Stiller Helps Hart Cast Knicks Version of 'Madagascar'

Hart casts Brunson as Alex while Hillman suggests center Mitchell Robinson for the role of Melman, the nervous giraffe voiced by David Schwimmer. Once Stiller reminds Hart of Gloria, the hippopotamus voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith, the latter immediately enlists Julius Randle for the role, citing his "physique." 

Hart himself leans toward the film's penguin characters that serve as caricatures of spy and heist film protagonists. He originally chooses the leader of the penguins, Skipper (Tom McGrath) but later turns to the youngest member Private (Christopher Knights), even offering a brief imitation of the character. Donte DiVincenzo gets the role of Skipper instead.

In casting King Julien, a comedic lemur monarch voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen, Hart makes the comedy master Stiller laugh by suggesting Thibodeau. Notably absent from the discussion is supporting protagonist Marty, the wise-cracking zebra with the voice of another famous Knicks fan, Chris Rock. 

Born and raised on the Upper West Side, Stiller can often be found among the courtside visitors at Madison Square Garden. While there are currently no plans for a fourth "Madagascar" film, Stiller is set to star in the upcoming comedy-drama "Nutcrackers," which he'll also produce under his Red Hour Productions banner. It'll be Stiller's first leading role since "Brad's Status" and "The Meyerowitz Stories," both released in 2017.

If Stiller is looking to see Brunson and Hart in action, he better act fast: the Knicks have a speedy doubleheader against the Philadelphia 76ers that tips off on Sunday night at MSG (7 p.m. ET, MSG/ESPN) before a West Coast swing induced by the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament.