John Cusack has clarified persistent rumors that he was once considered for the role of John Bender in John Hughes' "The Breakfast Club," stating that while the director may have briefly wanted him for the part, it never materialized. Cusack addressed the speculation during an interview on Josh Horowitz's "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, pushing back against the idea that he turned down the iconic 1985 teen classic. He recalled a single instance where he believed Hughes wanted him for the role and said he would have accepted the offer, adding that he found the script cool, but ultimately, "it didn't go that way." Judd Nelson ended up playing Bender in the film, appearing alongside Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, and Emilio Estevez.
Although Cusack was not in "The Breakfast Club," he did participate in another of Hughes' Brat Pack entries. He played the character Bryce in 1984's "Sixteen Candles," a film that also starred Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. Reflecting on his status as a "teen idol" during that era, Cusack credited his parents for keeping him grounded. He noted that he was never taken with himself and refused to buy into the hype surrounding his early fame. "I hadn't done anything, so I was never going to buy the hype or anything," Cusack explained. "I wanted to work with great people and do great movies, but I knew I hadn't done anything yet."
The 60-year-old actor highlighted the influence of his father, actor Dick Cusack, who instilled a focus on the craft rather than celebrity status. Dick Cusack frequently told his son that "to be a celebrity is death for an artist," emphasizing the importance of the script, the part, and the message of the work. John Cusack said this perspective rubbed off on him, leading him to not take the attention of his youth seriously. He went on to build a career with films such as "Stand By Me," "Con Air," "Grosse Pointe Blank," "The Thin Red Line," "Being John Malkovich," "High Fidelity," and "2012."
In the interview, Cusack also lamented the current state of American cinema, describing it as feeling "flat" despite many global films being "awesome." He contrasted this with his experience making "Say Anything" in 1989. He noted that the producer on that film had previously worked on seminal projects like "Paper Moon" and "The Last Picture Show." According to Cusack, her mindset was driven by different values rather than a focus on maximizing profit or connecting with specific audiences for financial gain.