“Stan” is a classic single. Eminem’s character study of a maniacal stalker is as poignant now as the day it was removed, and it’s even become synonymous with “fanboy” in hip-hop. A big reason why the song was so successful was the music video starring Devon Sawa as the title character. Sze is best known as the star of the Deadshot series, delivering a performance that is both chilling and sympathetic. It’s hard to imagine anyone else doing it better. In other words, Macaulay Culkin was Eminem’s original choice.
Ze revealed his casting during a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, and blew our collective minds away in the process. The actor revealed he was the second choice to play Stan after Culkin turned him down! You read that right: Eminem wants the Home Alone star to play his ardent fan. “Full disclosure: I believe they went to Macaulay Culkin first,” Savoie told the outlet. “I think they wanted him, but he wasn’t available, or didn’t want to do it, or whatever.” Culkin wasn’t technically an actor at the time, which may have contributed to his decision. The child star retired from Hollywood in 1995 and did not return to the big screen until 2003’s Party Monster.
Read more: Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song relationship timeline
Devon Sawa got the role through Dr. Dre
Devon Sawa credits Dr. Dre with getting him the role. Apparently, the super-producer saw Ze in the first “Dead Man” and thought he would be a good fit. Turns out he was right. “There happened to be someone in the casting office who knew a friend of mine,” the actor recalled. He may have been second choice, but Danzig considers “Stan” one of the highlights of his career. “It’s one of the proudest things I’ve ever been a part of,” he added. “I understand it better now than I did that day. Because I’ve heard it millions of times since then.”
Macaulay Culkin may have given up on “Stan,” but the actor actually has a pretty stellar music video resume. In 1991, he appeared in the video for Michael Jackson’s iconic single “Black or White” and later returned in 1998 for Sonic Youth’s song “Sunday.” Underground demo,” which makes sense considering he’s in the band. Culkin later played a crucified Kurt Cobain in Father John Misty’s music video for his 2017 song “Total Entertainment Forever.” He has yet to make his hip-hop debut, but there’s still plenty of time.
Read more: Michael Jackson to watch ‘Home Alone 2’ with Macaulay Culkin
[Via]
