LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The comedy blockbuster, 'Dumb and Dumber', could have been an entirely different film as Hollywood heavyweights Gary Oldman and Nicolas Cage were initially in the running for the lead roles. Surprisingly, even Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels were not exactly thrilled when they received their offers to star in the movie.
However, the story takes an intriguing turn when Carrey successfully negotiated a jaw-dropping salary that was 20 times more than the original offer. On the other hand, Daniels got a low salary and also was discouraged by his own team, who feared it would hinder his pursuit of an Oscar-worthy career. Little did they know that 'Dumb and Dumber' would go on to become one of the highest-grossing films of 1994.
Jim Carrey's big fat paycheck
During a Q&A, directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly spoke in detail about 'Dumb and Dumber'. Although the film turned into a cult classic, there were major hurdles at one point in time behind the scenes. Among them was getting Carrey onboard. He was initially offered $350,000, but he requested $400,000. This turned out to be a big mistake as the studio held off and once 'Ace Ventura' came out, Carrey's salary skyrocketed to 20 times higher than the initial offer. He was reportedly paid $7M.
Peter reportedly said, "They offered him $350,000 to do the movie and he passed. He wanted like $400,000. And they held off. And then Ace Ventura came out, which was his first movie and it was number one. So the studio said… 'Okay, we'll give you the 400.' He said, 'No, I want 500.'" Carrey was able to pocket $7M for the role, and at the time, it was considered very high for a comedic actor.
At the same, Daniels was heading in a completely different direction in his career. Known for his serious roles, he had set his sights on an Oscar.
'Please, anyone but him. Get a comedic actor!'
When the 'Dumb and Dumber' offer came knocking, Daniels was badly discouraged by his team, who warned him against taking on such a comedic role. Nevertheless, the actor felt it was time to shake things up. He reportedly said, "You know, I was doing a lot of dramas and heading towards an Oscars trail, whatever that is, and I just said, 'I'm not doing what I was five years ago; I'm not interested.' I am going to audition for that 'Dumb and Dumber thing.'"
However, the transition wasn't smooth. The studio had reservations and wanted a comedic actor to star alongside Carrey. Consequently, they offered Daniels $50,000. Despite the low compensation, Daniels seized the opportunity to work with Carrey. Bobby said, "They said, 'Please, anyone but him. Get a comedic actor.' So they offered him, if I recall, 50 grand, which was, you know, Jim's getting seven mil, they offered him 50 figuring he'll say, 'No, I'm not taking that,' but he took it."
Daniels had some leverage thanks to Carrey, who was a staunch advocate for his casting. Daniels revealed, "There were comedians that wanted it, but he wanted an actor that would make him listen because he knew it was ping-pong, it was back and forth. So I just let him lead, and [Daniels’ character] Harry Dunne was like on a half-second delay to whatever [Carrey’s character] Lloyd would do."
