Leslie Mann shares she should not have participated in the lion scene in George of the Jungle. The 1997 Disney movie stars Brendan Fraser as a man raised by animals in the jungle. George of the Jungle is a generally light-hearted film, mostly staying true to its cartoon source material. While it earned a nomination for Best Fantasy Film at the Saturn Awards, the movie was generally met with mixed reviews, maintaining a steady 56% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Mann, most notably known for her comedic roles in husband Judd Apatow’s films, began her acting career by starring in commercials. Mann soon made her way into feature films with an appearance in The Cable Guy and other projects, ultimately leading to her role as Ursula, the love interest opposite Fraser in George of the Jungle. Filming for George of the Jungle called for acting alongside exotic animals, including the famous lion duo of Bongo and Caesar.
On a recent episode of First We Feast’s Hot Ones on YouTube, Mann reveals she should not have participated in the lion scene in George of the Jungle. During the discussion, Mann recalled the scene when she stood face to face with the real-life lion, sharing she often wonders why the lion did not attack her. She also sheds light on advice she conveys to her daughters about trusting instincts when something doesn't appear safe. See Mann's remarks below:
They put me in with, I don't know which one it was—Bongo or Caesar. So I was in a little tiny space, he’s probably like where you are from me, and so I remember, I think about this a lot, you know, when you hear about animals attacking. I think—I don't know why he didn't attack me. There's really nothing you can do when they're that close, if he just jumps at me, I'm dead. And they didn't have anyone in-between us—just like a man, like where that sign is. What's he going to be able to do? And so, I went along with it. So I always tell my daughters, do not listen to anyone telling you, if you feel instinctually, that something isn't safe. Trust your instincts, walk away, and ask someone smart, or call me. Don't just listen to the movie people tell you it's safe. Don't just go along with it because you don't want to cause a problem—like I shouldn't have done that.
Mann isn't the first to be in close proximity to famous lions Bongo and Caesar. Bongo is featured in other films such as Rude, Animorphs, and the true-life drama Ghost and the Darkness—in which Caesar also starred. Unfortunately, Bongo was diagnosed with lung cancer a short time after George of the Jungle and was euthanized as a result. Bongo’s final on-camera role was in Discovery Channel's documentary series Working with Animals.
In a career where Mann has taken some risks and put herself out there in various ways, standing opposite a lion can appear to be no big deal. However, Mann does make a good point because supposed trained or domesticated wild animals have attacked before. In any case, hindsight is always 20/20 and fortunately, all worked out for the best. Mann has gone on to have a flourishing and successful career in Hollywood, with her experience with the lions in George of the Jungle a distant memory.
Source: First We Feast
