Mike Myers Got Pitched ‘Shrek’ While Crying as He Walked Out of ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Premiere; His First Reaction: ‘That’s the Worst F—ing Title Ever’

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As a follower with a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling and a particular fondness for Mike Myers‘ work, I find it absolutely captivating to delve into the behind-the-scenes tales of his illustrious career. The anecdote about the origins of Shrek is nothing short of extraordinary, especially considering that it was born just moments after Myers emerged from a screening of “Saving Private Ryan,” a film that hit close to home given his parents’ service in World War II.

Mike Myers recently had a wide-ranging interview with Vulture, where he shared amusing anecdotes about being approached for “Shrek” shortly after leaving the premiere of Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan.” Moved by the film as his parents served in World War II, Myers was still emotionally drained. However, this didn’t deter DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg from proposing that he lend his voice to a large, green ogre character.

At the premiere of ‘Saving Private Ryan’, Jeffrey Katzenberg approached me in the lobby along with his daughters afterwards. They proceeded to perform the dance routine from ‘Austin Powers’. This occurred following such a heavy film, and I was moved to tears as my parents were involved in World War II. Being overwhelmed by the movie’s impact, I found myself shocked, and their dancing just added to that – it was like they didn’t quite grasp the seriousness of the moment.

In response to Katzenberg’s query about an animated film, Myers replied casually, “Sure.” However, when Katzenberg mentioned a project titled “Shrek,” the actor expressed his displeasure by saying, “That’s got to be the most terrible title I’ve ever come across in my entire life.

“It’s the sound you make after drinking too many Molson Canadians. ‘Agh! Shreck!’ So he said, ‘Just come down and see it,’” Myers said. “So I saw it and I liked that it turned fairy tales on its head. I thought that was really, really smart. The fairy tale is a Eurocentric form, dealing with class, right? To say, ‘Yes, we know it’s Eurocentric but it can be more inventive and inclusive,’ and to have an African American voice in Donkey in it, I thought it was brilliant.”

Initially, Myers utilized a Canadian accent for Shrek’s voice, but later changed his mind and opted for a Scottish one instead. In an interview with Vulture, he mentioned there was some resistance to the idea of changing the accent, as Katzenberg argued that the production would have to invest a significant amount of money to re-animate scenes in order to accommodate the new Scottish accent.

Myers expressed, ‘Jeffrey, I believe you haven’t spent a lot of money,'” he said. “So, I reached out to Steven Spielberg, who’s involved, and shared, ‘Steven, I want this to be exceptional. I’m drawn to the theme of ‘You are beautiful to me.’ You see, I’ve never relied on my looks in my career. I’m a comedian, not someone like Rob Lowe.’

Spielberg conferred with Katzenberg and pointed out that a significant amount of money would be required if the accent were changed. In response, Myers stated he wouldn’t receive additional compensation for the role and suggested they proceed with the change instead.

I achieved something remarkable, followed by a heartfelt thank-you note from Steven Spielberg stating, ‘Thank you so much for your concern.’ It’s now proudly displayed in my home. He acknowledged, ‘You were spot on, you were entirely invested,’ and Jeffrey eventually appreciated it too. Now we find ourselves here,” Myers reminisced.

In an upcoming fifth part of the Shrek series, Mike Myers is set to reprise his role as Shrek. Joining him will be Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona. During a recent interview, Myers revealed that he’s already begun voice recording for “Shrek 5,” but he won’t collaborate with his co-stars until at a later stage in the production process.

Myers expressed his desire for Donkey to reside in his home. He’s deeply fond of this character, and he admits that he appreciates not being around Eddie, despite finding him hilarious, kind, generous, and a great person. Donkey brings him such joy that just seeing and hearing him makes him excited. However, when he encounters Eddie at press events, it’s enjoyable too; he thinks Eddie is quite cool, even cooler than he could ever hope to be.

The fifth installment of “Shrek” is scheduled for a release on July 1, 2026. For the complete interview with Mike Myers, head on over to the Vulture’s website.

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2024-12-05 02:49