25-03-2025
Nathan Lane Lost Out on ‘Space Jam' Role Because Director Thought He Was ‘Too Gay to Play the Part'
Nathan Lane's star-making, Golden Globe-nominated turn in 1996 film 'The Birdcage' didn't have as much of an impact as the actor thought it would. Lane detailed how he actually lost out on roles — specifically one of which was 'Space Jam' — after leading the comedy about a proud queer couple forced back into closet for the benefit of their heteronormative son and his would-be fiancée's conservative family.
Lane has previously said that he was 'not prepared at all' to publicly come out as gay when 'The Birdcage' was released and was 'terrified' of being outed at the time; he later came out in 1999. Yet 'Space Jam' director Joe Pytka allegedly deemed Lane 'too gay' to star as Michael Jordan's assistant in the film, which was also released in 1996. Wayne Knight instead was cast.
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'I was up for that part,' Lane told Vanity Fair. 'Apparently the director [Joe Pytka] saw me hosting the Tony Awards and thought that suggested I was too gay to play the part. So thank God, I didn't have to do 'Space Jam.' But I don't know. I'll never know what people say. Homophobia is alive and well, still.'
IndieWire has reached out to representatives for Pytka.
Lane added of the challenges 'The Birdcage' brought to his career, 'I don't know what goes on behind closed doors, but I can't help but think that it played a part. I was told it did impact a movie that I didn't really care about: 'Space Jam.' I was up for the part that the guy from 'Seinfeld' [Wayne Knight] wound up playing.'
Even Lane's (now former) agent at the time warned him against being out.
'In the beginning I never really pursued film. I always thought theater was a more interesting place to be, because you learn more about acting that way. Movies were just to pay the bills so I could keep doing theater. Then 'The Birdcage' came along. I thought perhaps because of the success of that, it'd lead to other films, but then it didn't. It really didn't. I said to my agent, 'I thought more would happen after 'The Birdcage.' He said, 'Maybe if you weren't so open about your lifestyle, it would have,'' Lane said. 'Yeah — and he was an old queen telling me this. So I left him. […] There weren't a lot of opportunities.'
'The Birdcage' director Mike Nichols instead helped Lane find new representation at CAA. Still, Lane — who is now starring in series 'Mid-Century Modern' — says that 'Hollywood figured out nothing when it comes to me' in terms of casting, even if he has appeared in more unique fare lately.
'That was just an A24 moment with a couple of very out-there films ['Beau Is Afraid' and 'Dicks: The Musical']. I wish they'd figured out what to do with me,' Lane said. 'I've been able to, I think, shift the perception a bit about me, but there's always going to be that 'He's from the theater' thing. It's either homophobia or it's just, 'He gives big performances because he comes from the theater.' If they give me a chance, I seem to do well — but you have to get the part. You need a part to prove that. I gave up long ago trying to pursue it.'
He continued, 'There've been times I've been up for something and then it didn't happen. And you think, 'Oh, OK. Well, that would've been a nice opportunity.' Especially of late, I've been very, very fortunate and working a lot. I have a couple more in the theater I'd like to do. There's a couple more mountains I want to climb before I hang up my shingle. […] Before I die, it would be lovely to get to play a juicy, serious supporting role in some film. That's why I'm very grateful to Ryan Murphy. He let me play Dominic Dunne [in 'The Mendendez Brothers'] and F. Lee Bailey [in 'The People v. O. J. Simpson']. I mean, things are great. I don't want it to seem like I don't have a really terrific, enviable career.'
Every episode of 'Mid-Century Modern' will be available to stream on Hulu this Friday, March 28.
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