Jonah Hill is returning to the big screen for the first time in three years with Outcome, his latest film production for Apple TV.
The actor, 42, has spent more time behind the camera over the past few years, working as an executive producer on shows like Overcompensating and The Mortician, plus the 2024 movie Y2K.
© Getty ImagesIn 2023, he began working on Outcome, in which he directs and co-writes as well, which was filmed in 2024. And on April 10, the film finally arrives on streaming, starring Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, Susan Lucci, and Jonah himself.
Playing a crisis lawyer to Keanu's Reef Hawk, a struggling Hollywood star, Jonah also underwent a physical transformation for the part, going bald, sporting thick graying facial hair, a deeper tan, and even fake teeth.
Wearing "lots of hats"
It certainly impressed his co-star Keanu, 61, who spoke with Craig Melvin on NBC's TODAY on April 6 about it, which Craig dubbed a "flat out unrecognizable" departure from his usual look.
Keanu responded: "He's doing some character work, he's playing my crisis lawyer Ira. He did the transformation, he did the teeth, he did the spray-on tan, he did the outrageous clothing. But he also did the wit, the intelligence."
"And Jonah's directing it, he was one of the writers, he's producing, he's got lots of hats. If someone can wear a lot of hats, it's Jonah Hill," the actor gushed.
© Getty ImagesPulling for Ira
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the film's premiere, Jonah explained of his transformation: "Whenever I'm playing a character, I just find a lot of references, a lot from [documentaries] and reality TV, and books, photography books."
Having co-written the movie with Ezra Woods, the star figured out where his character would go early on. "Ira's look came pretty quickly. Because I wrote it, I have the luxury of living with the character for a pretty long time before anyone else is even invited in."
Taking on the role
Jonah also revealed that he didn't originally intend to be in the film to begin with. "I was not going to play Ira actually." But it was on the persistence of Ellen Lewis, the film's casting director who regularly works with one of the movie's supporting characters, Martin Scorsese, that he finally decided to do it. "What are we doing here? You're doing it! Goodbye, it's done!" he recalled her saying.
"I'll let someone great tell me to do it, I won't assume I'm the best person for the job," he continued, and his transformation went far enough that even his own co-stars didn't recognize him.
© Getty Images"We didn't have any scenes with [Jonah]," Cameron added of herself and Matt, noting that she had no idea it was him when he approached her as the director and he was still in Ira costume, with Jonah even revealing that one of the sweaters he was in (apparently a Dolce & Gabbana orange number) had to be cut loose to let him out of.
