Jack Black’s “Biggest Regret” Would’ve Rewritten Pixar’s ’00s Masterpiece

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Jack Black is known for taking risks and making unexpected career choices, but like any actor, he has one role he wishes he could revisit. For Black, that role is from The Incredibles, a hugely popular and important animated movie from Pixar released in the 2000s.

Before Syndrome became a famous villain, actor Jeremy Black was originally considered for the role but declined, as reported by Capital FM. While he had legitimate creative concerns at the time, he later realized it was important to trust the director’s vision, even if the director wasn’t well-known yet. It ended up being a valuable learning experience.

The Pixar Role Jack Black Walked Away From

When Craig T. Nelson was first asked to voice the character of Syndrome, The Incredibles hadn’t yet become the popular movie it is known as today. Brad Bird hadn’t yet become strongly associated with Pixar’s most successful period, and Nelson himself didn’t realize how important the director would become. Because of this, the project didn’t seem particularly pressing, and it was easy to put aside.

However, Black’s main concern wasn’t just the script – he was worried about the character of Syndrome himself. He felt Syndrome might seem one-dimensional or too exaggerated, so he asked for adjustments to make the villain more complex. He believed this was a valid creative request, as he wanted the role to feel meaningful and stay with audiences.

Brad Bird reacted quickly and firmly. Instead of trying to reach a compromise, he immediately ended the discussion, essentially dismissing Black’s ideas. Looking back, this shows how sure Bird was of his creative direction and how determined he was to create a truly compelling villain for Pixar.

Why Jack Black’s Regret Still Stings

It was immediately obvious after The Incredibles came out what Black had missed out on. The villain, Syndrome, wasn’t simply a bad guy; he was a complex character driven by bitterness, a sense of privilege, and a twisted admiration for heroes. The movie quickly became known as one of Pixar’s greatest achievements, celebrated for tackling serious issues and offering genuine emotional resonance.

Seeing the completed film made Black realize he’d made a mistake. He admitted he’d pushed for changes because he was insecure, not because he had a better idea. He tried to control the creative process instead of letting it unfold naturally, and ultimately understood that the character succeeded because of how Bird had originally envisioned it.

Jack Black doesn’t just regret not being in The Incredibles; he learned a valuable lesson from the experience. He’s talked about realizing when it’s best to trust creators and let them do their work. In a way, the film’s success, even without him, changed how he thought about his career from then on.

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2026-01-05 20:40