5 Movie and TV Roles Macaulay Culkin Almost Played

As a long-time observer of Hollywood’s twists and turns, I can’t help but marvel at the what-ifs that often define the careers of our beloved stars. Macaulay Culkin, a name synonymous with Christmas cheer for millions, has had more than his fair share of close calls in Tinseltown.

During the ’90s, the main actor of “Home Alone”, Macaulay Culkin, held immense stardom. Unexpectedly, he stepped away from acting after the 1994 film “Richie Rich”, claiming exhaustion and a longing for a normal life. Similar to other actors, his retirement didn’t last forever. Culkin reemerged in the 2000s, taking on several supporting roles, but struggled to regain the success he once had in the prior decade. Fortunately, the 2010s and 2020s have been more favorable to him, as he has featured in critically praised works like “Changeland” and “American Horror Story: Double Feature”.

It turns out that Culkin nearly landed several other roles; for some, his lack of excitement towards the project was a factor, while others found the casting team uninterested in him. Despite this, fans are optimistic about a significant comeback for him. Another installment of “Home Alone” would surely be welcome, considering the trend of sequels even after several decades. The idea of Kevin McCallister as a parent might not sit well with critics, but audiences would likely pay to watch it.

Here are 5 movie and tv roles we know for a fact Macaulay Culkin either turned down or didn’t get.

5
Max Fischer

‘Rushmore’ (1998)

In more casual terms, Wes Anderson’s popular ’90s movie featuring two teenagers vying for a teacher’s affection, though showing its age now, significantly boosted Jason Schwartzman’s fame. Interestingly, Max Fischer was a memorable character that Macaulay Culkin would have portrayed, as he mentioned during a Reddit Ask Me Anything session.

“I was sent the script to Rushmore. I was still retired then. That’s a perfect movie.”

We can certainly see Culkin as Fischer.

The Timing Wasn’t Right

Among the outstanding child actors of the ’90s, none excelled more in working with adults than Macaulay Culkin. The character Max Fischer was tailor-made for him, but unfortunately, the timing didn’t work out. To begin with, he had chosen to step away from acting at that point. Additionally, Wes Anderson wasn’t yet the acclaimed director that actors were rushing to collaborate with during that time. He had only directed Bottle Rocket, which grossed less than a million dollars at the box office.

Anderson found it extremely challenging to cast Max, as it nearly prevented him from making the movie. In fact, he was introduced to Jason Schwartzman just a month before filming began. As he himself admitted, the young actor didn’t fit the initial vision that Anderson had in mind. However, he decided to take a risk and the outcome resulted in history being made.

4
Unnamed Character

“The Big Bang Theory’ (2007 – 2019)

Initially, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady conceived the notion for a TV sitcom centered around brilliant friends. Macaulay Culkin was a strong candidate for one of the leading roles. On The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Culkin disclosed that he had been asked to be part of The Big Bang Theory, but he declined.

They chased after the TV show “The Big Bang Theory,” but I declined. The way they described it made me think, ‘Alright, there are these two quirky astrophysicists and a beautiful woman living with them. Sounds interesting!’ But that was just the gist of it. They said they’d get real physicists to handle the technicalities, but I politely declined their offer. They came back at me again, and even my manager was trying to persuade me. However, I stuck to my decision, saying ‘No, no, no. Thank you, but no.’

Just like that, the opportunity flew away.

‘The Big Bang Theory’ Would Have Been a Game Changer for Culkin

If Culkin hadn’t noticed, The Big Bang Theory might have been a turning point for him. After all, he excels at portraying intelligent characters, and the sitcom’s personalities are renowned for flaunting their intellectual prowess.

Indeed, the actor acknowledges his financial misstep, yet affirms that he wouldn’t have found joy in accepting that part.

If I had taken that opportunity, I would currently possess a vast fortune. However, it might also feel like relentlessly hitting my head against a brick wall.

He might find himself feeling somewhat remorseful, given that the main actors were reportedly earning nearly a million dollars per episode during Season 8. However, one wonders if the show would have achieved the same level of success had Macaulay Culkin been cast instead. Including him could have potentially shifted the focus away from the science and humor, as viewers might have become more engrossed in his character.

3
Unnamed Character

‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (2019)

In Hollywood… Once Upon a Time has an impressive cast lineup, with actors such as Al Pacino and Damian Lewis playing significant roles. Unfortunately, Macaulay Culkin’s audition for the film didn’t turn out successfully, preventing him from being part of Quentin Tarantino’s tribute to the movie industry.

Speaking to Esquire, Culkin said:

This experience was a real fiasco. Reflecting on it now, I’d probably pass on hiring myself due to my struggle with auditions. In truth, it had been nearly a decade since my last one.

His fans won’t be happy to hear that.

Culkin Needed the Movie

It’s unfortunate that Macaulay Culkin didn’t land the role, given Quentin Tarantino’s reputation for resurrecting acting careers. He’s well-known for reinvigorating the careers of actors like Bruce Willis and John Travolta through movies such as “Pulp Fiction.” He also gave Jamie Foxx a significant boost once more by casting him in “Django Unchained.” The latter part of the 2000s didn’t treat Culkin too well.

Following that, appearing in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” could have provided Culkin with the necessary momentum. Yet, his straightforwardness is commendable. For the majority of his career, he hadn’t needed to audition. If he had been selected for the role, it would have marked his first significant studio movie appearance since the satirical comedy “Saved.

2
D.J. Conner

‘Roseanne’ (1988-2018)

During an interview on SiriusXM, the cast of the Roseanne revival chatted with Sandra Bernhardt (who played Nancy Bartlett, Roseanne and Jackie’s longtime friend), and they shared their experiences working together once more. A fascinating fact emerged from Michael Fishman, who plays D.J. Conner, as he admitted that he might not have landed the role in the 1980s if ABC had followed through with their original plans.

“Roseanne Barr wanted me, and the network wanted Macaulay Culkin,”.

Quite the surprise choice, considering Culkin wasn’t a major star yet

‘Roseanne’ Might Have Ruined Culkin’s Career

If Macaulay Culkin had taken on the role, he might have been bound to TV commitments for the remainder of his career, preventing him from portraying Kevin McCallister. As a result, he may not be as well-known as he is now. On the brighter side, this could mean that he would not have experienced burnout to the point of wanting to leave acting. However, it’s challenging to imagine Home Alone without Culkin in the lead role.

1
Jack Dawson

‘Titanic’ (1997)

In contention for the part of Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s Titanic were many gifted actors, including Johnny Depp, Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, as well as Culkin. Additionally, Jared Leto was considered but declined to audition, which some may view as a missed opportunity since the role eventually catapulted Leonardo DiCaprio into global stardom.

Culkin Was Too Young for the Role

In the film “Home Alone,” Culkin was deemed too young to play the character Jack, as he was merely 15 during filming while Jack is supposed to be 20 in the movie. To avoid controversy, it would have been inappropriate to have such a young actor perform mature scenes. Ironically, several actors, including Matthew McConaughey, Billy Crudup, Chris O’Donnell, and Stephen Dorff, were turned down by Cameron because they were too old for the role.

2024-12-26 05:32

5 Max Fischer