Jack Black Regrets Rejecting This Iconic Disney Pixar Villain

by

Jack Black has said he wishes he hadn’t turned down the role of Syndrome, the memorable villain from the movie The Incredibles. He admits he was unnecessarily challenging during casting. Syndrome, whose real name is Buddy Pine, is a complex character in the 2004 Pixar film; he wants to be a hero but feels betrayed by Mr. Incredible from his childhood. His plan in The Incredibles involves getting rid of all superheroes and then pretending to save everyone. Jason Lee ultimately played Syndrome, but Jack Black was originally offered the part before deciding it wasn’t right for him.

While promoting his new film, Anaconda, Jack Black revealed on Capital FM that he turned down the role of Syndrome in The Incredibles. He admitted he hadn’t known director Brad Bird at the time and originally thought the character lacked depth, describing him as “kinda one dimensional.”

I’m going to answer this, even if people don’t want me to. I do have a regret, though – I turned down the role of Syndrome in The Incredibles, which is one of my all-time favorite movies. At the time, I said no because I didn’t know who Brad Bird was, and I thought the character was a bit flat – just a typical villain.

The actor said he was initially interested in the role, but he also told the filmmakers he’d like to see the script revised. After turning it down, he later realized he’d made the right decision. Seeing The Incredibles become a huge success for Pixar—one of their best films—taught him a valuable lesson and completely changed how he viewed the situation.

I expressed interest in the project but asked for changes to the character, hoping to add more depth. The director immediately told me I was fired. Looking back, especially after the film became a huge success, I realized how unreasonable I had been!

I totally get why Jack Black turned down playing Syndrome in The Incredibles! Honestly, that villain is amazing – and terrifying. It’s easy to see why he’s considered one of Pixar’s best. What makes him so compelling is that he wasn’t always a villain. He started out as a genuinely sympathetic character, but he became truly ruthless, willing to hurt anyone – even innocent people – to get what he wanted. That journey from good to evil, combined with how entertaining he is, makes him one of Pixar’s most memorable and complex villains, in my opinion.

Brad Bird’s The Incredibles tells the story of a family of superheroes trying to live normal lives until a villain named Syndrome pulls them back into action. The film features the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Spencer Fox, Jason Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. Pixar is working on The Incredibles 3, but a release date hasn’t been announced yet.

Will Jack Black Join The Incredibles 3?

It’s hard to say how Jack Black would have done as Syndrome in The Incredibles, especially since Jason Lee did such a great job with the role.

Jack Black is famous for his energetic and funny performances, and he would have brought that same over-the-top style to the role of Syndrome, much like he did with Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. This could have made Syndrome’s childish behavior even more extreme, turning him into a wildly unpredictable and cartoonish villain.

Although the chance to reprise his role as Syndrome has passed, the upcoming Incredibles 3 could offer Jason Black a new opportunity to shine in the Pixar superhero world. He could play either a villain or a hero, bringing his talent and energy to the franchise and adding a boost of star power.

Read More

2026-02-04 00:35