Vince Vaughn Jokes He “Didn’t Get Along” With Primate Co-Star in ‘Bad Monkey’: “I’ll Never Work With That One Again”

Vince Vaughn Jokes He “Didn’t Get Along” With Primate Co-Star in ‘Bad Monkey’: “I’ll Never Work With That One Again”

As a long-time fan of Vince Vaughn‘s work, it was a delight to see him team up with Bill Lawrence after 25 years of friendship for their new Apple TV+ series “Bad Monkey.” The show, based on Carl Hiaasen’s book, promises an intriguing blend of comedy and mystery set in the Florida Keys.


In Vince Vaughn’s latest Apple TV+ series titled Bad Monkey, the term could equally describe his simian co-star, as suggested by the actor himself.

Crystal, the monkey with over thirty film credits such as ‘The Hangover Part II’ and ‘Night at the Museum’, stars as the main character in a series inspired by Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel of the same name. The story revolves around Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a former Miami detective who has been relegated to the role of restaurant inspector in the Florida Keys. If he can navigate through a peculiar group of individuals and one particularly challenging monkey, an unusual case might just help him regain his position within the department.

Despite Vaughn acknowledging Crystal’s exceptional skills, he playfully remarked to The Hollywood Reporter during the show’s Los Angeles premiere on Monday, “I won’t collaborate with her again. She hogs all the attention on set, it’s as if she says, ‘I got this.’ Alongside handlers and a large entourage, she becomes inaccessible.”

The star went on to say, “You’re often advised about her: ‘Stay away from her back.’ There were many rules on the set that made things awkward. I prefer to be truthful with everyone out there instead of pretending we had a good relationship – we didn’t.”

Bill Lawrence, the showrunner, had a slightly alternate take on the story, playfully commenting, “It seemed to us that Crystal the Monkey had more experience than any actor, writer, or actress on our set. She was incredibly professional; it might appear she was miscast since she’s actually a very capable monkey.”

As someone who has always been captivated by the world of entertainment, I find it truly remarkable when long-standing friendships culminate in creative collaborations. Having had the privilege of witnessing such a union between Vaughn and Lawrence, two individuals whose careers have spanned over two decades, is an exciting prospect for me as a fan and observer. Their friendship, which has endured for 25 years, is a testament to their shared passion and dedication to their craft. The presence of talented actors like Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Meredith Hagner, Rob Delaney, Natalie Martinez, and Zach Braff only adds to the anticipation surrounding this series. I eagerly await its release and am curious to see how their collective creativity unfolds on screen.

In simpler terms, Lawrence, known for his work on shows like “Scrubs”, “Ted Lasso”, and “Shrinking”, stated that he was confident Vaughn was the perfect fit for the role because in the book, Hiaasen characterizes Yancy as a large and potentially intimidating figure who sometimes performs questionable actions, has a lot of sharp banter with others, and can be edgy. This is challenging to pull off convincingly without making the character someone that viewers don’t support or cheer for.

He went on to say, “I instantly knew it was the correct choice when we arrived in Miami and were preparing to work. Everyone greets Vince as if he’s an old friend, and he responds with the same humility. Instead of saying ‘I’m a big fan,’ they casually say, ‘Vince, you’re rolling in dough!'” (or “You’re so rich!”)

Vaughn, recognized for his improvisational humor, mentioned that during the show, he aimed to “somewhat adapt lines.” He explained that while he’s usually good with what he’s given, these moments aren’t scripted in advance; instead, when a spontaneous opportunity arises, he seizes it. Lawrence commented on Vaughn’s style by saying, “He’s a trustworthy individual. He adheres strictly to the script during his initial take because he knew I valued the original work, and then he experiments and helps set others up.”

Bad Monkey starts streaming on Apple TV+ on Wednesday.

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2024-08-13 22:02