Comic Eric André has expressed remorse over turning down Kieran Culkin’s Oscar-winning function in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Actual Ache.
Culkin, 42, who performed Eisenberg’s outspoken on-screen cousin, Benji Kaplan, at the hours of darkness comedy-drama, gained the Oscar for Finest Supporting Actor on the March ceremony. Nevertheless, in line with André, it may’ve been him.
“Two years in the past, Jesse Eisenberg known as me … provided me the [A Real Pain] function that Kieran Culkin bought the Oscar for,” the 2 Broke Women alum, 42, recalled on Andrew Santino’s Whiskey Ginger podcast.
He stated he declined the function after studying the script as a result of the film appeared “depressing and never in my lane.”
“I used to be like, ‘To go to Poland for six weeks and shoot a film the place we’re simply babbling in regards to the Holocaust, looks like a bummer,’” André defined.
“I used to be like, ‘Admire the supply. I’m certain it’s gonna be nice. I don’t assume that’s what I’m on the lookout for proper now,’” he added. “The motherf***er gained an Oscar for the function I handed up. It’s not like I get provided roles continually. I’m not f***ing Leonardo [DiCaprio].”
Directed and written by Eisenberg, the critically acclaimed A Actual Ache follows two mismatched cousins, David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Culkin), as they journey to Poland to honor their late grandmother.
The film was impressed by Eisenberg’s family historical past of demise and survival throughout the Holocaust. In actual fact, the home of David and Benji’s beloved grandmother Dory, situated close to the focus camps in Poland, as soon as belonged to Eisenberg’s ancestors.
Moreover, chaotic and infantile Benji was written as a composite of individuals Eisenberg knew rising up. He instructed The Unbiased in January that he had thought-about taking part in the function himself earlier than he was persuaded towards it by the film’s producer, Hollywood A-lister Emma Stone.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
“She was simply saying to not play an unhinged character whereas making an attempt to direct a film, as a result of she had carried out Poor Issues and although she was not the director, she was managing stuff as a producer would whereas additionally taking part in this extremely otherworldly character,” Eisenberg stated. “So she simply stated, ‘From my expertise, I don’t assume you’re going to be snug taking part in this type of function whereas making an attempt to handle a set.’ And she or he was proper, as she typically is.”
It was additionally Stone who satisfied Culkin, her former boyfriend, to not drop out of the film weeks earlier than filming after he had panicked about being away from his kids for too lengthy.
“Jesse Eisenberg, thanks for this film,” Culkin stated whereas accepting the Oscar. “You’re a genius.”
