At a recent roundtable for writers hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, Everything Everywhere Everything at once director Daniel Kwan shared a story about a strange movie idea. Kwan shared with the group (which included Jordan Peele, Rian Johnson, Tony Kushner, Chinonye Chukwu and Martin McDonagh) that Jim Carey had once approached him and creative partner Daniel Scheinert with an idea for a found footage horror film revolving around the filming of Stupid and dumb.
Kwan recalled:
“Very early in our career, Jim Carrey reached out. He had just seen it Paranormal activity and was like, ‘Guys, it’s found footage and it’s horror — did you see it?’ And we were like, ‘Uh-huh, we heard about it. Where is this going?’ And he was like, ‘I haven’t seen anyone do that yet — but with comedy. And I have a great idea.’ In short, the set of Stupid and dumb was famously a haunted set – it was in the same hotel that The shining was inspired by — and he said, ‘All the time we were shooting, things were breaking, people were getting hurt, doors were swinging, and it felt spooky. We’re going to shoot Stupid and dumb, and I want you guys to make a found footage horror comedy on set. While we’re filming, you’re going to make a feature-length behind-the-scenes movie that slowly turns into a horror movie.'”
Carrey starred in all three of the Farrelly Brothers’ films Stupid and dumb franchise as Lloyd Christmas. In the first episode, the Stanley hotel, located in Colorado, was used as a location for scenes in the film’s Danbury Hotel. The hotel is known for its mysterious allure that inspired Stephen King to write The shining.
Kwan went on to say that he and Scheinert wanted to take Carrey’s idea further:
“We’re like, ‘OK, we’re in. This is great.’ We wrote a whole sketch and were really excited. Then we sat down with the producer, we pitched the idea, and they said, ‘We’re really not going to make this. I’m sorry, Jim got really excited, but there’s no way the studio lets us make a movie while they’re filming Stupid and dumb.’ And we were like, ‘OK…'”
Kwan and Scheinert have worked together on multiple projects, including the movies Swiss Army and Everything Everywhere Everything at onceand television series, including Children’s Hospital and Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.
Jim Carey: Stupid and dumb and further
Stupid and stupidstarring Carrey and Jeff Daniels, premiered in 2014 and followed the 1994 original film and its 2003 sequel. Carrey, Daniels, and the rest of the cast did not return to the Stanley Hotel to watch any part of the third installment of the franchise.
Carrey first gained recognition for his comedic performances on In living color early nineties. He starred in three comedies in 1994: Ace Ventura: Animal Detective, The mask, and Stupid and dumbwhich made him famous. Carrey continued to be a prominent figure in the comedy genre, with films such as Liar Liar, me, myself & Irene, Bruce Almighty, Yes humanand Kick Ass 2, among other things.
Carrey wowed audiences with his work on dramatic films, earning Golden Globe Awards for his work on the 1998 film. The Truman Show and that of 1999 Man on the moon. In 2004 he starred in Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, opposite Kate Winslet. His portrayal of Joel Barish in the romantic drama earned him another Golden Globe Award.
Carrey last appeared on Sonic the Hedgehog2 this year again the role of Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik from the original movie. In April, Carrey said he was taking a break from acting and would only return if he got a script for something that would be important for people to see.