Whoopi Goldberg jumped at Tony Goldwyn’s movie offer: ‘That’s just Whoopi’

Whoopi Goldberg didn’t hesitate to join the cast of the 2023 comedy-drama Ezra, directed by her friend Tony Goldwyn. The decision came effortlessly for Goldberg, who committed to the project based purely on Goldwyn’s involvement, without even reviewing the script. This leap of faith highlights the strong professional trust and personal friendship between the two.

In a recent interview with People Magazine, Goldwyn, who directed and co-starred in the film, shared details about how easy it was to bring Goldberg on board. “I emailed her. I said, ‘I’m doing this project with Bobby and Bob De Niro and we had this part and I don’t know if you’re available,’” Goldwyn explained. This casual yet enticing offer was enough to secure Goldberg’s enthusiastic participation.

Recalling his conversation with scriptwriter Tony Spiridakis, Goldwyn shared, “When we talked about Whoopi, I said, ‘Well, if we can get Whoopi. Let me write her and see if she’s even around,’ because she would be a complete home run to have – one of the goddesses of American comedy.”

“So I just emailed Whoopi, who I’m very friendly with and I’ve had a long history with,” Goldwyn said, with his “long history” comment referring to the time they first shared the screen together in 1990’s Ghost. He continued, “I emailed her. I said, ‘I’m doing this project with Bobby and Bob De Niro and we had this part and I don’t know if you’re available.”

Goldwyn recalled, “She just wrote back, going, ‘I’m in.’ I said, ‘Do you want to read the script?’ She said, ‘No, I’m in.’ I sent her the script, of course, but she said yes before. She just says, ‘That sounds so fun.’ And that’s Whoopi.”

Goldberg, referred to by Goldwyn as a “comedic goddess,” was cast in the supporting role of Jayne, a comedy manager, which seems tailor-made for her unique blend of humor and dramatic talent. The presence of renowned actors such as Bobby and Bob De Niro in the film further underscored the project’s appeal for Goldberg, who was ready to commit based on the strength of the cast and the trust in Goldwyn’s vision alone.

This instance of Goldberg’s immediate agreement to join the film Ezra without requesting a script is a testament to her confidence in Goldwyn’s directorial capabilities and her willingness to engage in projects supported by her close connections in the industry.