Given his fame and fortune, Adam Sandler likely has few regrets when it comes to his career. However, a constant critique of Sandler has been his inability to get out of his comfort zone and take on similar roles time and time again.
'The Longest Yard' was an example of that many years ago. Though given some of his recent projects alongside 'Netflix' it is safe to say that Sandler has turned the page and attempted to portray different kinds of roles.
Sandler might've wanted to take that road in the early 2000s. He had a chance to appear in something totally different. So many A-listers were considered for the role, including Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, and Will Smith.
Ultimately, Sandler decided on the safe route and the film enjoyed decent success, bringing in $191 million on a budget of $82 million. Had Sandler taken another path, the opposing film made more than double.
Let's take a look at the film Sandler chose, along with the one that he didn't.
Not Everyone Was Impressed With His Film
It isn't the best endorsement when the guy that previously portrayed the role, said that he didn't watch it. Although Burt Reynolds appeared in the film, he had no interest in watching it, "I didn't see. I didn't want to see it. There were like seven people in an office. And they were all talking about how they were going to make the best picture of The Longest Yard," says Reynolds. "And I said, 'Well I hope you make a good one. But I don’t think you’re going to make a better one.' "
Sandler himself admitted living up to Reynolds was not easy but he made up for it, "I'm not quite as smooth as Burt, but I make up for it with some sweetness. I don't got the sex appeal, but I can sweet you to death."
The opposing project, which also was released in 2005 made $475 million, on a budget of $150 million. What was Sandler's loss turned out to be Johnny Depp's gain.
Willy Wonka Soars
Willy Wonka thrived in theaters and the film was met positively. A lot of that has to do with Depp, he finds ease in portraying fictional characters, which was a huge key to the film's success, "It’s very, very important to me, no matter who the person is, to play that person with the utmost degree of truth that I’m able to bring,” he said of playing real people. “But playing a character like Jack Sparrow or Willy Wonka, that requires nothing but a degree of responsibility to the intent of the story – responsibility to the filmmaker to deliver the goods. More than anything it just comes down to imagination: what are the ingredients for this character?”
Another big factor was the relationship between Burton and Depp from years past, things are a lot smoother when two individuals are familiar with one another, Depp agreed, "It all stems from Tim's bravery. Early on for "Edward Scissorhands" we had this great meeting and somehow connected. I never expected that he would cast me in that role."
"I never expected that he would take the risk on me which was a really big risk at that time. He just did and somehow there is this kind of mutual understanding of things, and a mutual fascination with people, human beings, weirdness, character flaws, human tics, and all of that stuff."
Depp drew inspiration from everywhere, he even used George W. Bush as motivation for the character.
Of course, he also watched the original a few times, although he made the part his own, "I watched the original when I was a kid. I ended up watching it with my kids, up until it was time for me to play the role of Willy Wonka. (Then), when my kids would put the DVD in, I would run to the next room because I didn't want to be influenced at all. I was really conscious about making sure I went to a different area than Gene Wilder. I loved his character. I loved Willy Wonka as a kid. He was the best thing in it for sure."
Depp thrived and ultimately, the casting choice was the correct decision. Adam's career didn't suffer because of it and years later, he would finally make some bold decisions in film choices.
It all worked out.
Sources: Movie Web, 13 News Now, The Guardian & Kitsap Sun