“I think that they wanted him” — Devon Sawa reveals Macaulay Culkin was originally approached to feature in Eminem’s “Stan” mv

Back in 2000, Final Destination star Devon Sawa starred in the iconic music video for Eminem's era-defining track Stan. However, the actor was not the first pick for the role.

Sawa revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on Wednesday, April 17 that Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin was initially approached to feature in the role.

"I think that they wanted him," he told.

According to the actor, Culkin at the time was not available. It was Dr. Dre who happened to be a Final Destination fan, who ended up suggesting Sawa. The impact of Stan cannot be overstated as the song, apart from being a testament to Slim Shady's storytelling prowess also went on to have a huge impact on pop culture, which is felt to this day.

Devon Sawa disclosed that Macaulay Culkin was initially approached to portray Stan in the 'Stan' music video (Image via Instagram/@d.sawa, @culkamania)

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Devon Sawa calls the Stan music video one of the "proudest things" he's ever done

Devon Sawa sat down with Entertainment Weekly to promote the third season of the hit USA Network show, Chucky. Sawa, who starred as the titular Stan in the iconic music video of Eminem's Stan told EW that he was not the first person who was offered the role.

Devon Sawa revealed that legendary producer Dr. Dre had actually suggested Sawa for the role. Dre, who directed the music video alongside Philip Atwell, had just seen Final Destination and was a fan. Someone in the casting office who was friends with Sawa ended up calling him up and in the end, everything worked out pretty well for the actor.

Devon Sawa further disclosed to Entertainment Weekly that he was told to lip-sync the song on the day of filming. He said—

"I remember, after the first take I did, Dre running in and being like, 'It was good, but can you try it with some rhythm this time?' And I was like, 'Oh my god.' And that was kind of how the day went."

Sawa called the music video one of the "proudest things" that he's ever been a part of. The actor, who even bleached his hair for the role, still remembers the lyrics of the song and would "jam" to it if it ever came on in his car. He told EW—

"I'll tell you one thing, I know it better now than I did that day. Because I've heard it millions of times since."

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The music video for Stan has over 700 million views on YouTube

Stan was released in the year 2000 as the single from Eminem's third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP, an album which sold over a whopping 25 million copies. Stan sampled English singer Dido's 1998 hit Thank You and peaked at 58 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song narrated the story of a dangerously obsessive Eminem fan named Stan.

The music video, which was a literal interpretation of the song featured Devon Sawa as Stan, along with Dido as his pregnant girlfriend. Stan, dangerously obsessed with Eminem, bleached his hair blonde, has a room full of Eminem's posters, and is constantly aware of everything happening in the rapper's life. He even writes letters to the rapper to showcase the extent of his devotion.

He even snaps at his pregnant girlfriend for interrupting him watching an Eminem music video. All he wants is a reply from Slim Shady but his letters fail to reach the rapper, which sends him into a manic rage. He finally locks his girlfriend in the trunk of his car and records himself driving the vehicle through the pouring rain to crash off a bridge.

He does what he commits to but dies with the realization that the tape could never be seen by Eminem. When a concerned Em finally responds to his letters, Slim Shady realizes that the news he's heard about a drunk man driving off a bridge was none other than Stan himself.

The last shot of the 'Stan' music video (Image via YouTube/EminemMusic)

The music video ends with Stan's younger brother Matthew, who also bleached his hair, standing by his dead brother's grave. At the time of writing this article, the video has 712 million views on YouTube.