Original ‘Home Alone’ Casting Notes Reveal Shortlist Of Potential Stars, Including Jimmy Stewart, Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry & More

More than three decades removed from its premiere, it’s hard to imagine the Christmas rewatch staple Home Alone and envision anyone else playing members of the McCallister family or the stooge-like thieves, portrayed by dynamic duo Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.

But casting notes revealed by the Academy Museum in a new TikTok illustrate the thought process and shortlist of performers who nearly made the cut in the Chris Columbus-helmed family-friendly flick. As discussed by archivist Louise Hilton — who works at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ core research facility dedicated to preserving the film artform and industry, the Margaret Herrick Library — a number of actors, from Susan Sarandon to Jimmy Stewart, almost appeared in the movie.

“Can you imagine if Kirstie Alley or Susan Sarandon had played Kate in Home Alone?” Hilton asked in the video, before showcasing “material from the casting company when they were working on Home Alone. We have memos with all the shortlists of the actors who were finalists.”

The notes visible in the clip include Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers) and Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner) as alternates for Kate, ultimately played by Catherine O’Hara. Murphy Brown‘s Candic Bergen was also considered, though she, like Alley, was somewhat unavailable to accommodate the production schedule.

Meanwhile, casting was also looking at Sam Waterston and David Dukes for the McCallister patriarch (eventually portrayed by John Heard). Danny Aiello also seemingly passed on the role.

Hilton continued, discussing the character Marley, “For the older neighbor who saves the day they were considering Jimmy Stewart. His agent was interested and he was available, but they ended up going with Robert Blossom.” (Academy Award-nominated Moonstruck actor Vincent Gardenia was also in consideration.)

The notes went on to add: “‘We can go with an older Harry and younger Marv as written, but Tim Curry and Dan Stern make an exciting pair.’ They’re considering Joe Pesci, and he’s saying that he’s ‘offer only,’ so he wouldn’t audition, and that ‘We don’t think he’ll do it,’ but of course he does,” Hilton said. Other choices included Joe Pantoliano and Zack Norman.

The two-time Oscar-nominated Home Alone, from writer/producer John Hughes, centers on an 8-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), who is unwittingly abandoned when his extensive family goes away on a holiday trip to Paris. While initially overjoyed with his newfound sense of freedom and distance from his overbearing relatives, he must soon fend for himself as two robbers set their sights on his deserted home. A top box office smash in 1990, the film has since been inducted in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.