Thanks to his splendid performance in Friends, David Schwimmer amassed millions of dollars in the entertainment industry and will continue to profit from the success of his upcoming works for many more years. Although it is clear that he also has few regrets as there was a time when his film career had a great chance to soar.

The 56-year-old actor had tried to diversify his career into film while he was a Friends star in the 1990s by taking on a lead role in The Pallbearer. However, the romantic comedy movie actually underperformed at the box office.

The mid-1990s, when Schwimmer was at the height of his fame, marked a pivotal point in his film career. A sizable offer involving a film that had become a blockbuster franchise was made to him after the Madagascar actor signed a sizable contract with Miramax Films. The actor was a candidate for the lead role, but he had to decline the work.
David SchwimmerDavid Schwimmer

When David Schwimmer Had to Decline This Project 

The fact that David Schwimmer was initially courted for Will Smith’s lead role in Men in Black is one of the many intriguing footnotes in Hollywood history.

Yes, the role of Agent J in Men In Black was originally offered to David Schwimmer before it was given to the I Am Legend actor. Schwimmer had given a brief explanation for declining the offer in 2016, saying on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast that it was really just a matter of timing and loyalty towards his friends.

During that time, the actor was casting his entire theatre company, which was made up of his old friends. It was his first film, Since You’ve Been Gone, which is largely unknown.

 

David SchwimmerDavid Schwimmer
The Hollywood Reporter quoted him as saying,
“So, that was my goal… to bring everyone up with me, to give everyone a shot. I told everyone in the theatre company, ‘You’re all cast, here are your roles, don’t take any other jobs for this six-week period.’”
Schwimmer had everyone’s best interests in mind, but he declined a chance that might have served his own interests as well. As a result, when the actor received a call from Men in Black, he had to decline.

Why He Had To Reject Men In Black?

It was a time when David Schwimmer was trying to diversify his career by playing the lead in The Pallbearer (a rom-com film co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow), while he was still a Friends star in the 1990s. However, this film ‌fell short of expectations and underperformed at the box office.

Despite having a $5 million budget, the movie reportedly made $8 million. It received unfavorable reviews as well; Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 48% approval rating.
Why Had He Rejected Men In Black?Will Smith
For Schwimmer, the three-picture deal package and certain privileges had made him more likely to agree to a contract with Miramax Films. And thus, he had to reject the $1.9B Will Smith franchise. To quote him:
“The deal with that was that I had shot The Pallbearer for Miramax, who had high expectations for it being a romantic comedy. And while we were shooting it, they wanted to lock me into a three-picture deal. And as we all know now the movie [The Pallbearer] did not do well. I did not end up doing that three-picture deal with Miramax. But at the time I had a little leverage.”
Schwimmer had ultimately closed the deal, but in doing so, he passed up a significant opportunity that could have revolutionized his career in the entertainment industry.