“Ferris Bueller” Book Reveals Other ‘80s Teen Heartthrob Almost Landed Titular Role Instead of Matthew Broderick

Jon Cryer was considered to play Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, according to a new book about the 1986 teen comedy

NEED TO KNOW

• Director John Hughes and studio execs thought of casting Cryer in the role, per Jason Klamm's upcoming book Ferris Bueller…You're My Hero: The Story of the World's Most Famous Day Off

• Cryer admits in the book to being "a little jealous" of Matthew Broderick, who got the role, and says he only ever knew he was up for Alan Ruck's character

Matthew Broderick's career-defining role as Ferris Bueller almost went to a fellow '80s heartthrob.

John Hughes, who wrote and directed the beloved 1986 teen comedyFerris Bueller's Day Off, originally pitched a different actor to play the titular role before Broderick got the iconic part, according to the upcoming bookFerris Bueller…You're My Hero: The Story of the World's Most Famous Day Off.

In an excerpt of the book shared byEntertainment Weekly, author Jason Klamm explains that while Hughes was pitching the film, he and Paramount executives considered someone else to play the high schooler who fakes sick to skip school in the Chicago-set flick:Jon Cryer, a.k.a. Duckie fromPretty in Pink, another beloved classic from the Hughes catalog.

But Cryer, 60, told Klamm that he was never aware that he was considered for the titular role — only Cameron Frye, Bueller's friend, who was ultimately played byAlan Ruck. On the filmmaker and execs' consideration for the iconic lead role, he said it was "news to me."

Asked if his team ever informed him of the consideration forFerris Bueller, theTwo and a Half Menstar told the author, "Yes, for the Alan Ruck character."

"I mean, I'm just too similar to Matthew," he said of why he likely wasn't cast as Cameron — a sentiment he has stated before, reflecting on how he and Broderick, 64,were often compared to each other at the height of their Brat Pack days.

Klamm also writes in the book, which hits shelves June 16, that Cryer "did feel like he was missing out," since Hughes often came to set onPretty in PinkwhileFerris Buellerwas also in production.

"Ferris Buellersounded a little more antically comedic thanPretty in Pinkwas," Cryer said, per the excerpt shared byEW. "It sounded like he was going to have a great time, and I was like, 'Oh, that would have been a fun project to do with him.' "

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"I recall being a little jealous at the time," Cryer added.

Hughes museAnthony Michael Hallis also long-rumored to have been considered for the lead role inFerris Bueller, which also starredMia Sara,Jennifer GreyandCharlie Sheen.

Hall, 57, later wrote that the filmmaker "actually had written Ferris Bueller for me," but they "both determined that I should move on to other things," perEW. (Hughes never publicly confirmed Hall's claim.)

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Speaking with PEOPLE at the premiere ofAndrew McCarthy's documentaryBRATSin 2024, Cryer said that he and Broderick are no longer mistaken for each other — a frequent occurrence in the '80s.

"No, Matthew and I have since parted ways," he said at the time, joking that theGloryactor "still has hair," unlike him.

"He still has a magnificent head of hair, God bless him," Cryer continued. "He should have it. He should work it as much as possible. You should enjoy it. But I have gone the other direction."

Read the original article onPeople

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April 04, 2026

“Ferris Bueller” Book Reveals Other ‘80s Teen Heartthrob Almost Landed Titular Role Instead of Matthew Broderick

Jon Cryer was considered to play Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off , according to a new book about the 1986 ...

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Jonathan Majors falls through window on set of action movie produced by Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro

Jonathan Majors and his costar JC Kilcoyne fell through a window on the set of his upcoming action movie.

Key points

• The crew for the film, which is produced by Ben Shapiro's Daily Wire, reportedly went on strike, citing alleged labor issues.

• Dallas Sonnier, a producer for the project, tells Entertainment Weekly, "The actors' fall was shorter than the failed movie careers of the now-union reps."

Jonathan Majors' comeback isn't going entirely according to plan.

In a new video, theAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniaactor can be seen falling through a window on the set of his new untitled action movie produced by The Daily Wire, the right-wing media company founded by Ben Shapiro.

In the clip,published by Deadline, Majors and his costar JC Kilcoyne move backward as the former's character seems to be shot, and then fall through a set of blinds and out of frame. The audio appears to capture the sound of glass breaking, prompting multiple people on set to exclaim, "Ooh!"

Multiple crew members then rush over to look outside the window and ask if the actors are all right. One person says, "I'm good, you good," to which another responds, "I'm good."

One voice can be heard saying, "Did we shoot it?"

A crew member later warns, "Be careful of the glass, guys."

Representatives for Majors and Kilcoyne did not immediately respond toEntertainment Weekly's request for comment.

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The crew union International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees called a strike against the film's production last month over a series of alleged labor issues, Deadlinereportedearlier this week. The outlet also reported that the window in the video was replaced by tempered glass intended to be shattered during a later stunt that was not supposed to involve any of the actors.

