The iconic 2006 role John Leguizamo regrets turning down: “I had my reasons”
John Leguizamo has been involved in so many different industries that it’s difficult to determine which part he is best known for, but he could have also been part of an iconic franchise had things gone differently.
Although Leguizamo was one of the many stand-up comedians from the 1980s and ‘90s who found a career in acting, he was noted for his ability to choose roles he could be proud of, rejecting parts that stereotyped the Latin community. He may have been involved in one of the biggest box office disasters of all time with Super Mario Bros, but he gained strong critical praise for his work in Carlito’s Way, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
Leguizamo’s smartest financial choice was getting involved with the Ice Age franchise, which became one of the most successful animated sagas in history, so popular in fact that Leguizamo had more freedom to choose roles that he had the opportunity to turn down parts out of fear of being typecast; although he would later regret not being cast in Happy Feet, the Oscar-winning animated film from George Miller.
However, he had another fascinating career opportunity presented to him in 2006, as he mentioned having turned down a role in The Devil Wears Prada, specifically, “The Stanley Tucci part”, explaining which he said, “I had my reasons. I mean, they’re stupid, but I had my reasons”.
The Devil Wears Prada was certainly a project that was anticipated, but no one could have expected that it would turn into a phenomenon as it seemed to hit at the right moment, where its insights on fashion, media, and female representation seemed particularly relevant, and it boosted the careers of all of the stars involved, even Meryl Streep, who was already known as perhaps the best female actor to ever live.
The film proved that she was a genuine box office star and became her highest-grossing title ever until it was passed by both Mamma Mia! films and, ironically enough, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and Stanley Tucci’s performance is perhaps the most undersung, yet just as excellent, as the subdued personality compared to the high-strung nature of Streep’s Miranda Priestly.
While he could have felt like nothing but a subordinate, Tucci’s Nigel Kipling is instrumental to the success of Runway and shows compassion to Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs when she needs it the most. While Tucci was a well-regarded character actor at this point in his career, The Devil Wears Prada only solidified him as someone who could give standout performances, as it was only three years later that he reteamed with Streep, playing her husband in Julie & Julia.
The Devil Wears Prada certainly would have been a boost for Leguizamo’s career, as he has expressed frustration at not being given enough opportunities, but it’s hard to imagine anyone but Tucci in the role of Nigel because of the softness that he brought. As a character, Nigel is effective because he expresses his emotions in a very understated way, which became a more powerful plot point in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Thankfully, Leguizamo didn’t miss out on the opportunity to work with Hathaway because they are co-stars in The Odyssey, which is expected to soon cross The Devil Wears Prada 2 at the global box office, his performance in the film being hailed as a standout, and could potentially lead to his first Academy Award nomination in January.
