In 2000, Jack Black thought a new movie would kill his music career: His agent called him “insane”

Jack Black was initially reluctant to take a role in the 2000 film *High Fidelity*, fearing that playing a rock critic would damage his ambitions as a musician. He eventually accepted after his agent challenged his decision and reminded him that the film was directed by Stephen Frears, whom Black admired.

At the time, Black’s band Tenacious D was building a following and had opened for Beck and Pearl Jam. He worried that portraying someone who criticised rock music might reflect badly on the band, even though it was only a character; his friendship with co-star John Cusack also helped bring the role to his attention.