When reached for comment about the incident and the crew members' allegations, the project's producer, Dallas Sonnier, told EW, "The actors' fall was shorter than the failed movie careers of the now-union reps."

A representative for Kilcoyne told Deadline that the actor "is doing well and was taken care of immediately by production," noting that "JC did not feel unsafe on set and continues to have a positive experience working on the project."

Majors received acclaim for his performances in dramas likeDa 5 BloodsandThe Last Black Man in San Francisco, and his star continued to rise after he appeared in franchise fare likeCreed IIIandAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, his career momentum came to a halt when he was found guilty of one count of assault in the third degree and one count of harassment in the second degree in December 2023. Though hedid not face prison time for the conviction, Majors was ordered to complete a 52-week in-person batterer's intervention program and continue his mental health therapy.

After the controversy, Marvel Studioscanceled its plansto make Majors' character Kang the Conqueror the main antagonist of its upcomingAvengersmovie, the title of which was changed fromAvengers: The Kang DynastytoAvengers: Doomsday. Later, reports surfaced thatSearchlight Pictures— also owned by Marvel's parent company, Disney — returned the distribution rights it had purchased for Majors' bodybuilding dramaMagazine Dreams. The film was eventually released by Briarcliff Entertainment.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

In 2024, Majors was cast in the thrillerMerciless,directed Martin Villeneuve, the younger brother ofDunefilmmakerDenis Villeneuve. The project has released no updates since the casting announcement nearly two years ago.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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April 04, 2026

Jonathan Majors falls through window on set of action movie produced by Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro

Jonathan Majors and his costar JC Kilcoyne fell through a window on the set of his upcoming action movie. Key p...

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Blake Lively will keep 'fighting' after dismissal of harassment claims in 'unfathomably painful' Justin Baldoni case

Blake Lively posted a lengthy statement after a major development in her "unfathomably painful" case against her former It Ends With Us director, Justin Baldoni.

Key points

• The actress vowed to continue "fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims."

• The statement came after a judge dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in her lawsuit, including sexual harassment claims against Baldoni.

Blake Livelyis speaking out after a major development inher lawsuitagainstJustin Baldoni.

TheGossip Girlstar posted a lengthy statement on Instagram the day after Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New Yorkdismissed 10 of her 13 claimsagainst herIt Ends With Usdirector and costar and other defendants, including her sexual harassment claims.

"I'm grateful for the Court's ruling, which allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury next month, and for the ability to finally tell my story in full at trial, for my own sake, but also for those who don't have the same opportunity to... many of whom I have known and loved deeply in my life, and the countless I'll never know," Lively wrote after Liman allowed the case to proceed to trial with only claims of breach of contract, retaliation in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and aiding and abetting in retaliation in violation of FEHA.

"The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others," Lively continued. "I hope the Court's decision shows others that, as unfathomably painful as it is, you can speak up."

Representatives for Baldoni did not immediately respond toEntertainment Weekly's request for comment.

Lively urged her supporters to continue taking the case seriously. "Don't be distracted by the digital soap opera. The constant packaging of this lawsuit as a 'celebrity drama' is not only irresponsible, but it is by design: to keep you from seeing yourselves in my story," she said. "The physical pain from digital violence is very real. It is abuse. And it's everywhere. Not just in the news, but in your communities and schools."

TheSisterhood of the Traveling Pantsactress, who alleges that she was targeted in an online smear campaign to damage her reputation, suggested that "digital warfare" could impact everyone, not just celebrities.

"It often won't be directed at celebrities or those who may be able to speak up," she said. "It affects us all. Across the political spectrum. Pay attention to all the ways we can be manipulated online. Digital manipulation has been boasted as 'untraceable'. If you have kids on phones, they are some of the most vulnerable. Protect them. Have conversations with them."

Lively added that her lawsuit is part of a long fight against online harassment that extends far beyond her individual case. "So much critical work has already been done to expose systems, tactics, and players who harm," she said. "The work to create more safety is in part at trial, but it [will also] continue far after this trial is over. This is the work I'm most proud of."

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She continued, "I couldn't begin to stand up if not for the countless who've gone before me — and the masses who are still around us all — creating laws, social change, sparking conversations, rallying, working privately and publicly, risking and sometimes losing everything for the safety of others in all spaces. Some whose names we know, most we don't. Thank you. All of you."

Lively concluded her remarks with resolve to continue her case. "I will never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims," she said. "I know it's a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it. Your support keeps me going."

Judge Liman dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 claims, including sexual harassment claims against Baldoni. He ruled that the actress' sexual harassment claims could not move forward because she was not technically an employee, but instead an independent contractor.

He also argued that Baldoni's conduct on set "was directed to Lively's character rather than to Lively herself" because he was acting. "Creative artists, no less than comedy room writers, must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script without fear of being held liable for sexual harassment," Liman said in his ruling.

Baldoni's lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded to Liman's decision in a statement to EW earlier this week.

"Since the first day of this case, when Justin and the other defendants were blindsided by these allegations, the legal team on the ground from the beginning have worked extremely long days and nights defending this case through transparency by releasing the actual truthful text messages, and by welcoming and facilitating the release of all documents exhibiting the truth," he said.

