Plus, the Jackass star reveals his hilarious conversation with legend Mel Brooks.
InHistory of the World Part II,Johnny Knoxvillegoes fromJackasstoJackrasp.
The real Rasputin was famously very hard to kill and survived a number of different assassination attempts.
Johnny Knoxville on ‘History of the World Part II’.Aaron Epstein/Hulu
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you get involved inHistory of the World Part II?
Did you go to them or did they come to you?
JOHNNY KNOXVILLE:I read somewhere that this would be made andNick Krollwas involved.
So I texted Nick immediately and started to beg.
And I was just, “hey, Nick, hey keep me in mind.”
And Nick’s such a sweet man.
And luckily, he and the writers cooked up something for us.
There are tons and tons of roles on this show, given the format.
Did you have any say in which one you’d be tackling?
I don’t recall having any notes.
I was really happy with what they sent me.
SinceJackassis your thing, did you guys have specific input into the stunts aspect of it all?
Did it feel like you were shooting anotherJackass, in a way?
No, it didn’t feel likeJackassat all because there wasn’t an ambulance there.
Nor did I think we might could leave in an ambulance.
[Laughs] We knew that this was filmmaking, and there’s a difference.
We had a ball.
We had an absolute ball.
It’s great to get the guys together and do something else, you know.
I think they did a really wonderful job Preston Lacy, Chris Pontius, and Wee Man.
I mean, first of all, I got to do a scene withDanny DeVito.
Just a wonderful person.
I almost had a heart attack.
I got dizzy and I didn’t even know what to do.
I almost pulled my back out.
Did you get to meet Mel at the screening?
I did not, but I got to call him one night.
I mean, poor guy.
He barely got a word in edgewise.
But he’s so kind to get on the phone with me.
And I told him how much he meant to me.
He’s like, “Settle down.”
[Laughs]
Was talking to Mel a stipulation for you to do the show?
No, I made no stipulations.
But I did ask.
I’m like, “Can I just call him?”
And they’re like, sure.
It’s one of the biggest highlights of my career.
Like a man who I started out watching, who my father got me interested in comedy through.
And now I got to be on a phone call with him.
It’s like, I can just retire.
It worked last time.
So what historical event?
Oh, my goodness.
Well, there’s Fighting Jack Churchill from World War II who is a great historical figure.
I mean, write it down.
Send it to Nick.
Yeah, he’ll help me punch it up.
Yeah… it’s a dream come true, being in a Mel Brooks production.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
The first four episode ofHistory of the World Part IIare now streaming on Hulu.
Two new episodes will drop daily, with the finale on Thursday, March 9.
