Tom Cruise brokered the role for Adam Sandler

The 2002 film "Punch-Drunk Love," now considered one of the most unusual and highly praised works in Adam Sandler's career, also marked his first encounter with the auteur world of director Paul Thomas Anderson. Although audiences were surprised by Sandler's more serious, subtle acting, the story of how this collaboration came about in the first place is even more interesting, and Tom Cruise played a key role in it.

Speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, during a conversation with film critic Leonard Maltin, Sandler recalled the moment he first heard of Anderson, while he was filming the film "Little Nicky."

"I don't remember 100 percent, but I was filming Little Nicky… I was on set. I got a phone call from Tom Cruise, who I knew superficially. He told me his friend had a role for me," Sandler recalled.

Then Anderson picked up the phone and told Sandler that he had a film for him.

"Paul called and said, 'Hi, I just wanted to tell you that I really like your movies.' I said, 'Man, that's great, thanks.' And then he added, 'And I wrote a movie for you. I think it's really good. Would you mind if I brought the script over for you to read?'" said Sandler, who agreed without hesitation.

Not long after, Sandler watched Anderson's 1999 film "Magnolia," which further solidified his decision.

"I was sitting alone in the front row, eating popcorn, and I thought, 'This guy wants to work with me?' I was so excited. I called him and said, 'Where the hell is that script? Bring it!'"

Working on the film "Drunk with Love" also brought Sandler the unforgettable experience of collaborating with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, whom the actor still remembers with special emotion.

"It's something I'll never forget. We practiced a lot before filming. We were at Paul's house, practicing scenes all over his yard, from different angles."

He especially remembers the day of filming the key scene.

"That day, we each retreated into our own world. When Paul shouted 'action,' we went at each other, directly, and felt everything there was to feel. I loved it," the actor said.

In the end, Sandler emphasized how much his collaboration with Hoffman meant to him.

"I'm very proud to have worked with Phil. I loved him as a person and I loved one of the best actors of our generation," Sandler concluded.