Is Action Star Eric Bana Suitable For Apatow’s Next?

Posted by Nathan Deen (nathan@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 3, 2008

Eric Bana is no stranger to comedy. Does that surprise you? It surprised me when I read on CHUD this morning that the star of Munich, Hulk, and Troy actually started out as a stand-up comedian in Australia. Seriously, I’m not making this up. This is the same guy that was referenced by Seth Rogen in the hit Judd Apatow comedy Knocked Up as being a total badass.

Speaking of Apatow, guess who he’s in negotiations with to appear in his next comedy about stand-up comedians? That’s right, Eric Bana, Prince Hector and Bruce Banner himself. I thought it would be a poor casting decision at first, but he may actually turn out to be a perfect fit. After all, who better to play a stand-up comedian than someone who has firsthand experience?

It leaves me to wonder how Bana found himself in those aforementioned roles to begin with. Usually, when a stand-up comedian tries to become an actor, you expect him to make comedies, right? So in the matter of just two hours, my already high admiration for Bana as an actor just amplified. For a comedian to play those roles with that kind of style is impressive.

Should he accept the part, Bana will be joined by Adam Sandler, who was also a stand-up comedian early in his career, and Apatow’s wife, Leslie Mann.

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