Nathan Lane floats Jack Black for a PRODUCERS revival... bonkers or brilliant?

Nathan Lane went on the record with Deadline saying the ONLY person he can imagine playing Max Bialystock in a new revival is Jack Black:
https://deadline.com/2026/05/nathan-lane-wants-jack-black-producers-broadway-revival-1236907231/

My first reaction was "huh?" but the more I sit with it, the more I see it. Black has the showman muscle, the comic timing, and the singing chops (SCHOOL OF ROCK was not nothing). And in a post-Mel Brooks landscape, you do need a Max who can play big and broad without winking.

The harder question: who plays Leo? You can't cast Max without nailing Bloom. Andrew Rannells? Gideon Glick? Somebody weirder? And does THE PRODUCERS even land in 2026 the way it did in 2001? A few of the gags would need an honest pass.

I like the idea of Jack Black in the role a lot. Although there are similarities between Lane, Brooks, Black and even Mostel's humor, Black has an energy in his delivery that is uniquely his (as is also true of Lane).

I can see how Black could brand Bialystock to himself in a similar way that Lane did.

As for Bloom, I know Ben Marshall from SNL can sing, but I think he's more of a baritone than tenor. I like the contrast in height and looks between Marshall and Black.

The Producers is packing them in right now in London. Having seen it twice, I think it still shows quite well in this day and age.

Or they are just not that impressed. This video you posted is fine. But I'm not blown away by it.

His singing and dancing would be fine.

I question the quality of his acting mostly,