When Richard Donner was attempting to solid an actor within the position of Jor-El for 1978’s “Superman,” he recalled touring to Los Angeles to satisfy “Marlon F*****g Brando” at his home on Mulholland Drive, and famous that each he and Jack Nicholson shared “a bit of compound” (through The Hollywood Reporter). On reflection, one will get the sense that no one else aside from Jack F*****g Nicholson might have shared this unique little pocket of Hollywood Hills actual property. There merely wasn’t one other actor that might match Brando’s esteem.
Earlier than Nicholson disappeared from Hollywood completely, he was absolutely one of many final nice film stars — even when his last movie was a star studded field workplace bomb. Earlier than he secured one of many wildest offers in Hollywood historical past and netted himself properly away from $50 million to play the Joker in 1989’s “Batman,” Nicholson’s legendary standing was well-established. That “Batman” deal actually made him one of many richest and most influential stars, however he’d been a significant Hollywood determine ever since his breakout position in 1969’s “Straightforward Rider,” and had solely turned extra legendary because the years went on.
Now, with no new Nicholson performances to talk of for the reason that actor properly and really left the highlight behind, followers are left with nothing however tales from those that obtained the prospect to work with this residing legend — like Morgan Freeman, for instance, who could not fairly consider he obtained the prospect to star reverse Nicholson in 2007’s “The Bucket Listing.”
Jack Nicholson is a legend amongst legends
Keep in mind when Jack Nicholson snuck up on Jennifer Lawrence on the Oscars and he or she might barely include herself? It seems that the veteran star has that impact on a number of individuals, together with different veteran stars similar to Morgan Freeman. Although the actor has appeared in his share of duds — simply check out Freeman’s two worst-rated movies on Rotten Tomatoes — there isn’t any denying his standing as one of many pre-eminent film stars of the previous few a long time. Is he on Jack Nicholson’s stage? Nicely, simply ask the person himself.
Freeman starred alongside Nicholson in Rob Reiner’s comedy drama “The Bucket Listing” and located himself starstruck by such esteemed firm. Within the movie, the pair play two terminally ailing males who meet in a hospital room and determine to embark on an epic street journey collectively to finish their bucket lists — a listing of issues they wish to do earlier than kicking the proverbial bucket. For Freeman, nevertheless, it appears working with Nicholson was considerably of a bucket listing merchandise in and of itself.
The actor was showing on Dax Shepard and Monica Padman’s “Armchair Skilled” podcast (through CinemaBlend) when he spoke about having beforehand met his fellow Hollywood legend, however having by no means labored with him earlier than that. As Freeman put it:
“I met him prior and informed him I might give him my left testicle. […] He was requested if he’d do it, and he stated, ‘Ship me the script.’ I despatched him the script, and he stated, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ So there we had been, me and Jack Nicholson. So there we had been, me and Jack Nicholson.”
When requested if he had any self-awareness about being in a movie with Nicholson, Freeman added, “No. Once we had been working, we had been working at work. I labored. However then I’m going house and I’m going, ‘Jesus f*****g Christ. Jack Nicholson.'”