> At a Glance
> – Jack Black revealed he was originally offered the role of Syndrome in The Incredibles
> – He turned it down because he didn’t know director Brad Bird and wanted a character rewrite
> – Jason Lee ultimately voiced the villain in the 2004 Pixar hit
> – Why it matters: Black’s candid admission highlights how even A-list actors miss out on iconic roles
Jack Black rarely talks about roles he regrets passing up-but the Kung Fu Panda star made an exception for The Incredibles, calling the 2004 Pixar blockbuster “one of my favorites of all time.”
Why He Said No
During a Dec. 25 chat on Capital FM, Black said Bird first approached him to voice Syndrome, the tech-savvy antagonist. At the time, Black didn’t recognize Bird’s name and asked for script tweaks.
> “I told Brad, ‘This character is kinda one-dimensional. Can you add some dimensions?’ He said, ‘Yeah, you’re done.'”
The refusal, Black admits, taught him a lasting lesson about trusting emerging talent.
Box-Office Reality Check
When The Incredibles premiered, rave reviews and $631 million in global ticket sales drove the point home.
> “I was like, ‘Why was I being so difficult?!'”
**Jason Lee stepped in as Syndrome, helping cement the film’s status as an animated classic.
Career Aftermath
Black has since voiced several fan-favorite characters:
- Zeke the saber-toothed tiger in Ice Age
- Lenny the shark in Shark Tale
- Po the panda across the Kung Fu Panda franchise, including the upcoming Kung Fu Panda 4
Co-star Paul Rudd offered a diplomatic perspective on missed parts during the same interview:
> “If they were really good, they were really good because of the people that were in there.”
Awkwafina, promoting Kung Fu Panda 4 on The Kelly Clarkson Show, joked that Black’s high-energy performance made her laugh so hard she ruined takes.
Key Takeaways
- Jack Black turned down Syndrome over unfamiliarity with Brad Bird and a desire for character depth
- The role went to Jason Lee, and The Incredibles became a Pixar cornerstone
- Black calls the film one of the best ever, acknowledging his own pickiness cost him
- He continues headlining animated hits, proving one missed chance doesn’t define a career
Even superstars can misjudge a golden opportunity, but Black’s rebound shows persistence-and a bit of humor-go a long way.
