“Tropic Thunder” was a film that completely redefined the boundaries of comedy and controversy with its satirical take on Hollywood. But beyond its hilarious jokes are several very interesting facts that you may not know about! From on-set improv to unexpected casting decisions, here are 21 tidbits about “Tropic Thunder” that we’re pretty sure never knew.
Keanu Could’ve Been Speedman
In an interesting twist, Keanu Reeves almost faced the jungle as Tugg Speedman because Ben Stiller was unsure about appearing in it. Imagine Speedman delivering lines with that typical Reevesian calm! But fate had other plans, pushing Stiller himself into the lead role’s boots. He’s the Tugg we never knew we needed, but we can’t imagine him any other way.
Downey’s Triple Inspiration
Robert Downey Jr. channeled the spirits of Russell Crowe, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Colin Farrell to create Kirk Lazarus. This mix of personalities helped to make one of the most unpredictable characters in film history. Downey’s method acting here was less ‘method’ and more ‘mad scientist!’
Steve Coogan’s Character Inspiration
Likewise, Steve Coogan’s character, Damien Cockburn, was inspired by director Richard Stanley’s misadventures on the set of “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Stanley dealt with several challenges during filming, including difficult actors. He was eventually fired, although he secretly returned to set in a similar way to Cockburn’s own journey.
Cruise’s Creative Input
Tom Cruise actually came up with a lot of the film’s ideas, and suggesting Grossman’s oversized hands was just the tip of the iceberg. Cruise took the character from a simple suggestion to an unforgettable, dance-moving monster. Who knew big hands could leave such a lasting impression?
Cruise’s Unplanned Dance Moves
Speaking of Cruise, his dance sequence as Les Grossman wasn’t actually in the script. It was all Cruise as he managed to turn a brief moment into an unforgettable scene. There’s a reason why Cruise was chosen for the role – he made Grossman an icon! We doubt that anybody else could’ve done things as well as him.
Owen Wilson’s Near Role
In a parallel universe, Owen Wilson was Pecker, bringing his laid-back charm to the jungles of “Tropic Thunder.” However, Matthew McConaughey soon stepped in and replaced Wilson, bringing his own brand of Texan swagger to the role. Like Stiller, it’s a move that was for the better because we can’t imagine Pecker being played by anybody else!
No Boot Camp for Stiller
When faced with the choice between grueling boot camp and a delicious meal with the cast, Stiller chose the latter. Why sweat in the jungle when you can break bread (or, more likely, crack open a cold one) with your co-stars? This was pretty unusual, as most action movies tend to go for sweat and tears over laughter.
Hawaiian Adventures
They filmed the movie on Kauai, a breathtaking Hawaiian island. This island paradise is usually a haven for honeymooners and adventurers. However, it’s not the first time that Hollywood has taken a trip here. Previously, they filmed blockbusters like Jurassic Park and even Raiders of the Lost Ark here!
An Unexpected Pregnancy
Remember the water buffalo from that hilarious scene? Well, it turns out that she was actually pregnant during filming! While the film was still being produced, she gave birth, and the producers named him Little Jack in honor of Jack Black. Life does find a way – especially on a movie set!
Jack Black’s Physical Comedy
Jack Black found himself wrestling with more than just his lines during filming. During one of the stunts, he actually bruised his rib. It’s all fun and games until you land on your prop gun! Thankfully, he didn’t suffer any long-lasting problems from the injury, although Black did say during a Collider interview that he wasn’t “able to breathe all the way in” for about six weeks. Ouch!
Stiller’s Initial Concept
Stiller actually came up with the idea for “Tropic Thunder” while on the set of “Empire of the Sun.” Some of the actors on set shared their exaggerated tales of suffering during boot camps, which inspired Stiller. What if these melodramatic actors ended up facing the real thing? Eventually, the film was born, poking fun at Hollywood’s own self-importance.
Lazarus’s Accent Shift
Kirk Lazarus’s accent was originally going to be very different. He was meant to be Irish until Robert Downey Junior suggested an Australian accent because he felt more comfortable improvising it after doing one for Natural Born Killers. However, they did reference this change at times because Kirk sometimes uses an Irish accent in the film.
Film Code Name
In a move straight out of a spy novel, producers shipped “Tropic Thunder” reels to cinemas under the codename “Capricorn.” It’s not clear why the studio did this exactly. However, some people have speculated that, since there was speculation about the film’s use of blackface even before it was released, perhaps the studio wanted to avoid all of this.
Digital Clean-Up
The film definitely pushed boundaries with its gore and gross-out humor at times. However, even the special effects team had to draw the line somewhere. One scene featured excessive oatmeal vomit, but this was seen as being too much. So, the studio decided to digitally tone down the grossness for the audience.
Original Ending Plans
The film’s third act was initially crazier, with characters being catapulted into battle. However, the writers decided they wanted a more grounded conclusion to avoid the film being completely absurd. Even in a comedy, there’s such a thing as “too much,” and the filmmakers were smart not to cross it.
Downey’s Dedication to Character
Downey Jr. took method acting to a whole new level and stayed in character as Lazarus even during the DVD commentary. This was actually a subtle reference to Lazarus himself, as during the film, Lazarus says that he never breaks character until he finishes the DVD commentary. The more you know!
Booty Sweat on Thanksgiving
You’d think that the last day of filming would be fun, right? Wrong! They spent it shooting the commercial for Alpa Chino’s energy drink, Booty Sweat, which happened early on Thanksgiving morning. After wrapping up, Brandon T. Jackson, who played Alpa Chino, had to make a mad dash to the airport to catch a flight home for the holiday!
A Mockumentary Gem
In a clever marketing move, the filmmakers actually created a mockumentary titled “Rain of Madness” to accompany the film. It was a parody of the legendary documentary “Hearts of Darkness,” which was about the challenges of making “Apocalypse Now.” The mockumentary featured Justin Theroux as the fictional German filmmaker Jan Jürgen and explored the disappearance of director Damien Cockburn, played by Steve Coogan.
Dale Dye’s Unexpected Comedy Debut
When making the film, the studio asked Dale Dye to help them make it war-accurate. Dye is a military adviser known for his work on serious war films like “Platoon” and “Band of Brothers.” Despite being unsure of how he would react to the film’s comedic take on war, it turns out that Dye actually loved it!
The High-Altitude Cameo
Tobey Maguire’s cameo was actually a last-minute addition to the film. Maguire was only available for two hours but managed to complete his role, which ended up being one of the film’s most memorable moments. This cameo was also a reference to Maguire and Downey Jr.’s previous on-screen relationship in “Wonder Boys.”
Box Office Smash
Initially, there were concerns that the film would be too controversial to be successful. However, according to Box Office Mojo, the film ended up becoming a box office smash, grossing approximately $195.7 million against a budget of $92 million. Robert Downey Jr. even got nominated for Academy, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild awards!
