Jack Black Says He Learned a ‘Valuable Lesson’ After Being ‘Difficult’ Cost Him Role in ‘The Incredibles’

Hollywood star Jack Black had admitted he missed out on a role in The Incredibles after asking bosses to rewrite his character.

The 56-year-old actor was offered the chance to voice the film’s villain Syndrome but he fell out with director Brad Bird.

The part in the 2004 animated movie ultimately instead went to Jason Lee instead.

During a recent interview with the UK’s Capital FM radio station Black said: “I was offered, and I do regret it, saying no … I was offered Syndrome in that fantastic movie The Incredibles — one of my favorites of all time, by the way.

“And I said no because I was like: ‘Uhhh, Brad Bird? Never heard of him!’ [I said to him]: ‘This character that you’re offering me is like a villain, but he’s kinda one-dimensional. I’m interested but I’d like to see a rewrite. Will you add some dimensions to this character?’

“And he was like: ‘Yeah, you’re done.’ I learned a valuable lesson because when that movie came out, it was one of the best movies ever made. I was like: ‘Why was I being so difficult?’.”

The Incredibles was released to widespread acclaim and took home two Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Sound Editing.

Black ended up in the hugely successful Kung Fu Panda animated franchise instead, playing Po the main character, a giant panda who becomes the Dragon Warrior. There have been four Kung Fu Panda movies since 2008.