Released way back in 1994, we're not quite sure what the expectations were for the classic, 'Dumb and Dumber'.
Budget-wise, the studio didn't break the bank, it had a cap of $17 million. It would shatter that number at the box office, with a near $250 million. Its hardcore fanbase can tell you, success would follow after it hit the theaters.
The film is still adored to this day, and a huge reason as to why has to do with both Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels.
Even with all the great films he did in the past, Jim was always asked about a 'Dumb and Dumber' sequel the most, and finally, a few years ago, fans got it.
As great as everything turned out, things could've been very different. At first, an entirely different cast was considered. Not to mention that Jeff Daniels was discouraged to audition in the first place by his people.
Even when he got the role, the studio was still unsure. Ultimately it was revealed that Jim Carrey played a huge hand in his casting.
Let's dissect who else was considered for the role, and why Carrey decided on Jeff Daniels, someone who hadn't proved much in the world of comedy at that point.
Daniels Was Discouraged To Audition
For most of his career, Jeff Daniels was chasing an Oscar, working films of the serious genre. Admittingly, he didn't think his career would last and at the time, he reveals with Daily News that he was thinking about life after acting.
“I didn’t know how to raise kids in New York or Los Angeles, but I did back home in Michigan. So I told my wife, ‘Let’s go back to Michigan,’ ” he says.
“I honestly did not think my career would last. Careers don’t. I didn’t think I had the looks; so I thought when it’s over, let’s be home already. Fatalistically, I thought I’d get five more years, and then I could do something else.”
He wanted to mix things up, and auditioning for a role alongside Jim Carrey did exactly that. Despite the outcome, his people stated that it would kill his career for good. Daniels admits it did the exact opposite.
"That got me another 10 years."
Although he got the part, it wasn't easy at the start. The studio was still unsure of Daniels and other names were considered.
Nicolas Cage, Robe Lowe And Gary Oldman We're All Considered
Let's be honest here, the film is nothing without Carrey and Daniels at the forefront. At the start, lots of names were considered. It is believed that Nicolas Cage was actually up for Jim Carrey's part. Other names were also in the mix, such as Martin Short and Steve Martin.
As for the part of Harry, that caused some serious confusion. The studio wanted a comedic actor, names like Rob Lowe and Chris Elliot were considered viable options. Gary Oldman was also a dark horse name for the role.
Daniels got the gig, but the studio still wasn't convinced, unlike Jim and the creators, who knew Jeff was perfect for the role.
At the start, Daniels shot scenes alone, just so the studio can get a better understanding of his skill. Along the way, Carrey was nothing but supportive of Jeff. There's a specific reason as to why Carrey wanted Jeff over anyone else and eventually, he got his way.
Jim Didn't Want A Comedy Actor
The studio wanted another comedy actor for the project. Carrey had a different vision, he wanted an actual established actor to react to his ways during the film, and not try to steal the thunder in a supporting role.
That's exactly what Daniels brought to the table. Jeff admitted with EW, this was the main reason he got the part.
“Look who I get to react to. Jim is a comedic genius."