Quentin Tarantino wanted Adam Sandler to play iconic Donny 'The Bear Jew' Donowitz in 'Inglorious Basterds'

Quentin Tarantino wanted Adam Sandler to play iconic Donny 'The Bear Jew' Donowitz in 'Inglorious Basterds'
Quentin Tarantino wanted to cast Adam Sandler as one of The Basterds, Donny Donowitz, nicknamed 'The Bear Jew,' who would use his baseball bat to smash the heads of the German soldiers (Randy Holmes/Getty Images and Adam Sandler/Instagram)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' filmmaker Quentin Tarantino confirmed that he wanted 'Just go with it' actor Adam Sandler to play the iconic Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz in the 2009 hit film 'Inglourious Basterds,' but the comedic actor ultimately declined as he was already filming Judd Apatow’s 'Funny People.'

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'Inglourious Basterds' won multiple awards and nominations, among them eight Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay). For his role as Landa, Waltz won the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor Award, as well as the BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, Critics' Choice, Golden Globe, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film received generally positive reviews, with Waltz's performance as Hans Landa being singled out for praise, but some criticized the historical liberties taken.