"Now, I can't imagine anyone except Will doing it."

Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell will be forever linked to their "Zoolander” characters. However, the actors nearly didn't make the movie.

Ben Stiller, director of "Zoolander", revealed the names of some other actors who participated in a retrospective interview with Esquire on the 20th anniversary. Stiller said that Owen had scheduling conflicts and that he and his team had to hold additional auditions for Hansel. One star's audition stood out in the back.

Stiller, 55, recalls that Jake Gyllenhaal, a young man, was the only one I can clearly remember. He was performing a wide-eyed Hansel version that was really funny.

Wilson was, naturally, available, and the rest is history.

Stiller revealed that Andy Dick was supposed to be Mugatu. "Now, I can't imagine Will doing it."

Dick did however make it into the film as a female unibrowed masseuse.

Christine Taylor, Stiller's wife, wasn't among the first names considered to be in the film. According to the article, Sarah Jessica Parker was offered the role of Matilda by Kate Hudson. However, Taylor was eventually asked by her husband for the role.

The film received mixed reviews from critics when it was released in theaters in 2001. Its timing was unfortunate, with the film's release coming just two weeks after September 11.

Taylor said that it was difficult to do comedy because of the difficulties. Although laughter might have been a relief at the time, the truth is that people were not ready to laugh.

Stiller agreed with Stiller that it was "a strange time."

Despite negative reviews, Zoolander became a cult favorite and even inspired a 2016 sequel.

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Title: These Stars Were Considered to Play Mugatu and Hansel in Zoolander
Sourced From: toofab.com/2021/09/29/zoolander-mugatu-hansel-auditioned/
Published Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:05:48 +0000

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