Nick Jonas’ cameo in You’re Cordially Invited turned out to be one of the most memorable moments in the film. Reflecting on how this casting choice came to be, writer and director Nicholas Stoller shared the behind-the-scenes story of how Jonas ended up in the movie.
In an interview with Collider, Stoller was asked about the inspiration behind having one of the Jonas Brothers perform a Creed song in the film. For those who haven’t seen it, Jonas sings With Arms Wide Open in the movie, and his performance adds a unique touch to the scene.
Stoller explained that from the start, he envisioned a “sexy pastor” character, believing it would be a hilarious contrast to the movie’s themes. He wanted two pastors to represent the ongoing struggle between Reese Witherspoon’s character and her mother. Initially, he considered simply casting an attractive actor for the role. However, producer Jessica Elbaum and actor Will Ferrell—who had a personal connection with Jonas—suggested the singer for the part.
“When they pitched Nick Jonas, I thought, ‘If we can actually get him, that would be amazing,’” Stoller recalled. To his surprise, Jonas quickly agreed to the role despite his packed schedule and spent a couple of days on set.
The director couldn’t stop praising Jonas, calling him “hilarious” and completely on board with everything. One moment that stood out to Stoller was when he nervously approached the singer with an unusual request. “I was kind of nervous,” he admitted. “I asked, ‘Would you be okay if we dumped water on you like you just walked out of the lake?’ And he was like, ‘Oh yeah, sure. Whatever you need.’” Stoller was impressed by Jonas’ easygoing attitude and willingness to dive into the role.
You’re Cordially Invited features an all-star cast, including Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell, Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, Jimmy Tatro, and Celia Weston. The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.