Josh Gad Says Jake Gyllenhaal Didn’t Approve of ‘The Book of Mormon’

Jos Gad claimed Jake Gyllenhaal was far from enthusiastic about having a role in The Book of Mormon.

According to his memoir, “In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some,” released on Tuesday, January 14, Gad, 43, claimed his Love and other drugs Costar warned him about a role in the production of a musical comedy.

Gad wrote, “As he bounced back and forth making episodes The Daily ShowI was also filming a movie called Love and other drugs … One day, as Jake and I were driving home from the set in Pittsburgh, I asked him if I could play a demo of a new musical I had recently workshopped in New York, hoping to get his advice on Whether or not I should pursue it further. He said, ‘Yeah, put it on,’ and I played the opening song.”

Love and other drugsstarring Gyllenhaal, 44, and Anne Hathaway in leading roles, principal photography began in Pittsburgh in September 2009. Gad played a supporting role in the story, in which pharmaceutical salesman Jamie began a relationship with Maggie, a woman suffering from early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Gad said in his book that Gyllenhaal “laughed his ass off” while listening to “Hello!”, the opening number of the critically acclaimed stage production, before Gyllenhaal’s thoughts developed.

“I went to another song on the album and his face slowly changed from joyful enthusiasm to abject fear and terror,” Gad wrote. “He stopped the car and said, ‘Dude, you can’t do whatever this is. This will be far too controversial. Who actually wrote this?’ I paused the music and looked at him. ‘The South Park guys.'”

Despite Gyllenhaal’s alleged concerns, Gad played Elder Cunningham for fifteen months The Book of Mormon on Broadway, created by South Park‘S Trey Parker And Matte Stone. Gad’s performance earned him a 2011 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

Gad told it We weekly upon the publication of his memoir, navigating the obstacles in his career path ultimately became “the theme of the book.”

“How do you overcome obstacles, despite adversity, to achieve bigger dreams than you could have imagined for yourself? That has been the story of my life,” Gad said Us.

The actor also wrote about having a father who was absent for more of his life, explaining how that affected his own fatherhood experience. (Gad shares two daughters, Ava, 13, and Isabella, 10, with wife Ida Darvish.)

“I really enjoyed writing [the book]and I hope everyone who reads it takes away something that is helpful and inspires them,” he told us. “I at least hope they get a good laugh.”