Except for being a continuing supply of eye sweet for ladies, Larenz Tate is a seasoned actor whose roles vary from edge-of-the-seat thrillers, reminiscent of “Menace II Society,” to beloved romcoms, reminiscent of “Love Jones.”
Although Tate’s credit in romance movies are at present minuscule in comparison with different genres, he had an opportunity of changing into one of many main males of ‘90s rom-coms if he hadn’t turned down these basic movies.
The 47-year-old just lately performed a recreation of “Did You Know” in his newest interview with Cocoa Butter, the place he revealed sure characters in nostalgic rom-com motion pictures that he was imagined to play.
“Do you know Larenz Tate was imagined to be Harper from ‘The Greatest Man?’” the interviewer mentioned. With out hesitation, Tate responded, “True.”
He continued explaining, “I used to be doing one other undertaking and I handed on the undertaking.”
The function finally went to “How Stella Received Her Groove Again” actor Taye Diggs.
Tate then acknowledged that his determination to go on the function had an enduring impression on him, suggesting that it was a “dang” second.
“It’s an iconic, you understand, film and TV sequence,” he mentioned. “You understand, Taye Diggs did a incredible job.”
“The Greatest Man” tasks have change into a staple in Black Hollywood, and adopted the lives of Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Nia Lengthy, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Corridor, Terrance Howard, Harold Perrineau, Melissa De Sousa and Monica Calhoun.
Fourteen years after the primary movie’s launch in 1999, a sequel titled “The Greatest Man Vacation” adopted, and remodeled $72 million on the field workplace. This quantity surpassed the primary movie by over $30 million {dollars}.
Final December, the profitable actors reunited and determined to shut out the beloved installations with an eight-episode sequence referred to as “The Greatest Man: The Closing Chapters,” which could be streamed via Peacock.
As his interview continued, Tate additionally revealed turning down the function of Dre within the 2002 romcom, “Brown Sugar.”
“One other film man,” Tate mentioned, “and I actually preferred that film too.”
As soon as once more, Diggs managed to snag up the function of Dre the place he and Sanaa Lathan acted alongside one another as greatest associates turned lovers.
Although “Brown Sugar” solely managed to make $28.32 million on the field workplace, it’s nonetheless thought of a cult basic for the tradition. It’s a refreshing story of two greatest associates who’re on a journey of rediscovering their shared love for hip-hop. All through the story, each Lathan and Diggs’ characters find yourself realizing their true emotions for one another.
The beloved cinematic movie additionally starred Queen Latifah, rapper Mos Def, Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker.
After the interview hit Cocoa Butter’s TikTok web page, many followers credited destiny for main Diggs to the roles. Some customers even advised that they couldn’t image anybody apart from the 52-year-old actor to completely painting the characters.
“That half was mad for taye diggs.”
“He helped make Taye Diggs profession.”
“As a lot as I like me some Larenz, I couldn’t think about nobody else however Taye Diggs for these roles.”
“Can’t think about ‘MY DIVORCOOOORCE’ coming from anybody however Taye.”
Whereas Tate by no means specified the flicks that he turned the roles down for, his movie “A Man Aside,” starring Vin Diesel, dropped one 12 months after “Brown Sugar.” He additionally filmed an indie film with Deborah Cox titled “Love Come Down,” which was launched one 12 months after “The Greatest Man.”