People only just realising Robert de Niro turned down iconic Home Alone role

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Home Alone fans are only just realising Robert de Niro turned down one of the film's most iconic roles.The 1990 Christmas favourite stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern alongside a number of high-profile supporting cast members including John Heard, Catherine O'Hara, and John Candy.

But the film could have been very different had Niro taken on the role of one of the villainous Wet Bandits duo.The Godfather and Taxi Driver star was initially meant to play Harry Lime, a role that was initially taken on by his Goodfellas co-star, Pesci – who would win an Academy Award for his role in Goodfellas that same year. READ MORE: Home cook shares Christmas dinner vegetable trick so you'll have more time to relax READ MORE: Use up paper scraps and wrap presents perfectly with woman's 'genius' hack While the star would eventually pass on the film, Columbus confirmed there had been talks about trying to get De Niro on board the project.

He said: "It was talked about a little bit internally." The team also tried to get comedian Jon Lovitz in the role, who later shared he regretted passing on the film.He said of declining the role: "I didn’t want to play second fiddle to some kid.

Then it became the biggest comedy of all time. Oops." Pesci was also approached for the role around this time and, when he accepted, the team could not believe they landed the Raging Bull star.