Ice Cube Regrets Turning Down The Role Of O-Dog In “Menace II Society”

In a June 22 interview with On The Guest List Podcast, Ice Cube revealed that he was offered a role in the 1993 movie Menace II Society and wished he had taken it.

He was offered the role of O-Dog (portrayed by actor Larenz Tate), but he didn’t take it because he didn’t want to be typecast as an L.A. gangbanger for the rest of his acting career.

He expressed in an interview that having a diverse portfolio was essential to him. The legendary rapper, O’Shea Jackson, Sr, passed up on being in the now iconic role in the film Menace II Society. The interviewers pointed out how many iconic films Ice Cube starred in and asked if there were any roles he regretted passing up. 

“I would say Menace II Society,” Cube said, “I had a shot to do O-Dog, even though I think Larenz Tate killed it. I just didn’t wanna be typecast. You know what I mean? I was like, ‘I just did

Boyz N The Hood, and they just gonna have me be the L.A. gangbanger, you know what I mean every damn movie,’” Cube played Doughboy in Boyz N The Hood – a hotheaded gangbanger – and he felt like O-Dog was a similar type of role. “And [Menace] was like the second movie I got offered, so I was like, ‘Nah, I don’t wanna play that.’ That was one movie that when I saw it, I was like, ‘Ooo, that role is cold.’”

If given a chance, he would’ve taken it. 

Cube made his debut on the big screen in John Singleton’s Boyz N The Hood in the early 90s. He continued a successful acting career despite missing out on the opportunity to be in Menace. He’s since been featured in many movies like the Friday series, 21 Jump Street, Ride Along, and Are We There Yet?