The Ben Stiller and Rolling Stones Comedy Movie That Almost Happened

Ben Stiller and Judd Apatow almost wrote a comedy film starring the Rolling Stones in the 1990s, but the project never got off the ground. The idea came about during the period when the Rolling Stones were preparing for the tour for the album "Voodoo Lounge", released in 1994. The concept was to make a concert film with a story happening between the songs, in a style close to mockumentary, reminiscent of the proposal of "This Is Spinal Tap". At the time, Ben Stiller and Judd Apatow were on the rise. The two had worked together on "The Ben Stiller Show", a sketch show aired on MTV, while Apatow advanced on television with "The Larry Sanders Show" and Stiller also began to stand out as a director, especially with "Reality Bites", from 1994. According to Apatow, he and Stiller even wrote a script for the Rolling Stones. The most intimidating moment was presenting the idea to all the band members, including Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. The script played with the group's own image, something delicate for a band known for fiercely protecting its brand and history. Even so, the idea was approved by the Stones. Apatow said that he and Stiller were able to watch the band rehearse for several hours, practically alone, just a few meters from the musicians. For him, the most memorable moment happened when Mick Jagger approached the two and asked if they were okay and if they wanted a glass of water. Apatow told Stiller right then and there that they should never forget it, because something like that would never happen again. Despite initial approval and the unusual potential of the proposal, the film was never made. The combination of the Rolling Stones, Ben Stiller and Judd Apatow could have generated one of the most curious musical comedies of the 1990s, but it ended up joining the list of great projects that were left only in the imagination. Still, the band's fans have other important film records, such as "Sympathy for the Devil", by Jean-Luc Godard, released in 1968, and "Shine a Light", a documentary directed by Martin Scorsese in 2008, filmed during the Stones' performances at the Beacon Theater in New York.