Eric André Says Jesse Eisenberg ‘Offered Me’ Kieran Culkin’s Oscar Winning Role in ‘A Real Pain’ but Turned It Down Because It Seemed ‘Really Miserable’: ‘Not in My Lane’

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Had events taken a different course, it’s possible that Eric André would have been honored with an Oscar at the 2025 Academy Awards.

In a recent conversation with Andrew Santino on his “Whiskey Ginger” podcast, André shared an interesting tidbit: Jesse Eisenberg, the writer-director-star, initially offered André the part of his character’s cousin, Benji Kaplan, in the project. However, this role eventually went to Kieran Culkin, as André had declined, feeling that the dramatic project was beyond his usual acting scope at the time.

Two years ago, Jesse Eisenberg contacted me about the role that eventually won Kieran Culkin an Oscar in ‘A Real Pain’. However, I turned it down as it appeared too grim and not suitable for me. Upon reading the script, I felt that spending six weeks in Poland to film a movie primarily discussing the Holocaust seemed gloomy.

In ‘A Real Pain’, we find two long-lost cousins coming together on a journey to Poland, honoring their late grandmother. Even amidst a challenging 2025 Academy Awards season, Macaulay Culkin stood out as the favorite in the Best Supporting Actor category. He further garnered recognition for his role at the BAFTA ceremony, Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

André replied, ‘Thank you for the suggestion, I believe it will be excellent. However, it’s not quite what I’m seeking at the moment.’ Later on, he mused about passing up a role that earned an Oscar, saying, ‘It’s not as if I’m flooded with offers like Leonardo [DiCaprio].’

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2025-04-05 22:16