In Another World, Encino Man Starred Ben Stiller, Not Brendan Fraser
1992 was a breakout year for Brendan Fraser, who demonstrated his impressive range with star turns in the cult comedy hit "Encino Man" and the hard-hitting drama "School Ties." Fraser continued that trend of displaying serious dramatic abilities alongside his talent for playing what he once told GQ are "naif characters" and "fish out of water" types in '90s comedies like "George of the Jungle" and "Blast From the Past." Then there was the unfortunate "Dudley Do-Right" which signaled the end of that particular golden age.
With his resurgence in Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale," Fraser has reminded us all of his impressive dramatic talents. But for many, it was those outsider characters, stumbling wide-eyed through worlds they didn't fully understand, that defined the actor's appeal. And while "George Of The Jungle" was perhaps the biggest hit within that particular Fraser subgenre, affectionately termed his "himbo" movies, it all started with "Encino Man."
The film sees Fraser play Link, a caveman discovered in a block of ice by slacker L.A. teens Dave (Sean Astin) and Stoney (Pauly Shore). The pair are surprised when the ice thaws and their new Cro-Magnon friend comes to life. And this being one of the most '90s movies ever made, what choice do Dave and Stoney have but to give Link a makeover by way of a classic '90s montage and introduce him to their high school as an Estonian exchange student?
"Encino Man" might not be a classic in the traditional sense, but as a time capsule of 90s culture, it's enjoyed an enduring appeal among nostalgic fans of that decade's screwball genre. And while there's no doubt Fraser's easy charm plays a big part in that lasting appeal, it turns out that it could have easily been another actor in the role of Link.
Stiller was this close to playing Link
"Encino Man" proved a surprise hit for Disney, bringing in $40 million at the box office on a $7 million budget. But getting it made in the first place took some work. Writer/producer George Zaloom and director Les Mayfield initially approached their former agent, Dan Halsted, who had then stepped into a role as senior VP of production at Disney's Hollywood Pictures. According to Inverse's oral history of the making of "Encino Man," Halsted's initial response was that the movie's premise was "the stupidest thing [he'd] ever heard." Luckily, then-Disney Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg loved it and got the ball rolling, even helping Mayfield and Zaloom secure a "Terminator" reference that was given the OK by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself.
When it came to casting the all-important role of Link, Zaloom and Mayfield saw several actors, including Ben Stiller, who according to Zaloom even screen tested as the character. "He did a really good job. But at some point, we had seen Brendan [Fraser]. Brendan just nailed it," Zaloom explained.
The story gets a little muddled here. According to Mayfield, while Stiller was "absolutely fantastic," once the start dates for "Encino Man" were confirmed, "there was a conflict and he wasn't available." Meanwhile, Zaloom recalled how it was "hard to tell Ben that we didn't want him," adding that he "wish[ed] that didn't happen." Whether it was scheduling that forced Stiller to drop out, or the filmmakers had to tell him they didn't want him after seeing Fraser, it seems the "Meet The Parents" star was about as close as he could have gotten to securing the role.
What could have been
Brendan Fraser briefly recounted the tale of being cast as Link during an appearance on the Drew Barrymore Show, where he claimed that Linkovich Chomosky, aka the Encino Man, "was played in the director's reel to get a green light to make the movie by none other than Ben Stiller." Neither Les Mayfield nor George Zaloom recalled Stiller's screen test being used in the "director's reel" or being involved in getting a green light. But it's likely, especially considering Mayfield's comment to Inverse that Stiller "just kicked ass" in his test and "showed [them] where this character could go."
These days, Stiller is busy directing Apple TV's excellent "Severance" and basking in the glow of an acclaimed acting career, so I'm sure he's not too upset about losing out on "Encino Man." And Fraser was obviously a perfect fit for Link, bringing his new-guy-in-town naivety to the role and boosting the movie's appeal ten-fold. But it would be interesting to see that Stiller screen test, just to get a glimpse at what could have been.
As it stands, "Encino Man" remains a charming capsule of '90s culture and an even more charming example of Brendan Fraser's burgeoning talent. And despite a dismal 1996 made-for-TV sequel, imaginatively titled "Encino Woman," there has yet to be any continuation of Link's story, which is actually kind of nice in the sense that it leaves "Encino Man" firmly in its place as a '90s curiosity. Still, Pauly Shore evidently enjoyed himself so much he really wants to make a sequel ... but, then again, let's be real, Pauly Shore wants to make any movie he can get. In the meantime, we'll just have to enjoy the ongoing Brendan Fraser resurgence and the nostalgia for his "Encino Man"-style characters it brings.