Kieran Culkin Almost Said No To His Golden Globe-Winning Role. How Emma Stone Changed His Mind

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A Hidden Gem,” initially an underdog movie that later became an indie sensation, was predominantly shaped by the creative minds of its writer, director, and costar Jesse Eisenberg. The captivating performance of Kieran Culkin following his hit TV series “Succession” was a significant factor in it earning recognition at the Golden Globes. Interestingly, the former child star from “Home Alone” initially declined the role, but a conversation with Emma Stone influenced him to reconsider.

The Eisenberg-directed film was the saddest and funniest movie last year, according to our own Riley Utley. While it didn’t rank officially as one of the best movies of 2024, it became something much more special to its fans. Culkin chatted with Entertainment Tonight at the Palm Springs International Film Society carpet for its award show about how he almost turned the role down, but didn’t because of Poor Things star Emma Stone. He said this of how she convinced him not to jump ship:

Upon recognizing the potential impact on many people’s livelihoods, I found myself saying, “Oh dear.” Clearly, I needed to find a solution. I wouldn’t want to behave in a completely thoughtless manner, which is unlike my usual self. While I may come across as somewhat insensitive at times, if you get to know me better, you’ll see that I’m not entirely heartless. I’m more of a partial one.

In this film production, Stone served as one of the producers, and fortunately, he managed to convince the actor of The Social Network to stay in the award-winning role instead of leaving it. I’m glad they didn’t have to find another actor as talented as Macaulay Culkin for the character Benji Kaplan. It seems that Stone’s efforts were not just about keeping his costar on board, but rather a genuine desire to make the movie a success. Over the past few years, Stone has been quite busy, producing family comedy-dramas, several movies directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, and consistently ranking high among the best performers of the 21st century (although opinions vary about her exact position on that list). This film project appears to be a collaborative effort from start to finish, culminating in award wins.

Kieran Culkin, the actor, shared why he initially considered withdrawing from the movie. He mentioned that he wanted to devote more time to his loved ones, expressing it like this: “I felt the need to prioritize my family.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I found myself yearning for some quality time at home with my little ones. Initially, I considered stepping away from a project, but after our discussion, I decided to stay on board. However, once committed, I immersed myself in the world of cinema yet again and brought that movie to life.

The actor who played the Father of the Bride has a compelling motive for possibly leaving the project. I can’t think of another solid reason that would warrant such a decision, except for significant life events. Nonetheless, it’s intriguing to learn that even Ryan Gosling, from La La Land, is eagerly involved in the cast for the child star.

One point that’s clear: A Real Pain wouldn’t be where it is now without Kieran Culkin. Fans such as myself should express our gratitude towards Emma Stone for persuading Culkin to reconsider his decision. Moreover, the award-winning role might not have garnered attention if Jesse Eisenberg had chosen another actor. Consider streaming the movie that Eisenberg wrote with a Hulu membership.

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2025-01-17 17:07