As a fan who has grown up with the enchanting world of DreamWorks Animation, I can’t help but feel awe and amusement when recalling Mike Myers’ unique encounter with the pitch for Shrek. The setting was no ordinary place; it was the premiere of Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece, Saving Private Ryan – a film that left many of us emotionally drained. Yet, there stood Jeffrey Katzenberg, a visionary in his own right, with his daughters performing an impromptu Austin Powers dance routine.
Mike Myers recently disclosed that he got the initial idea for Shrek during the premier event of Saving Private Ryan.
What was said to Mike Myers during the Shrek pitch?
During an interview with Vulture looking back on his career, Myers discussed some of the memorable characters he’s played. One such character is Shrek, the gruff-talking ogre who made his debut in the 2001 film “Shrek.” Interestingly, Myers learned about this role while watching a famous World War II movie at an inconvenient moment.
At the screening of Saving Private Ryan, the movie ended, and Jeffrey Katzenberg approached me in the lobby along with his daughters. They proceeded to perform a dance routine from Austin Powers, as I had just watched a very intense film about World War II that deeply affected me since my parents were involved in it. I was still emotional, and this light-hearted moment caught me off guard. It was like a sudden shift from a somber room to a lively one. (READ A DRAMATIC SCENE FOLLOWED BY AN UNEXPECTED DANCE PERFORMANCE)
Katzenberg then got around to pitching Shrek, which garnered a hilarious response from Myers.
Later on, he asked Mike, “Ever consider an animated film?” To which Mike replied, “Why yes.” He then mentioned, “We have one called Shrek.” Mike responded, “That’s got to be the most unappealing title I’ve ever heard!” Myers explained, “It sounds like what you say after drinking too much Molson Canadian. ‘Ugh! Shreck!’ So he invited me to watch it. Upon viewing, I appreciated its approach of reimagining fairy tales.
Voicing Shrek was a smart move for Myers, as it led to some of his most successful projects. Launched in 2001, Shrek earned over $492 million at the box office and became the first animated film to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Across four films and two spin-offs, Shrek has amassed a staggering global revenue of over $4 billion, making it the second highest-grossing animated franchise, surpassed only by Despicable Me.
Myers will reprise the voice of his hilarious ogre for Shrek 5 in theaters on July 1, 2026.
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2024-12-05 18:11