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Mike Myers discussed the nearly amazing timing of being offered the part of Shrek.
In a recent interview with Vulture, the actor described the humorous and unusual circumstances in which he was offered the position of playing the eponymous green monster.
The chance came from DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, who approached Myers shortly after the dramatic global premiere of Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan.
"I went to the premiere of Saving Private Ryan, and Jeffrey Katzenberg comes up to me afterward in the lobby and brings his daughters, who then do the dance sequence from Austin Powers," says Myers.
"This came after such a tough movie, and I was in tears since my parents were in World War II. I was stunned, and then they did the dance, and I thought, 'Yeah, that's wonderful. "Read the room!"
Katzenberg used the opportunity to ask Myers whether he would ever consider doing an animated feature. Myers agreed, but when Katzenberg informed that the idea was dubbed Shrek, the actor's immediate response was negative.
"Well, that's the worst f-king title I've ever heard in my life," Myers said to Katzenberg without hesitation. "It's the sound you make after having too many Molson Canadians. "Agh! Shreck!"
Katzenberg used the opportunity to ask Myers whether he would ever consider doing an animated feature. Myers agreed, but when Katzenberg informed that the idea was dubbed Shrek, the actor's immediate response was negative.
"Well, that's the worst f-king title I've ever heard in my life," Myers said to Katzenberg without hesitation. "It's the sound you make after having too many Molson Canadians. "Agh! Shreck!"
Despite his initial response, Katzenberg persuaded Myers to give the idea a shot. "He said, 'Just come down and see it,'" Myers said. After previewing the concept, the actor's perspective changed.
"I watched it, and I enjoyed how it flipped fairy tales upside down. "I thought that was really, really smart," Myers stated.
"The fairy tale is a Eurocentric form that deals with class, correct? To say, 'Yes, we realize it's Eurocentric, but it can be more innovative and inclusive. And having an African American voice in Donkey, I thought was great."
"I watched it, and I enjoyed how it flipped fairy tales upside down. "I thought that was really, really smart," Myers stated.
"The fairy tale is a Eurocentric form that deals with class, correct? To say, 'Yes, we realize it's Eurocentric, but it can be more innovative and inclusive. And having an African American voice in Donkey, I thought was great."
Shrek eventually became a worldwide success, gaining enormous acclaim and solidifying its status as one of the most cherished cartoon series. Myers' depiction of the grouchy yet charming ogre remains one of his most memorable roles.
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