Adam Sandler is best known for his slapstick comedies that do little to satisfy critics, but has, nonetheless, turned it into a brand. The actor has also surprised fans with small detours into dramatic territory with films like Spaceman, Uncut Gems, and Punch-Drunk Love. However, he has managed to balance his brand of comedies.
One of his earliest roles as an SNL alum was the comedy Airheads. Starring along with Brendan Fraser and Steve Buscemi, Sandler was the main draw due to his time on SNL. He reportedly used this clout to make sure the director cast Fraser, though he was a relative unknown at the time and was only known for Encino Man.
Adam Sandler Threatened To Walk Away From Airheads If The Director Did Not Cast Brendan Fraser
A year before Adam Sandler had his big film breakthrough with Billy Maddison, he starred in the ensemble comedy Airheads. Sandler was known for his time on Saturday Night Live and hence, was the most-known star among the lead cast. The film revolves around three struggling musicians who hold a radio station hostage to make them listen to their demo.
Apart from Sandler, the film also starred Brendan Fraser and Steve Buscemi in their earliest roles. Despite being a commercial failure, the film went on to be a cult classic. Though Fraser is well-known today and recently had a career resurgence, he was only two films old, with Encino Man being his breakthrough.
In the Variety interview Actors on Actors, Sandler claimed that he vouched for Fraser to be in Airheads even though director Michael Lehmann was opposed to it. The disagreement came to such a level that Sandler reportedly threatened to walk if he did not cast Fraser. He said,
The director, Michael Lehmann, was very against you. He was like, ‘I don’t get it. I don’t see the caveman being in the movie.’ And I just said, ‘He can do other s*it, man.’…I eventually went to his house at like 4 in the morning, woke him up, and I said, ‘Just know Adam Sandler ain’t going to be in ‘Airheads’ unless old Fraser is in it.’ So he changed his little tune.
Fraser seemed to be shocked by Sandler’s anecdote. Though the film only grossed $5.7 million against a $2.2 million budget, Fraser went on to star in films like George of the Jungle and The Mummy (via Box Office Mojo).
Adam Sandler And Brendan Fraser Filmed Airheads At ‘The Die Hard Building’
Adam Sandler and Brendan Fraser recounted the wonderful time they had while filming Airheads. The duo starred along with Steve Buscemi playing members of a struggling rock band named The Lone Rangers. The comedy also featured Sandler’s SNL co-star Chris Farley, Michael McKean, and a host of other actors.
Sandler recounted the pleasant time they had while filming it. The crew reportedly shot at the Fox Plaza, which had served as the location for Nakatomi Plaza in Bruce Willis’ Die Hard. Sandler said (via Variety),
That was one of the best shoots of my life, without a doubt. We would drive to the Fox lot and just get there at around 4:30. Sun’s going down. We’d have our snacks, get into our clothes, do our scenes. And, man, the best party of all time…We were so excited that they shot ‘Die Hard’ there. And then we there, and it was summertime, right?
Fraser also mentioned that he took his acting job very seriously at the time and was pleasantly surprised by Sandler’s improv skills.
Airheads is available to stream on Apple TV+.
