Mike Myers has performed many unforgettable characters over his profession, from Wayne Campbell within the Wayne’s World sketch from Saturday Night time Reside and two follow-up films, to Austin Powers (and he’s indicated Austin Powers 4 might nonetheless occur). However for greater than 20 years now, there’s a era that arguably is aware of him finest because the voice of the Shrek films’ title character. Because it seems, Myers was pitched on the function whereas attending the premiere of Saving Non-public Ryan (the most effective struggle films ever made), and his preliminary response to the provide noticed him dropping an incredible f-bomb.
In the event you’ve completed any studying into the event of 2001’s Shrek, you understand that fellow SNL alum Chris Farley was initially imagined to voice the character, however he sadly died in 1997 on the age of 33. Myers was tapped as his alternative, although his Shrek voice ended up sounding rather a lot completely different than how the character was conceived when Farley was connected. Whereas discussing how Shrek’s Scottish voice got here to be, Myers recalled to Vulture how Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of what was then generally known as Dreamworks SKG, approached him about Shrek on the premiere of one among Tom Hanks’ finest films. Beginning off, he mentioned:
It was the craziest factor: I went to the premiere of Saving Non-public Ryan, and Jeffrey Katzenberg comes as much as me afterward within the foyer and brings his daughters, who then do the dance sequence from Austin Powers. This was after such a heavy film, and I used to be in tears, as a result of my dad and mom have been in World Warfare II, and I used to be shell-shocked, after which they’re doing the dance, and I used to be like, ‘Yeah, that’s nice. (READ A ROOM.)’
Okay, I can see the place Mike Myers is coming from. Recent off one of the crucial intense World Warfare II films, perhaps it wasn’t the most effective thought to do films from Austin Powers: Worldwide Man of Thriller’s opening dance quantity wasn’t the most effective thought. It jogs my memory of one of many funniest moments on Seinfeld when Jerry and his girlfriend are making out throughout a screening of Schindler’s Checklist.
So issues didn’t get off to an important begin, and it solely obtained worse from there, as Mike Myers made it explicitly clear to Jeffrey Katzenberg that he was not a fan of the Shrek title. He got here round not too lengthy after, however right here’s how Myers defined what occurred:
After which he mentioned, ‘Mike, would you ever do an animated film?’ and I am going ‘Positive.’ And he goes, ‘Nicely, we’ve an animated film. It’s known as Shrek.’ And I am going, ‘Nicely, that’s the worst fucking title I’ve ever heard in my life.’ It’s the sound you make after ingesting too many Molson Canadians. ‘Agh! Shreck!’ So he mentioned, ‘Simply come down and see it.’ So I noticed it and I preferred that it turned fairy tales on its head. I believed that was actually, actually good.
It’s a superb factor Myers modified his thoughts concerning the title, as a result of he’s now voiced Shrek in 4 films, and the movie facet of the franchise as a complete, which incorporates the 2 Puss in Boots spinoffs, has grossed over $4 billion globally. And after greater than a decade away, we’ll lastly get to listen to him because the towering inexperienced ogre, because the long-awaited Shrek 5 was formally confirmed earlier this yr, with Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy respectively reprising Fiona and Donkey, too. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however smile at listening to that Myers instantly dropped an f-bomb when he first heard about Shrek. With completely no context for the story, yeah, I can see why he would assume it’s bizarre.
Shrek 5 is due out on July 1, 2026, and whereas the primary three films can presently be streamed with a Peacock subscription, you’ll want a Max subscription to entry Shrek Perpetually After. If by some probability you’re additionally now within the temper to observe Saving Non-public Ryan, ensure you’re signed up for a Paramount+ subscription.