Spike Jonze Almost Directed Ace Ventura 2—Here’s Why Jim Carrey Regrets Saying No

In the unpredictable world of Hollywood, there’s a saying that captures the essence of the industry’s constant guessing game: “Nobody knows anything.” Despite the expertise of countless industry insiders, no one can truly predict which films will break out, which actors will rise to stardom, or which filmmakers will become legends. This is especially true in the case of those who were once overlooked, only to later be hailed as some of the most talented visionaries in cinema. Jim Carrey knows this all too well.

Before 1994, Carrey was far from the global superstar he would soon become. Those who paid close attention might have seen him in minor roles in films like Pink Cadillac or Earth Girls Are Easy, or maybe they recognized him from the hit sketch comedy series In Living Colour. But as a movie star? He was still a relative unknown. That is, until the year that would change everything.

1994 was the year that Jim Carrey became a household name, delivering three massive comedy hits: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. The success of these films, which collectively grossed nearly $700 million at the global box office, transformed Carrey from a comedic actor with a cult following to the biggest movie star in the world. By the end of the year, he was commanding $7 million per film, and studios were eager to keep him on the big screen. This led to Carrey landing a role as the villain in Batman Forever and a quick sequel to Ace Ventura in the form of Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.

When it came time to choose a director for Ace Ventura 2, Carrey had a decision to make. Warner Brothers gave him the power to choose, and Carrey ultimately selected Steve Oedekerk, a script consultant from the first film who had penned the sequel. It was a safe choice, and Carrey knew he could collaborate well with Oedekerk, allowing him to improvise and experiment on set.

However, before making that choice, Carrey was presented with another option—one that, in hindsight, would have been a game-changer. A young, up-and-coming director in his 20s pitched his vision for the film. But Carrey didn’t recognize the potential greatness standing before him. That young director was none other than Spike Jonze.

Years later, at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, Carrey opened up about his decision. Reflecting on his past, he admitted, “I’ve been wanting to do something with Spike forever. I was stupid enough to turn him down to direct Ace 2 because I had no idea who he was. And he came in and pitched all kinds of shit, and he was about to take over the world, and I didn’t know it. I was like, ‘I don’t know, this guy’s new.’ And I’ve been kicking myself ever since.”

Carrey’s regret is understandable, though. At the time, Jonze was relatively unknown in the world of feature filmmaking. He had never directed a feature film, and his only credits were music videos. But Jonze was already making waves with his visually innovative and artistically distinctive work on music videos like the Beastie Boys’ Sabotage and Weezer’s Buddy Holly. Both of these videos are now considered iconic, making Jonze’s potential as a director evident. Yet, at the time, Carrey didn’t take the risk.

Jonze himself has rarely spoken about the opportunity to direct Ace Ventura 2, and when he did, it was with his trademark sense of humor. In the late ’90s, he deadpanned, “My stepdad sells juicers to a lot of people in Hollywood, and he knew Jim Carrey through his juicing connection. In Hollywood, all the big deals are made through juicing.” Of course, Jonze’s witty comment only further underscores the absurdity of how Hollywood works at times.

While Carrey’s decision to go with Oedekerk over Jonze may have seemed like a safe bet at the time, we now know how it played out. Jonze would go on to direct groundbreaking films like Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Her, earning critical acclaim and establishing himself as one of the most visionary filmmakers of his generation. Carrey, on the other hand, would continue to solidify his place as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and beloved actors, with his collaborations with directors like Man on the Moon‘s Milos Forman and The Truman Show‘s Peter Weir.

In the end, both men have enjoyed spectacular careers, but Carrey’s reflection on his missed opportunity with Jonze serves as a valuable reminder of the unpredictability of the entertainment industry. As Carrey put it, “He was about to take over the world, and I didn’t know it.” The story of Carrey and Jonze is one of those what-could-have-been moments in Hollywood history, but it also highlights how difficult it can be to recognize greatness when it’s just beginning to unfold.