Josh Gad recently called ‘Mardi Gras: Spring Break’ the worst movie he has ever made.
In his new memoir ‘In Gad We Trust,’ the actor shared the story behind the spring break comedy and why it became a low point in his career.
As per Entertainment Weekly, Gad said making the movie as a ‘waking nightmare.’ According to him, it was because the studio constantly interfered with the creative process. “I had the time of my life shooting in New Orleans with folks like the magnificent Regina Hall and our ferociously funny writer (and now lifelong friend) Josh Heald. But the experience of making the film was a waking nightmare, with nonstop studio interference where we would literally have scenes written by the studio head sent for us to do the next day.”
Scripts were changed last minute, and scenes written by the studio head arrived on set the day before filming. As Gad puts it, “nothing made sense and, worse, it was all big, broad, unmeaningful comedy in which none of the creative team had any say.” The actor still enjoyed working with the cast and writer Josh Heald, though. “I had the time of my life shooting in New Orleans with folks like the magnificent Regina Hall and our ferociously funny writer (and now lifelong friend) Josh Heald.”
‘Mardi Gras: Spring Break’ follows three college friends—Mike, Scottie, and Bump—as they head to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Gad played Bump, a loud and carefree character who just wanted to party. Things get complicated when Mike’s girlfriend Erica unexpectedly joins the trip and forces the group to tone down their wild plans.
The film was part of a two-picture deal Gad had with Sony. He was hopeful for another win after the success of ‘Love & Other Drugs.’ Instead, he began to worry about his career. “What was worse, however, is that I began to grow really concerned that I was going down a path of playing the loud fat best friend in every project I was doing,” he wrote in his memoir. “While it was certainly starting to pay me more money than I had ever seen before, I was worried that I was getting into a situation of being typecast.”
‘Mardi Gras: Spring Break’ was not a success, but it did lead to an unexpected opportunity. Casting director Allison Jones reached out to Gad shortly after the film, for a role on ‘The Daily Show.’ Jones auditioned him years earlier for ‘The Office’ and thought he was a great fit for the comedy series. This opportunity helped Gad move past his concerns about typecasting.
‘Mardi Gras: Spring Break’ isn’t widely remembered today, but for Gad, it seems it remains a film he’ll never forget—for all the wrong reasons.
Gadd’s memoir ‘In Gad We Trust‘ was released on January 14, 2025.
