Jack Black Turned Down Major Pixar Role │Now Says It’s 1 of His Biggest Regrets

Jack Black is finally admitting the Pixar role he wishes he’d never walked away from: ‘Syndrome,’ the fiery‑haired villain of “The Incredibles.” After turning down the part years ago, Black says watching the finished film made the regret hit hard, and now he’s opening up about the missed opportunity that could’ve added a whole new chapter to his voice‑acting legacy.

The reason the world is hearing this story now is that Black shared it himself in a recent YouTube interview, where he talked candidly about the opportunity he passed on and how it stuck with him. In the conversation, he explained that he was offered a role in “The Incredibles,” Pixar’s 2004 superhero hit, but ultimately turned it down.

He didn’t go into every detail of the decision, but he made it clear that once he saw the movie, he realized he’d walked away from something special. At one point in the interview, he even said something along the lines of wishing he’d trusted his gut differently, a rare moment of hindsight from someone who usually leans into humor and momentum rather than regret.

That honesty is exactly why the story is trending. Jack Black doesn’t often talk about missed opportunities. He’s usually the guy who celebrates the chaos, the creativity, and the weirdness of his career. So when he pauses long enough to say, “Yeah, I should’ve done that one,” people pay attention.

Jack Black, Pixar, and the Role That Got Away

The idea of Jack Black in a Pixar film isn’t hard to imagine. His voice is expressive, elastic, and instantly recognizable, the kind of sound that animators love because it gives them something to build around. And “The Incredibles” in particular is a movie filled with characters who would’ve fit his energy: bold personalities, comedic beats, and emotional arcs that balance humor with heart.

Black didn’t specify which character he was offered, but fans have been speculating nonstop. Some think he could’ve been a perfect match for a supporting hero. Others imagine him voicing one of the film’s comedic side characters.

Whatever the role was, the takeaway is the same: he sees now that it was a moment he wishes he’d grabbed. And honestly, it tracks. Pixar films have a way of becoming generational touchstones. Being part of one isn’t just another credit. It’s a cultural imprint.

A Look Back at His Voice‑Only Roles

Even without that Pixar moment, Jack Black has built a strong legacy in animation and voice work. His biggest and most beloved role is, of course, Po in the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise. That character alone cemented him as one of the most emotionally resonant comedic voice actors working today. Po is funny, heartfelt, chaotic, and deeply lovable, all the things Black brings to the role naturally.

He’s also voiced characters in:

• “Shark Tale”
• “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (as Bowser, a performance that became a meme factory overnight)
• Various animated shorts, specials, and video games

What makes his voice roles stand out is the same thing that makes him magnetic on screen: he commits. He doesn’t phone it in. He doesn’t flatten himself to fit the animation. He expands, exaggerates, and leans into the character until it feels like the role was written for him. That’s why the idea of him in “The Incredibles” hits so hard. It’s not just that he turned down a Pixar role. It’s that he turned down a Pixar role during the era when the studio was defining modern animation.

So, Where Will We Hear Jack Black’s Voice Next?

If anything, this moment of reflection just makes fans more curious about what he’ll do next. Jack Black is in a phase of his career where he’s saying yes to big, bold, fun projects, the kind that let him be loud, weird, emotional, and unforgettable. His voice work is only getting stronger, and studios know it.

With “Kung Fu Panda 4” already adding to his animated legacy and his Bowser performance still echoing across the internet, it feels like only a matter of time before another major studio, maybe even Pixar, comes calling again.

And if they do, it’s hard to imagine him turning it down this time. Because if there’s one thing this trending story makes clear, it’s that Jack Black knows how much his voice can bring to a character. And audiences are more than ready to hear it wherever it lands next.