On a recent episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random, director Quentin Tarantino revealed his original choice he had in mind to play the Bear Jew in Inglourious Basterds. Joined by director Judd Apatow, Tarantino confirmed that he wanted comedian Adam Sandler to play the part but could not cast him due to the actor’s prior commitment to Apatow’s Funny People.

“I feel bad because when I did Funny People with Sandler, I wasn’t aware that that was the exact time you were trying to use him for Inglorious Basterds,” said Apatow.

Tarantino had this to say in response: “Obviously he should’ve done yours because of the whole thing of it. I mean, you start with the fucking video cassette of you guys as kids,” Tarantino continued, “But yeah, the Bear Jew was going to…I wrote the Bear Jew for Adam Sandler. When I was doing Little Nicky, he’s telling me like, ‘Oh man, I get to fucking beat up Nazis with a bat? Fucking script! Fucking awesome! I can’t fucking wait! I can’t fucking wait!’ He was like telling every Jewish guy, ‘I’m going to fucking play this guy who beats up Nazis with a fucking bat.’”

Sandler’s part as Bear Jew was eventually given to actor Eli Roth, best known for his roles in the Hostel series, Cabin Fever and The Green Inferno. Tarantino, however, found it difficult to find actors of Jewish descent that Apatow had not hired for one of his films.

“Here’s the problem. [Apatow] wrapped up all the good Jews,” he said. “That was the problem. Seth Rogen and all the good Jews were doing Funny People. I’m killing Hitler with baseball bats and there’s no good Jews available! David Krumholtz, nobody! All the good Jews were all wrapped up! I’m doing the Jewish male fantasy!”

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