Hollywood Flashback: When Mike White and Jack Black Rocked Out

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Two decades prior to the debut of “The White Lotus”, its creator Mike White resonated with audiences through the film “School of Rock”. In this comedy directed by Richard Linklater, Mike White both wrote the script and starred as a character. The story follows Dewey Finn, a directionless musician who, after taking up a substitute teaching role at an elite elementary school, manages to persuade the students to form a band.

White cast Black, his former neighbor and the lead singer of Tenacious D, following inspiration from a 1976 album made by a Canadian teacher’s students’ cover songs. White stated that he wouldn’t have conceived this idea without living near Black. Initially, producer Scott Rudin sent the script to Linklater who found it predictable and declined. However, Linklater received a call from his agent saying that Rudin wasn’t accepting his rejection. Eventually, Linklater collaborated with White to make the movie more realistic, with adjustments like Dewey soundproofing the classroom. For the student roles, Linklater focused on musically gifted performers who had little acting experience, such as future star of iCarly, Miranda Cosgrove.

The movie titled “School of Rock” first appeared on screens in Toronto back in 2003, and was officially distributed by Paramount on October 3rd. This unexpected success earned a staggering $131 million globally (equivalent to approximately $227 million today). It led to a Broadway musical adaptation, a Nickelodeon series, as well as School of Rock music programs for upcoming performers. Remarkably, the film’s youthful cast has maintained their bond, with two of them even getting married this year! They have a group chat named “Schnayblay,” which is derived from the character Ned Schneebly played by Jack Black in the movie. According to Rivkah Reyes, the movie’s bassist, they are frequently discussing the latest series, “White Lotus,” within their group chat.

The article you’re reading was published in the April 2nd edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. If you’d like to receive future issues, consider subscribing by clicking here.

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2025-04-06 20:24