Eli Roth’s Sgt. Donny Donowitz, nicknamed the Bear Jew for notoriously smashing German soldiers in the head with a baseball bat, is a fan-favorite character from Quentin Tarantino‘s sixth film, Inglorious Basterds. However, while Roth’s performance lives in infamy among Tarantino’s rabid fanbase, the director recently revealed he wrote the part of the Bear Jew for Adam Sandler. I understand if you need a moment to let that sink in. I’ll wait.
Are you good? Okay, let’s press on, then. Speaking on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Tarantino told Maher and his co-interviewee Judd Apatow that he wanted Sandler to play the Bear Jew in his violent Nazi-hunting war film. Unfortunately (in more ways than one), Sandler already signed on to play George Simmons in Apatow’s 2009 comedy Funny People.
“[Judd and I ] met each other through Adam Sandler during the time that I did ‘Little Nicky,'” said Tarantino, referring to his cameo in Sandler’s hellishly funny comedy. What? I like Little Nicky. Deal with it. “I was like hanging out with that crew for a while,” Tarantino added. “We went to a bunch of different things together. But also ‘Freaks and Geeks’ had just went off the air or it was on its way to go off the air and I had missed it, but that whole ‘Happy Madison’ crowd was like crazy for it.”
“I feel bad because when I did ‘Funny People’ with Sandler, I wasn’t aware that that was the exact time you were trying to use him for ‘Inglorious Basterds,'” Apatow interjected.
“Obviously, he should’ve done yours because of the whole thing of it,” Tarantino replied. “I mean, you start with the fucking video cassette of you guys as kids. But yeah, the Bear Jew was going to… I wrote the Bear Jew for Adam Sandler. When I was doing ‘Little Nicky,’ he’s telling me like, “Oh man, I get to fucking beat up Nazis with a bat? Fucking script! Fucking awesome! I can’t wait fucking wait! I can’t wait fucking wait!” He was like telling every Jewish guy, “I’m going to fucking play this guy who beats up Nazis with a fucking bat.'”
Sadly, Sandler’s Funny People role conflicted with Tarantino’s schedule for Inglorious Basterds, making him unavailable to star in Tarantino’s hard-hitting ensemble film.
“Here’s the problem. [Judd] wrapped up all the good Jews [for ‘Funny People’],” Tarantino said. “That was the problem. Seth Rogen and all the good Jews were doing ‘Funny People.’ I’m killing Hitler with baseball bats and there’s no good Jews available! David Krumholtz, nobody! All the good Jews were all wrapped up! I’m doing the Jewish male fantasy!”
Release the Sandler Cut, dammit! Ultimately, the part of the Bear Jew went to Tarantino’s friend Eli Roth, who did a bang-up job with the role. Do you think Sandler would have been an excellent choice to play the Bear Jew in Inglorious Basterds? Feel free to let us know in the comments.