Quentin Tarantino has revealed the role in the film he wrote with comedian Adam Sandler in mind.
Tarantino and director Judd Apatow recently spoke with Bill Maher on his “Club Random” podcast, with Tarantino talking about his hopes to have Sandler play Sergeant Donny “The Bear Jew” Donowitz in his 2009 film “Bastards Without Glory “.
Tarantino said he wrote the part for Sandler, but it was scheduled to be shot at the same time as Apatow’s “Funny People.”
Apatow had secured Sandler for his film a year and a half earlier, Variety reported.
This, Tarantino said, became a problem.
“Here’s the problem. [Apatow] he wrapped up all the good Jews [for ‘Funny People’]. That was the problem,” Tarantino said.
He continued: “Seth Rogen and all the good Jews were doing ‘Funny People.’ They kill Hitler with baseball bats and there are no good Jews, David Krumholtz, none. All the good Jews were all wrapped up, I do the Jewish male fantasy.”
Tarantino said Sandler expressed interest in the role in “Inglourious Basterds” — a project he said he began working on in 1998 — while Tarantino was filming a cameo in Sandler’s 2000 film “Little Nicky.”
“When we were doing ‘Little Nicky,’ he said, ‘Oh man, can I beat Nazis with a stick?’ Damn script. Damn awesome. Can not wait! I can’t wait,” Tarantino said.
“It’s like he said to every Jew, ‘I’m going to make fun of this guy who beats Nazis with a club,'” he continued.
That was around the time the “Pulp Fiction” director met Apatow.
Apatow said he was unaware Tarantino was trying to get the former “Saturday Night Live” cast member to play “Inglourious Basterds” while filming “Funny People.”
Variety reported that the full episode of Maher’s podcast with Apatow and Tarantino will air on Sunday.
