Trivia / You Don't Mess with the Zohan

• Actor-Shared Background: Much like Zohan, Adam Sandler is Jewish.
• Dyeing for Your Art: While much of Zohan's physical prowess was the result of stuntmen and serious suspension of disbelief, Adam Sandler got into the best shape of his life (with a full-on six pack and Heroic Build) to play the Israeli Super-Soldier.
• Fake Nationality:
  • Most of the Palestinian characters in the movie, who are portrayed mainly by Jewish actors.
    • Italian John Turturro as the Palestinian Phantom.
    • Canadian Jew of Moroccan descent Emmanuelle Chriqui as Dalia.
    • Half-Jewish, half-Filipino Rob Schneider as Salim.
    • The only actor on cast who is actually from the region is Israeli Ido Mosseri, who plays Oori.
  • Adam Sandler as Zohan Davir. Although he is Jewish, Sandler is American and not Israeli.
• No Stunt Double: Adam Sandler did a lot of the butterfly swimming stunt^note He was hanging off of wires suspended on a truss extending from a boat and was lifted in and out of the water repeatedly while the boat traveled at high speeds himself, as evidenced by the closeups.
• Saved from Development Hell: The movie was planned as early as 2000, but after 9/11, the filmmakers felt it in poor taste to do a comedy with middle eastern characters.

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