David Schwimmer Discusses Cruel Decision to Reject Black Men

David Schwimmerwork without Friends it would have been very different, especially if he hadn’t turned down a blockbuster movie role Black Men.

During an appearance on the “Origins With Cush Jumbo” podcast, Schwimmer revealed a critical choice he made in 1997 that irrevocably changed his lifestyle.

“I had just finished recording Pallbearermy first film with Gwyneth Paltrowand there were high expectations for what was not fulfilled,” he explained when he came out on the Tuesday, September 17, episode of Cush Jumbo‘s podcast (via Daily Mail).

“It was kind of a bombshell but there were high expectations and the studio, which was Miramax, wanted to lock me into a three-picture deal for a fixed price and I said I’d do that if I got to direct my first film,” Schwammer continued.

According to the Madagascar star, Miramax agreed to let Shwimmer direct the 1998 film Since You’ve Been Gone with his returning star in three studio films. Schwimmer’s directorial debut was planned to include actors from the Chicago-based Lookingglass Theater Company, which he co-founded.

“All these actors are unknown but I would put them on the map, actually,” the Kissing a Fool a star has been revealed.

He continued, “All my best friends in the world at my theater company left their jobs to be on this film over the summer, which was going to be a six-week shoot in Chicago.

While preparing for his passion project, Schwimmer received a life-changing gift that he has never forgotten.

“We are in pre-production, we have hired the whole team, everything is going well and that’s when I was offered Black Men,” the sitcom star explained. “It was a direct conflict with this. My summer window is leaving Friends it was four months. I had another four month break Black Men I was going to shoot once in a while to direct this film with my company.”

More than two decades later, Schwimmer shared that he’s still not entirely sure he “made the right choice,” but he prioritized a project he was planning with his friends at the theater company.

Asserting that it’s important to “follow your gut,” Schwimmer reflected on his poor decision to turn down the role Black Men.

“Look, I know for sure, whatever 20 years later maybe more, Black Men you would have made me a movie star,” said the actor. “If you look at the success of that film and that business, my career would have taken a very different path.

Shwimmer has directed many projects since making his directorial debut in 1998 with Since You’ve Been Gonebut we can’t help but wonder what would have happened if this actor was acting Black Men in turn.