately failed,to work with each other on three separate occasions.
Jim Carrey Wanted a Specific Role in ‘Jurassic Park’
Back in the early ’90s, Carrey had yet to become the comedy superstar film fans know him as. He was mostly known for his work onIn Living Colorand had a few bit parts here and there. But it turns out that he auditioned forJurassic Park, specificallythe role of Ian Malcolm. Casting directorJanet Hirshensonrecalled that Carreywas determined to get the part, and it showed in his audition. “He was really into it. I think he really wanted the role. He was good, it was a totally different way to go. I remember he came in very enthusiastically,” she toldSyFy Wirewhen interviewed forJurassic Park’s 30th anniversary. Ultimately,Jeff Goldblumlanded the role, and Hirsehnson said that it had to do with the way both men approached the role: Carrey was more over the top while Goldblum brought a dry sense of humor to his audition. But even though Carrey didn’t land the role of Ian Malcolm,he wound up becoming a superstar in 1994whenAce Ventura: Pet Detective,The Mask,andDumb & Dumberall becamebox office hits.
Jim Carrey Had a Wild Pitch For a Found Footage Horror Movie With the Daniels
Scary and Scarier?
Jim Carrey and Steven Spielberg Lost Two Major Movies… and the Same Actor Took Over
Carrey and Spielberg would cross paths once again when Spielberg aimed to remake the 1992 black comedyMeet the Parents, with Carrey playing the role of a man whose meeting with his future in-laws devolves into chaos.But their version never got off the ground, and it was due to a very important note from Spielberg’s wife,Kate Capshaw. Per aTotal Filminterview with Spielberg: “My wife says I’m not funny enough! I was preparing to directMeet The Parentswhen she read the script. She said, “You’re not directing this movie — give it to a director who does comedy well.” She doesn’t mind when I have comic moments in my movies, like when Tom Cruise chases his eyeballs towards a drain inMinority Report, but I’m not allowed to do an outright comedy!“Ben StillerandRobert De Niroultimately boardedMeet the Parents,leading to a hit comedy franchise. Both Spielberg and Carrey left their mark on the final product, though. Spielberg helped distributeMeet the Parentsunder DreamWorks, which he helped create, and Carrey was responsible forgiving Greg Focker his surname.
Spielberg would attempt to work on one more film with Carrey:The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Carrey was the original choice for the project, sinceSamuel Goldwyn Jr.— whose father produced the 1947 adaptation ofThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty— sought tocapitalize on Carrey’s rising star, even hiringThe MaskdirectorChuck Russell. Butafter a rocky lawsuitwith New Line Cinema, Goldwyn decided to tap Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks to handle the movie,which led Spielberg toonce again take up directing duties. Spielberg would leventually eave the project to makeWar of the Worlds, andWalter Mittywould fall into the hands of Ben Stiller, who took on directorial duties in addition to starring as Walter Mitty himself — ultimatelycreating the template that fuelsSeverancein the process.
Will Spielberg and Carrey ever work together on a project? It’s not entirely out of the question. Though Spielberg’s most recent movie was 2022’sThe Fabelmansand Carrey briefly considered retiring beforeSonic the Hedgehog 3, there’s still time for the two to join forces. Hopefully, the fourth time is the charm, and Ben Stiller isn’t around.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
