Jim Gaffigan Explains How a Commercial He Did Cost Him an Acting Gig, But He Might Have Dodged a Bullet

Jim Gaffigan almost had a role in one of M. Night Shyamalan‘s movies. However, he explained that a commercial he previously did cost him the part.

As it turns out, the 57-year-old comedian might have lost a role with a celebrated director. However, he also dodged a bullet.

He opened up about the opportunity in a recent interview.

Read more about Jim Gaffigan’s lost opportunity…

Speaking to Variety, Jim explained that he was up for a role in Lady in the Water.

“It came down to me and another guy and the other guy got it,” he recalled. “But a week later I got a call that ‘He wants to reshoot the scene and do it with you.’ It was just one day, but I was like, ‘Great, I’m going to be in an M. Night Shyamalan movie!’”

Unfortunately it was not to be. “So the story goes, [Shyamalan] took his kids to a movie and he saw a commercial I was in before the previews. I think it was for Sierra Mist. And he said, ‘Well, I can’t have that same guy be in a commercial before my movie.’ So they went back and swapped the other guy back in.”

While Jim lost out on a chance to work with a celebrated director, it might have been better for him in the long run.

Lady in the Water was critically panned and is one of the the director’s worst-reviewed movies on Rotten Tomatoes. It was even nominated for and won several awards at the Golden Raspberry Awards in 2007. If you were unaware, the awards show celebrates movies that are considered flops for a variety of reasons.

Did you know that Jim has a role in a critically acclaimed movie that debuted a few years ago?