Ask anyone walking their dog down the street about their favorite Jim Carrey movie, and it's highly likely that Ace Ventura: Pet Detective will come up in the conversation. It's quite amusing to see Ace Ventura: Pet Detective become such a beloved film, considering its initial critical reception. However, that hasn't stopped the movie from being an uproarious detective satire. Despite the negative reviews, the film has spawned one of the strangest franchises ever made, with a gross sequel titled Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, a bizarre straight-to-video family film called Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective, and even an animated series named Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

Amazon even announced the development of Ace Ventura 3 in 2021.

It's clear that Ace Ventura has become a comedy icon, largely thanks to Jim Carrey's outrageously over-the-top performance. However, what if we told you that Carrey wasn't originally the first choice for such an iconic role? The original choice was none other than Rick Moranis, another legendary figure in the world of comedy. Moranis, known for his awkward and nerdy style of comedy, kicked off his career on the Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV. His breakthrough role as Louis Tully in Ghostbusters showcased his unique comedic talent.

Moranis went on to star in several iconic roles, including Seymour Krelborn in Little Shop of Horrors, Wayne Szalinski in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Dark Helmet in Spaceballs.

The exact reason for Moranis turning down the role of Ace Ventura remains unknown. It's possible that he was more selective about the projects he accepted due to his personal life and the passing of his wife in 1991. Moranis continued to act in live-action projects until 1997 when he decided to focus on raising his children.

Given the timing of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective's development, it's possible that these factors influenced Moranis' decision. Alternatively, he may not have connected with the screenplay or felt he wasn't a good fit for the role. One could even speculate that a schedule conflict with his starring role in The Flintstones live-action remake, released the same year, played a role in his decision.

Ultimately, Jim Carrey's career owes much of its success to his role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. It was one of his first leading roles, and after its release, Carrey experienced a string of hits, including The Mask and Dumb and Dumber. Both Carrey and Moranis made the right decisions for their lives and careers, leading them to achieve great success in their respective paths.