Actor Corey Feldman has made a shocking revelation about his past casting in the 1993 drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, claiming that Johnny Depp was responsible for his removal from the project. In a recent episode of The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan podcast, Feldman stated that he was originally cast in the role that eventually went to Leonardo DiCaprio, which became a breakthrough moment in the latter’s career.
Johnny Depp’s Alleged Interference
Feldman told Corgan that he had been selected for the role before Johnny Depp joined the cast and alleged that the Pirates of the Caribbean star played a part in having him removed. “I was actually cast to play Leonardo DiCaprio’s role,” Feldman shared. When asked if he was pushed out of the project, the actor responded, “Johnny did.”
According to Corey Feldman, Johnny Depp allegedly whispered to the producers that he did not want to work with him due to his past struggles with substance abuse. “He said I was a junkie and that he didn’t work with junkies,” Feldman recalled, though he maintained that he was clean at the time. “I had just gotten sober; I had just gotten out of rehab. I had turned my life around and, in fact, was trying to help River [Phoenix], who Depp was running with at the time.”
The Connection to River Phoenix’s Tragic Death refereneced by Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman also referenced Phoenix’s tragic death in 1993 from a drug overdose at the Viper Room, a Los Angeles nightclub that Depp previously co-owned. “As we all know, River’s last night on earth was at Johnny’s establishment,” he said, implying a personal tension between him and Depp.
What Could Have Been
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape became a critically acclaimed film and was a major milestone in DiCaprio’s career, earning him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Feldman admitted that he has never been able to watch the movie due to the lingering bitterness over losing the role. “It’s still a bitter leaf,” he said, adding, “Had I not been pushed out and done that role, who knows what would have happened from that point forward?”
Industry Reactions and Unanswered Questions
The Media reached out to Depp’s representatives for comment, but no response has been given yet. Feldman’s allegations have reignited discussions about casting politics in Hollywood and how off-screen relationships can influence career trajectories. Whether or not Depp will respond remains to be seen, but Feldman’s remarks have already sparked significant conversation in the entertainment industry.
