Fans of Reno 911!, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry or Blades of Glory are used to seeing Nick Swardson as a flamboyant, probably gay character, either as a law-breaking rollerblader or a super-fan of a certain ice skater. But in You Don't Mess With the Zohan he tries a “straight man” role on for size, and based on what he told us about his next project, he's heading in yet another totally new direction.
At Wednesday's red carpet premiere for Zohan, Swardson told me, “I'm writing my first starring movie,, which he says was Zohan star Adam Sandler's idea. “It's like Napoleon Dynamite meets Boogie Nights, that's how I describe it.”
Swardson says he'll play a dorky Midwestern guy who suddenly discovers that his parents were huge porn stars in the 1970s. “So he gets all excited, decides that's his calling. So he becomes a porn star.” Swardson also says the movie will be 90% him, though you have to assume he won't go Eddie Murphy style and play all the character. Still, for a guy used to supporting roles in movies and fame as a stand-up comedian, “ It's going to be a big thing for me. [...] And it's going to be a funny character too.”
We can hopefully look for Swardson's star vehicle next spring, if shooting starts in the fall as planned. But in the meantime check out his role as the awkward son of a certain lusty lady in Zohan, and check Cinema Blend later this week for more from Swardson and many other members of Zohan's cast.
