Former child star Corey Feldman has revealed that he was originally cast in the role of Arnie in the 1993 drama "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" before allegedly being pushed out due to Johnny Depp's intervention.
In a candid interview on Billy Corgan's Magnificent Others podcast, Feldman claimed Depp, who was cast after him, told producers he "didn't work with junkies" and suggested Feldman had substance abuse issues. The role ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio, earning him his first Oscar nomination.
"I never saw the film because I'm still bitter," Feldman admitted during the interview. He maintained that contrary to Depp's alleged claims, he was sober at the time, having recently completed rehabilitation.
The "Stand By Me" actor also shared that he was "trying to help River [Phoenix]" during that period, noting that Phoenix was part of Depp's social circle at the time.
Representatives for Johnny Depp have not responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
During the interview, Feldman also revealed other near-misses in his career, including being considered for roles in "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings," which ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Astin respectively.
This marks the first time Feldman has publicly shared this story about his experience with "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," expressing that while the situation left "a bitter tea," he has learned to move forward from such setbacks.