Once upon a time, David Schwimmer was offered the leading role in Men in Black. He turned it down. Will Smith wound up taking on the role, and the film helped propel him to superstar status while Schwimmer was left toiling in one of the most popular sitcoms of all time.

David Schwimmer has appeared in some unforgettable projects over the years, but there was one film role that he admitted could have made him an even bigger name. In the mid-1990s, the Friends star was offered to star in the new sci-fi action comedy Men in Black,

David Schwimmer recently said on the "Origins with Cush Jumbo" podcast that he’s well aware how different his career would been had he not rejected the offer to lead 1997’s “Men in Black.” The actor’s popularity was skyrocketing at the time as he was a few seasons into “Friends.

David Schwimmer looked back on his brutal decision to pass Men in Black, which would be a career game-changer. On Tuesday, September 17, The Hollywood Reporter published that the Friends star

David Schwimmer made a career choice that still haunts him. The “Friends” alum, 57, said on Tuesday’s episode of the “Origins With Cush Jumbo” podcast that he turned down a role in 1997’s “Men in Black,” which caused him to never reach “movie star” status.

When you think of Men in Black , you think of Will Smith , but that almost went a very different way. At the time the movie was made, one of the most popular TV series on air was Friends , which was a few seasons in.

David Schwimmer admitted that turning down 'Men in Black' to direct his first feature was a 'brutal decision.'

David Schwimmer discussed the wholesome reason why he turned down a role in Men in Black. The 57-year-old Friends actor made an appearance on the Origins with Cush Jumbo podcast published on Tuesday where he discussed walking away from the role of Agent J, which would go on to be played by Will Smith.

David Schwimmer explained why he turned down a lead role in 'Men in Black,' admitting that being in that blockbuster 'would have made me, I think, a movie star.'

David Schwimmer has admitted turning down a lead role in Men in Black was a "brutal" decision. The actor appeared on the Origins with Cush Jumbo podcast recently and recalled how rejecting the chance to star in the 1997 action movie proved a costly mistake.