When it comes to casting, Adam Sandler is known for hiring some of his closest friends in Hollywood. However, casting isn't always easy for the actor, and the films he's involved with. In fact, golfer Lee Trevino regretted his appearance in Happy Gilmore, given that he hadn't read the script prior and wasn't aware of the strong language contained in the film. As we'll reveal in the following, there was another actor that turned down the chance to work alongside Adam Sandler, early on in his career for the film, Billy Madison. The late actor auditioned for a role in the film, but ended up backing out. Sandler was shocked by the decision, and wound up calling the actor himself. However, the conversation didn't change the outcome...
Bradley Whitford Took On The Role In Billy Madison Instead Of Philip Seymour Hoffman
Back in 1995, Billy Madison was released to theaters. Not much was made of the Adam Sandler flick and in fact, it didn't receive the kindest reviews either, despite becoming a classic years after its release.
Sandler recalls the negative reviews, and how he was completely caught off-guard by it.
"When Billy Madison came out, me and my friend who wrote it. We were just like, ‘Oh yeah, they’re going to write about this in New York!’ We grew up reading the papers, we were going to NYU," Sandler revealed."And then we read the first one and we were like, ‘Oh my god, what happened? They hate us.’ And then we were like, ‘It must have been this paper,’ but then 90 percent of the papers are going ‘This is garbage."
Adam admitted that it was the same type of negative reviews for the films that followed and eventually, he stopped hearing about reviews during his career.
In truth, the reviews didn't hurt the film's legacy, and Bradley Whitford would thrive in the role of Eric Gordon. However, if Sandler had it his way at the start, the role would've looked completely different, with another actor in the role.
Philip Seymour Hoffman Auditioned For Billy Madison And Got The Role, But Refused To Be In The Film
The late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman put on so many memorable performances, especially in comedy films such as Along Came Polly as Sandy, along with Almost Famous, playing the role of Lester Bangs.
However, a comedy we didn't see the actor in was Billy Madison. Without a doubt, he would've thrived in the role. Looking back, Sandler was shocked by the actor's unwillingness to work the film, despite the fact that he had auditioned for the role.
“I was in Toronto getting ready to make the movie and it wasn’t cast yet and I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman[‘s audition] and I was laughing my ass off,” he recalled. “I’m like, ‘who is this guy?!? He’s hilarious!""Then we offered it to him, and we get this call back, ‘yeah, like he doesn’t wanna do it.’ And we were like, ‘He doesn’t wanna do it? What do you mean, he auditioned!"
It was a confusing situation for Sandler and his team. They wanted the actor in the film so Sandler himself decided to call the late actor. However, it turned out to be a confusing conversation and one that didn't change anything...
Adam Sandler Called Philip Seymour Hoffman Himself, But The Actor Still Rejected The Role
The plan was a simple for Adam Sandler, call Hoffman, tell him how great he is, and would lead to an easy agreement on the film. However, the conversation wasn't exactly how Sandler imagined.
"So, I go, ‘Let me talk to him, this guy and tell him how great he is. I called him up and said, ‘Hey, it’s Adam,’ and he’s like, Oh hey Adam.’ I go, ‘Hey, I saw your tape, you’re so great, buddy, and they said you don’t want to do it.’ And he goes, ‘Aww, thanks man.'”"So, do you want to do it?’ And he goes, ‘Aww, I can’t.’ And I go, ‘Oh, why not?’ And he goes, Awww [pauses for a beat], ‘I just don’t want to.'”Sandler continued, “Are you sure? We’re gonna have great fun.’ And I go, ‘I really love you.’ And he goes, "I know you do."
Sandler retold the story and made light of the situation. However, it would've been something had Philip Seymour Hoffman accepted the villain role in Billy Madison.
