Jack Black Reveals the Movie Role He Wishes He Had Taken

Jack Black recently reflected on his career and admitted he regrets turning down one of his most famous missed opportunities. In an interview with Capital FM, the actor revealed that he was once offered the role of Syndrome, the villain in Pixar’s 2004 hit The Incredibles.

At the time, Black didn’t know much about the director, Brad Bird, who had previously directed The Iron Giant. I was like, “Uhhh, Brad Bird? Never heard of him!” he recalled. His lack of familiarity made him question both the director and the character itself. This character that you’re offering me is like a villain, but he’s kinda one-dimensional, Black said he told Bird.

He even suggested rewriting the role to give it more depth. That didn’t sit well with the director. And he was like, “Yeah, you’re done,” Black remembered. The part eventually went to Jason Lee, whose performance made Syndrome one of the most memorable animated villains in recent history.

Looking back, Black admitted he learned a big lesson. I learned a valuable lesson because when that movie came out, it was one of the best movies ever made, he said. He added, Why was I being so difficult? as he reflected on missing the opportunity.

The conversation came while Black was promoting his latest movie, the meta-reboot Anaconda, which came out on Christmas Day. The film pairs him with Paul Rudd as childhood friends trying to remake the 1997 cult classic in the Amazon jungle. According to box office reports, Anaconda has grossed over $128 million worldwide by early 2026. The cast also includes Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn.

Black is also busy with upcoming projects. He is working on the untitled sequel to Jumanji: The Next Level and will return as Bowser in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is set for release on April 1.

While he still feels a twinge of regret about The Incredibles, Black has found success in other iconic roles, including the Kung Fu Panda franchise and the Super Mario films. His experience shows that even major stars make mistakes but can still build incredible careers.

Do you think Jack Black would have made a better Syndrome than Jason Lee? Share your thoughts in the comments.