Brendan Fraser is easily one of the greatest actors in the adventure genre. His battle against the dead in “The Mummy” series needs no introduction. The actor has had a well-documented Hollywood comeback in recent years. After a period of personal and professional setbacks, he has returned to the spotlight with critically acclaimed movies like”The Whale”.
Fraser’s career has been a testament to his versatility, but there was a time when his passion for a particular role burned so brightly, that it led him to make an offer that was both hilarious and undeniably endearing.
Brendan Fraser Begged For a Cameo In G.I. Joe
Brendan Fraser once had a relentless pursuit for a role – not the lead one, but a mere cameo – in the 2009 film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. The reason for Fraser’s zeal? A lifelong love for G.I. Joe, as per Rotten Tomatoes. Unlike some actors who might phone in a cameo, Fraser was genuinely passionate about the franchise.
This passion goes back to his childhood, playing with iconic action figures. Producer Bob Ducsay, who had previously collaborated with Fraser on The Mummy films, was at the helm of G.I. Joe. The Whale actor revealed that he practically begged to get a role in the movie and the producer obliged.
“No, I didn’t ask, I begged,” Bredan Fraser said “I’m a cameo. We were in Shanghai, shooting nights and doing the chase sequence. Bob Ducsay gets off the phone. Bob produced the other two pictures, he’s got this big old smile on his face. ‘What have you got to be so happy about?’ He said, ‘We just got the green light to do Joe from Paramount.’ ‘Hey, congratulations, that’s great, good for you. Can I be in it? Please? I’ll wash your dog. I had a G.I. Joe. He dangled from his parachute strings in a tree one winter.’ They called me.”
Rumors swirled that Fraser would portray the fan-favorite character Gung-Ho. However, due to licensing issues as per MTV, Fraser ended up in a different, albeit smaller, role. Fraser landed the role of Sergeant Stone, a drill instructor who briefly appears during a training sequence for Duke and Ripcord.
G.I. Joe Star Channing Tatum Absolutely Hated Being A Part of It
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra might have boasted impressive action sequences and a star-studded cast, but for Channing Tatum, the experience wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Unlike Fraser’s childhood dream fulfilled, Tatum wasn’t exactly thrilled to be a part of the franchise.
Apparently, the role of Duke in the 2009 film wasn’t something he actively pursued. In fact, reports suggest he wasn’t a huge fan of the script and even tried to turn it down several times before contractual obligations tied him to the project.
While some actors might just go through the motions in such situations, Tatum’s disappointment with the film became public after its release. While speaking to Howard Stern, he let out his frustration on being a part of the movie.
“Look, I’ll be honest. I f**king hate that movie. I hate that movie. I was pushed into doing that movie. From ‘Coach Carter,’ they signed me to a three-picture deal…They give you the contract and they go, ‘Three-picture deal, here you go.’ And as a young actor, you’re like, ‘Oh my god, that sounds amazing, I’m doing that!’ Time goes by and you get other jobs and you’re building your quote and you have a dream job you want to do.”
Fans can stream G.I. Joe on Amazon Prime Video.