"The defendants were not afraid of the truth," he continued. "The plan was not only to speak the truth, but to also show that same truth over and over again through the presentation of actual evidence. Neither Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, nor any of the other defendants have engaged in the sexual harassment of Blake Lively."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Freedman added, "Despite our clients being accused of DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim, and Offender) in defending these claims, and despite our client being referred to in writing as a predator, what I said, on behalf of our clients day one and every day since then, is true … Our clients are very good people who have not engaged in this sexual harassment as alleged. As such, they have deserved a vigorous defense which was led through transparency. It is gratifying to see that the court's ruling confirms what the legal team believed from day one."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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April 04, 2026

Blake Lively will keep 'fighting' after dismissal of harassment claims in 'unfathomably painful' Justin Baldoni case

Blake Lively posted a lengthy statement after a major development in her "unfathomably painful" case against he...

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Mike Rowe doubles down after blasting Kimmel’s ‘tone-deaf’ plumber jokes

After being scorned on social media, "Dirty Jobs" television show veteran Mike Rowe doubled down on his criticism ofJimmy Kimmel's "tone deaf" monologues mocking new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for being a former plumber.

Rowe said he had not noticed hispost about late-night host Kimmel"belittling plumbers" had gone viral, because he had been too busy working.

"I want to apologize for not responding to any of the 22 thousand comments my last post inspired," he wrote. "I've been filming all week and just noticed my observations about Jimmy Kimmel and a former plumber namedMarkwayne Mullinhave gone viral."

Rowe said that Kimmel's digs at Mullin for being a former plumber are evidence of "longstanding stigmas and stereotypes" against blue-collar skilled trade workers as "uneducated, one-dimensional workers who never made it to college."

Late-night Host Jimmy Kimmel Shows Up To 'No Kings' Protest With Kids, Holds 'Enough Already' Sign

"I did not suggest – even remotely - that a plumber was inherently qualified to hold a cabinet position," he wrote on X. "What I said was that being a plumber should not disqualify a person from holding such a position."

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Kimmel, a regular critic of theTrump administration, was recently criticized as elitist for using Mullin's prior experience as a plumbing business owner as evidence that he is unqualified to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

"Trump's got a whole new generation of thinkers lined up, including his newly confirmed secretary ofHomeland Security, Markwayne 'Chuck Mike Bruce Dave' Melon — Mullin. Maybe Melon's better," Kimmel said on air March 24. "He's the now former senator of Oklahoma. Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and a plumber. That's right. We have a plumber protecting us from terrorism now. It worked for Super Mario. Why not Markwayne?"

He continued, "But honestly — I mean, if Trump is going to keep picking these unqualified people to run the department, why not have more fun with it? I mean, next time, instead of Markwayne, how about Lil Wayne for Homeland Security? At least we can get a concert out of it, right?"

Kimmel later doubled down, saying, "I'm not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I'm upset that he isn't still a plumber."

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Jimmy Kimmel Refuses To Back Down After Mocking Secretary Mullin Over Plumbing Background

Rowe had ripped late-night host Kimmel for the dig, saying he took offense at the "suggestion that skilled workers should never evolve into something new."

He asked if Mullin's career progression from plumbing business owner to Congress and then to a top Cabinet official is "not the embodiment of the American Dream?"

On Friday, he wrote that stereotypes reinforced by jokes like Kimmel's are contributing to a critical shortage of American skilled laborers.

"Reasonable people can disagree as to what is funny and what isn't. Frankly, I couldn't care less. What I do care about," he wrote, "is the extraordinary shortage of plumbers and electricians our country is facing, and the longstanding stigmas and stereotypes that continue to discourage people from considering a lucrative career in the skilled trades."

"Jimmy's joke – and his audience's reaction to it," wrote Rowe, "is proof positive that those stigmas and stereotypes are alive and well."

Jimmy Kimmel's Trump, Melania Digs At Oscars 'Fell Flat' With Critics

Digging even deeper, Rowe asked, "What do their credentials and diplomas have to do with their actual competency? Are we not already surrounded by a legion of perfectly qualified experts who don't know what the hell they're doing?"

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"Jimmy is entitled to his opinion, along with anyone else who believes that Mullin is unqualified to lead the DHS," he wrote on X. "The Constitution, however, says otherwise, and so does the Senate."

Rowe, who runs a nonprofit promoting skilled labor careers called the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, concluded by encouraging people to launch a career in the skilled trades, saying, "Who knows? Could be the first step on your road to President."

Fox News Digital reached out to spokespeople for Kimmel for comment.

Original article source:Mike Rowe doubles down after blasting Kimmel's 'tone-deaf' plumber jokes

byNeo

in

April 04, 2026

Mike Rowe doubles down after blasting Kimmel’s ‘tone-deaf’ plumber jokes

After being scorned on social media, "Dirty Jobs" television show veteran Mike Rowe doubled down on his critici...

Read More