How the Iconic Prop from Adam Sandler's Click Was Almost Branded by Sony
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
A new retrospective interview reveals how the iconic remote control from Adam Sandler's 2006 film Click was designed, including studio pressure from Sony to brand the fictional prop.
Twenty years after Adam Sandler stunned comedy fans by sliding a surprisingly emotional gut punch into the middle of a typical Happy Madison romp, the minds behind Click are pulling back the curtain on its most famous prop. In a recent retrospective interview with Polygon, director Frank Coraci and production designer Perry Andelin Blake detailed the creation of the universal remote that drove the film's reality-bending plot. While the original script by Bruce Almighty writers Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe laid out the high-concept mechanics of pausing and fast-forwarding through life, the physical design of the device was left entirely up to the art department.
To nail that tactile, otherworldly feel, Blake skipped traditional blueprints and grabbed a block of clay, molding it directly in his palm until it mirrored the natural grip of a handshake. Coraci immediately gravitated toward the ergonomic, alien silhouette because it looked completely distinct from everyday consumer electronics. That creative independence almost hit a wall when major studio sponsors stepped in with branding requests. According to Coraci, executives at Sony actually pushed for the production team to stamp their corporate name directly onto the prop, a piece of studio interference that thankfully never made it to the final cut.
Stories like this highlight the fascinating behind-the-scenes friction of Hollywood prop design, where even a fictional piece of tech has to fight for its own identity against corporate synergy. For a generation of viewers who grew up watching Sandler fast-forward through the mundane parts of existence, that ergonomic blue remote remains an unforgettable piece of early 2000s pop culture history. You can read the full retrospective over at Polygon to learn more about how the team balanced low-brow physical comedy with genuine existential dread.
Tags: Film, Pop Culture, Retrospective, Polygon, Entertainment
Original article: Polygon