Debuting in theaters this past December, Uncut Gems made an immediate splash at the box office and among audiences. The film marks Adam Sandler’s first theatrical release since 2015’s Pixels. It is a thrilling, hyperintense roller-coaster ride that leaves the viewer reeling once the end credits roll.

Directed by brothers Josh and Benny Safdie, the film, which stars Sandler as a charismatic, scheming, gambling addict jeweler who is just barely keeping his business and family together, has also proven to be quite the polarizing film. Most viewers seem to either love the movie or outright despise it, which is certainly reflected by its Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 51%. Whether you love it or hate it, Uncut Gems is definitely worth discussing. As such, here are 10 Behind-The-Scene Facts About Uncut Gems.

Adam Sandler Initially Turned Down The Role

It’s hard to believe now due to all the Oscar buzz he’s received for the film, but Adam Sandler originally had no interest in the part of Manhattan Diamond District jeweler Howard Ratner. Being big fans of Sandler, the Safdie brothers went to Sandler around 2011 to take on the role, to no success. They then offered the part to Sacha Baron Cohen and Harvey Keitel.

Following their directorial turns in Heaven Knows What and Good Time, the pair then cast Jonah Hill in the part before ultimately going back to a more age-appropriate Sandler, who finally agreed to do the movie.

The Film Took 10 Years To Get Made

Following their directorial debut on the 2009 film Daddy Longlegs, the Safdies wrote the initial draft for Uncut Gems. Unable to secure financing for the film, the pair turned their attention to directing a trio of films: the documentary Lenny Cooke, Heaven Knows What, and Good Time.

The brothers claim they used the experience they gained on those films as preparation for their passion project. Due in part to the critical success of Good Time, acclaimed director Martin Scorsese came aboard as an executive producer and financing were secured. After two additional years of development, shooting finally began on the project in September of 2009, concluding a few months later in November.

Inspired By The Safdie’s Father

Directors Josh and Benny Safdie have made no secret of the fact that they and their father are huge basketball fans, in particular fans of the New York Knicks. But they also drew much of their inspiration for their screenplay (co-written with Ronald Bronstein) from their father’s time working in the Manhattan Diamond District.

Similar to Sandler’s Howard Ratner character, Alberto Safdie was a single father (divorced from the brothers’ mother Amy) living in Queens. He worked for a jeweler (also named Howard) as a jewel runner, encountering many colorful individuals and locales along the way. The Safdies were determined to bring his experiences in the Manhattan Diamond District to the big screen.

Sandler Did Extensive Research For The Role

Adam Sandler is best known for his goofball, over-the-top roles in films such as Billy Madison and The Wedding Singer. But the classically trained actor has also taken on a number of serious, dramatic roles over the course of his 33-year career in movies such as Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me.

For his critically acclaimed turn as Howard Ratner, Sandler trailed a real-life jeweler and spent time with gamblers and bookies to prepare for the part. Obviously, being a very well-known star, it wasn’t always easy for Sandler to focus on his research, as he would often be approached in sportsbooks while trying to get into character.

Kevin Garnett Was Not Originally Cast

One of the key figures in Uncut Gems is that of the star NBA player who becomes fascinated with Howard’s just-arrived opal. Former NBA superstar Kevin Garnett, a member of the Boston Celtics at the time the film takes place in 2012, ultimately landed the role, but he was not the Safdies’ first choice for the part.

Current Philadelphia 76ers All-Star power forward/center Joel Embiid was originally cast in the role of the gem-obsessed NBA star. However, when production on the film had to be pushed from summer 2018 to fall 2018, Embiid had to withdraw from the film due to the start of the actual NBA regular season. KG was then tabbed to replace the Cameroonian star player.

John Amos Finally Appeared In A Sandler Film…23 Years Later

It may be a very brief cameo, but Good Times and Coming to America star John Amos did something he was originally slated to do 23 years earlier. In Uncut Gems, Amos plays himself, a neighbor to Sandler’s recently separated Howard Ratner who refuses to let Ratner’s son use the bathroom in his apartment.

However, according to a recent episode of The Rewatchables podcast, the Safdies claimed that Amos nearly co-starred in Sandler’s 1996 hit Happy Gilmore in the role of Happy’s golf mentor Chubbs. Sandler told the duo that he and his Happy Gilmore co-writer Tim Herlihy wanted Amos to play the part of his mentor, but the studio insisted on Rocky and Predator star Carl Weathers. As we all know, the studio won that battle.

The Safdies Were Big Fans Of Adam Sandler

As mentioned earlier, Josh and Benny Safdie were huge fans of Sandler growing up. The duo initially loved Sandler’s early comedy albums and then eventually his films, particularly Happy Gilmore.

To keep things loose on the tense set, the Safdies claim that they would constantly quote Sandler’s films and would grill the star on tidbits about them. Sandler and the Safdies, all three of whom are huge basketball fans in real life, and the crew also let off steam and kept everyone energized by playing pick-up games of hoops on set.

Howard’s House Was Freddie Mercury’s House in Bohemian Rhapsody

One of the breakout films of 2018 was the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. The film, which would go on to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, focused on the charismatic lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, and his struggles and triumphs as he and Queen rose to superstardom in the music industry.

Viewers of both Rhapsody and Gems may recognize Howard Ratner’s unique, angular family home, as it is the same one used for Mercury’s house in Bohemian Rhapsody. It is perhaps best remembered for the rainy scene in which Mercury learns his former fiance Mary is pregnant and then ends his relationship with his manipulative boyfriend/manager Paul.

Adam Sandler’s Howard Ratner is a pretty unlikable character, using people and acting dishonestly in order to make his next score. One of the people he hurts along the way is his longtime jeweler assistant Yussi. Finally having enough of Howard’s eccentric and chaotic business practices, Yussi quits and strikes off on his own.

The character of Yussi is actually played by a real jeweler the Safdies came across during their Diamond District research, Maksud Agadjani. Like his Uncut Gems character, Agadjani creates jewel-encrusted pendants and chains (remember the blinged-out Furby’s in the film?) for high-end clients. In 2018, one of those clients, rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, was allegedly lent a pricey bracelet by Agadjani which was never returned. Real-life imitating art.

It Set A New Record For Sandler Movies

It’s been making the rounds in the news, but it bears repeating: Uncut Gems has the 7th-most F-bombs in film history. At 408 instances, it clocks in just behind other F-word masterpieces such as The Wolf of Wall Street and Casino. No stranger to expletives himself, Gems also marks a milestone for The Sandman, as it has easily become his highest F-word-filled film.

If you’ve seen the movie, this should really come as no surprise. To paraphrase Ralphie from A Christmas Story, Sandler works in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay.