Luke Wilson recalls 'Old School' being compared to 'Fight Club'

Luke Wilson has revealed that the cult comedy Old School was originally pitched to him as a funnier take on the 1999 hit Fight Club, a comparison that stayed with him throughout filming.

Speaking on the Out of Order podcast, the 54-year-old actor recalled director Todd Phillips describing the 2003 comedy as a lighthearted spin on David Fincher's psychological drama. 

Wilson said he kept that idea in mind while bringing his character, Mitch Martin, to life.

"I always kind of kept that in mind," Wilson said, adding that he even noticed similarities between his character's wardrobe and the muted clothing worn by Edward Norton's character in Fight Club.

"I remember Todd Phillips saying that back then, and I always thought it was a funny concept. I just thought there were a few similarities between the two films," he explained.

In Old School, Wilson played Mitch, a heartbroken lawyer whose personal life falls apart before he unexpectedly becomes the leader of a college fraternity created by three friends hoping to relive their university days.

The comedy also starred Will Ferrell as the unforgettable Frank "The Tank" and Vince Vaughn as Bernard Campbell, the friend who encourages Mitch to launch the fraternity despite their adult responsibilities.

Released in 2003, Old School became a fan favourite and remains one of the defining comedy films of the early 2000s.

While the film leaned heavily into outrageous humour, Wilson's latest comments suggest its original concept borrowed inspiration from the darker themes of Fight Club, which starred Edward Norton and Brad Pitt and followed an underground fight club that spirals dangerously out of control.