Who almost starred in ‘Home Alone’? Original casting notes reveal surprising names

It has been 35 years since the release of the classic holiday adventure Home Alone and its revisit by the Academy Museum has revealed countless famous names which were considered for the project’s casting.

In a post shared by the museum’s official page on TikTok, archivist Louise Hilton shared details from the 1990 film’s original casting notes.

“Can you imagine if Kirstie Alley or Susan Sarandon had played Kate in ‘Home Alone?’” Hilton opened the video, further displaying the “material from the casting company when they were working” on the first Home Alone movie.

The notes listed old Hollywood star James Stewart, described as “Jimmy Stewart”, in the running for the mysterious elderly neighbour in Home Alone.

While it was revealed that Tim Curry, who eventually appeared in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was first considered to play the robber Marv Murchins in its predecessor.

“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 concluded the video while discussing Joe Pesci as an option for the casting department, who was eventually cast as the chief bandit initially disguised as a police officer, Harry Lyme.

Home Alone (1990) starred Macaulay Culkin as the memorable trouble maker Kevin McCallister, with a supporting cast which included Schitt’s Creek alum Catherine O’Hara as Kevin’s mother Kate McCallister, John Heard as the family patriarch Peter McCallister, with Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the burglars.