“Adam had sort of called around…”: Adam Sandler Went To Extreme Lengths While Casting One DC Star in ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ Because of His Lack of Confidence

The casting process in the entertainment industry can sometimes be a tricky business. Although it is usually believed that talent and looks are the primary requirements, sometimes it can be about chemistry, comedic timing, or simply fitting the director’s vision.

Adam Sandler is popular for his comedy among his fans, but one incident of his action-comedy You Don’t Mess with the Zohan shows how serious he could be when it comes to casting the right person for the right role, as it was one of his passion projects.

Adam Sandler Was Skeptical of Emmanuelle Chriqui’s Casting

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan was released in 2008, and it needed a balance of humor and cultural sensitivity as it had a satirical take on Middle Eastern conflicts. Adam Sandler was also the writer and producer of the film, and while casting his actors, he was underconfident about his co-star Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Chriqui’s breakout role was in 100 Girls, but she became more popular with her role in Entourage. Although she had a successful audition for You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Sandler was not sure if she was the right actor for that.

He even started making calls to others to check up on her and clear his doubts. In an interview on Inside of You podcast, Chriqui revealed,

There was a little behind the scenes, like I’d heard later on that before they actually offered the part to me, Adam had sort of called around to be like ‘tell me about Chriqui, like we’re thinking about her for this, is this a good thing?’

Sandler was concerned because Chriqui had mostly played dramatic roles by then, and he was worried if she could adapt to his film’s over-the-top comedy. Chriqui’s character Dalia was that of a Palestinian who owned a salon in New York and had spent about 4-5 years in the city.  

In an interview with New York Daily News, the actress talked about her preparation for the role. Chriqui revealed that she spent time in a salon in New York and also hired a dialect coach to perfect her Palestinian accent. She even went in her character to Moroccan restaurants from time to time to test her preparation.

The movie was a huge success, as it grossed over $204 million worldwide (according to Box Office Mojo). Sandler ultimately found a worthy on-screen partner in Chriqui, and his initial doubts turned into admiration.

Emmanuelle Chriqui in Superman & Lois

Years after her successful role in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Chriqui again made her name among DC fans as Lana Lang-Cushing of Superman & Lois.

Chriqui’s character is not just Clark Kent’s old love interest in the show, she has her own complexities and family issues and also has to keep the weight of Superman’s identity a secret.

As the show is returning for its final season, it has been reported that many cast members were cut from the main regular cast. While speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, executive producer Brett Fletcher told TV Line,

They all came back, and we made sure to give everyone who had been a regular on the series a closing out to their character arcs.

This includes Chriqui’s Lana-Lang, who has been an important character in the show. However, since her character has been trimmed down from regular appearances, Chriqui will be seen probably in a supporting scene in the fourth season. The season will premiere on October 17, 2024.

According to The Wrap, President of Entertainment at CW, Brad Schwartz, said that Warner Bros. decided to end the show with the fourth season as it will be competing with the upcoming Superman film from DCU otherwise. Although it sounds like a bittersweet end, fans can hope characters like Chriqui’s Lana Lang can get a good farewell, among others.

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is available to stream on Netflix.

Superman & Lois is available to stream on Max.