Danny DeVito Eyes Bollywood: A Dream Yet to Come True
Danny DeVito, famed for his role in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, shares his enthusiasm for starring in a Bollywood film, though he admits he has no concrete plans to make it happen just yet.
It’s hard to picture the bloke who once shared the screen with Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as the same fella who’s been running riot for nearly two decades on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Yet, Danny DeVito has managed to do just that, and at 81, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. The FX comedy, now the longest-running live-action sitcom in the States, hasn’t lost its edge. The latest season even delivered a cracker of an episode, ‘Frank in a Coma’, proving DeVito’s still got the sharp wit and offbeat humour that’s made him a fan favourite since day one.
Even after all these years, new punters are discovering the show, which first hit screens 21 years ago. DeVito’s arrival in the cast took the series from a clever spin on the Seinfeld formula to a much darker, funnier, and more chaotic beast. He’s thrown himself into the role of Frank Reynolds, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for a sitcom character. Whether it’s crawling out of a couch starkers, kidnapping a boatload of tourists, or falling for a rum-soaked ham, DeVito’s commitment to the bit is legendary.
Unfinished Business: A Bollywood Ambition
With a career spanning five decades as an actor, director, and writer, you’d reckon DeVito’s ticked off just about everything in showbiz. But when asked if there’s anything left on his bucket list, he didn’t hesitate.
You know what I want to do?… I want to do a Bollywood movie. (Starts dancing) Oh baby, now we’re talking!
Anyone who remembers his guest spot as a down-on-his-luck stripper in Friends can probably imagine how he’d fit right in. Still, despite his enthusiasm, there’s no word on any actual plans to head to India for a film just yet.
On Set and On the Go
While the Bollywood dream remains just that for now, DeVito’s not exactly short on work. He’s currently filming the third Jumanji instalment, joining Jack Black and Dwayne Johnson for what’s set to be the final chapter in the rebooted franchise. The first two films, released in 2017 and 2019, raked in nearly $2 billion at the box office, so wrapping up the trilogy was always on the cards, even if the reviews were a bit of a mixed bag.
Back on the small screen, DeVito’s gearing up for season 18 of It’s Always Sunny, which kicks off filming this month. It’s the last season under the current contract, and some of the cast have hinted it could be the end of the road. DeVito, though, is happy to see where things go.
It’s something that you look forward to because it really is so much fun…And they know anything they want to do to Frank, they can.