In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Judd Apatow, 57, looks back on his breakout hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Like so many of Apatow’s comedies from the early aughts, there are a ton of surprising behind-the-scenes stories, including one about Kevin Hart’s, 46, almost role in the film.
Speaking with THR, Apatow revealed that Hart auditioned for the role of Jay, Andy’s (Steve Carell, 63) smooth-talking co-worker who doles out unfiltered advice and embodies the group’s “player” persona. That part ultimately went to Romany Malco, 56, whose turn as Jay added both swagger and humor to the film.
Apatow explained the casting choice candidly: “Kevin Hart… auditioned for Romany Malco’s part. Later, he told me he thought he didn’t get it because he needed to work harder on his acting. But it wasn’t that. It was because I didn’t believe he could play a lothario. I believed Romany more as someone who got a lot of women.”
Malco hit the nail on the head when it came to playing the part. His portrayal created balance among the characters. Jay was brash and outrageous, but also believable as the charismatic friend who could talk his way into and out of almost anything. Jay had an unrestrained confidence of someone who had lived the exact opposite experience
of Carell’s Andy.
For Hart, missing out on the role wasn’t the end of his career, which has since skyrocketed into global superstardom with roles in blockbusters like Borderlands, Jumanji, and The Secret Life of Pets, among others.
Apatow’s casting call was spot-on, and he knew what he was doing, bringing Malco on instead. The actor’s authenticity just clicked with Paul Rudd’s, 56, neurotic energy, Seth Rogen’s, 43, deadpan delivery, and Malco’s effortless bravado. All of them helped sharpen Carell’s awkward innocence in what would become a defining movie of that era: a film that’s still quoted and culturally relevant 20 years later.
