Last month, Jordan Peele announced his decision to quit acting so he could focus on directing. After making his solo directorial debut with Get Out in 2017, he said, “Acting is just nowhere near as fun for me as directing.”
While accepting the First-Time Director honors at the DGA Awards Saturday night, Peele explained that The Emoji Movie was partially to blame for his decision to quit acting. “The Emoji Movie actually helped me quit acting,” he said. “I was offered the role of Poop.”
Realizing the story could be misinterpreted as a joke, Peele added, “This is true. I would not make this up.” He said his manager told him the news and he responded by saying, “That’s fucked up.” The next day, out of curiosity, he asked how much the gig would pay, “[My manager told me], ‘They’ve already given it to Sir Patrick Stewart,'” Peel continued. “I was like, ‘F— this.'”
Peele was inspired to tell the story following Judd Apatow’s monologue included the anecdote: “When you have women directors you get Lady Bird, Mudbound, and Wonder Woman. When you have male directors you get The Emoji Movie, with a character who is a literal piece of s—.”
Peele’s decision has worked out for him. The Emoji Movie flopped. Meanwhile, Peele’s Get Out has been nominated for four Academy Awards.
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