Certain roles are so singular, they inevitably become synonymous with the actors who brought them to life. Take the cast of Superbad, for example. 15 years on, despite the tremendous evolution of their respective careers, the mention of Michael Cera conjures up the awkward silhouette of Evan, Jonah Hill the foul-mouthed smartass Seth, while Christopher Mintz-Plasse will forever be associated with McLovin (Fogell).
According to Vanity Fairโs recent oral history of the classic millennial filmโs production, the casting of Fogell / McLovin initially proved to be a Herculean task. Nobody whoโd auditioned prior to Mintz-Plass quite fit the bill. Eventually, casting director Allison Jones found the perfect candidate outside of Hollywoodโฆ in the classroom of a Southern Californian high school.
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โMy buddies, who I was in a drama class with when I was in my senior year of high school, heard of an open audition for this movie,โ revealed Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
โWe all auditioned. I was the only one who got a callback, which was a little weird. And I went in a second time and read with Greg [Mottola] the director, and then got a third callback, and read with Jonah [Hill] and Mike [Cera].โ
โI was just, like, a scrawny kid. I was super stoked to be there. I had Seth and everyone sign my script because I didnโt think I was going to get the part.โ
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, โFogell / McLovinโ
โHe played it like he was clearly the coolest guy in the room and everyone else was a nerd and a loser,โ said Superbad director Greg Mottola.
โHe was Dean Martin instead of Jerry Lewis.โ
โChristopher Mintz-Plasse was really, really amazing off the bat โ and I think he was really annoying to me at that time,โ admitted Jonah Hill.
But apparently, โannoying meโ was quite a diplomatic way of putting it. At least if producer Judd Apatow and screenwriter + co-star Seth Rogen are to be believed.
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โIn the audition, he was very caustic and attacked Jonah and did improvs insulting Jonah,โ recalled Judd Apatow.
โJonah immediately hated himโฆ he was like, โThat was fucking with my rhythm. I couldnโt perform with that guy,'โ added Seth Rogen.
โJonah said, โI donโt like that guy. I donโt want him doing it.โ And I said, โThatโs exactly why weโre hiring him. It couldnโt be more perfect. The fact that it bothers you is exactly what we want,'โ said Apatow.
The chemistry was, indeed, perfect.
How does Christopher Mintz-Plasse feel about the inescapability of his breakout role these days?
โEveryone thinks that theyโre the first one to think of like, โDo you have the other ID?โ And you can only fake laugh so many times before youโre just lying to yourself,โ explained Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
โYoung me wouldโve been so annoyed with all that. Because there was a really good four-year period where I had that screamed at me everywhere I went. And it was pretty draining.โ
โEspecially as a 20-year-old, who is trying to figure out who the fuck I am. My brain is still developing and trying to figure out my career path.โ
For the time being, the man appears to be at peace with his fate.
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โI think it was when I started to hear McLovin in rap songs is when I was like, โOh wow. This is a cultural thing,'โ said Seth Rogen.
โThings arenโt referenced in rap songs unless they are a cultural thing. You start to see McLovin T-shirts at fucking Urban Outfitters and stuff.โ
โI wondered, โIs Chris Mintz-Plasse going to be called McLovin for the rest of his life?โ I still wonder that.โ
Emma Stone, โJulesโ
You can read Vanity Fairโs complete oral history of Superbad here.
