Regarded by many as one of the greatest rap songs of all time, “Stan” was nearly a different face in the iconic music video of the same name.
Devon Sawa, originally known for his roles in Chucky and Final Destination, recently looked back on his career in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
He revealed that he wasn't the first pick for the generational 2000s track, which was nominated for multiple Video of the Year awards.
The character, an obsessive fan who writes to Eminem, was originally called out to be played by Macaulay Culkin.
Sawa shared that the Home Alone star “wasn't available, or didn't want to do it or whatever.”
Sawa explained how Dr. Dre, who had signed Eminem to his label Aftermath in 1998, “had just seen Final Destination and was a fan.”
Because of this, Dr. Dre suggested Sawa for the role.
“There happened to be somebody in the casting office that knew somebody who was friends with me, and they called me that way… and it ended up working out pretty good.”
Although Sawa has starred in many multiple films like Casper and Little Giants, he shared that being a part of “Stan” is “one of the proudest things I've been a part of.”
Sawa explained the process behind filming the video and lip-syncing, and how it came as a struggle to begin with.
“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.”
“Stan” grew so popular that the term became coined to be a term for obsessive fans.
Eminem has made two announcements this April that have fans excited.
On April 11th he posted on X seeking out superfans, or “stans”, to fill out a questionnaire. It seems to be for a documentary about his life, yet to be named.
At the end of the month, a trailer for a new album hit the internet with a skit of the death of Slim Shady – Eminem's alter ego.
The album, ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)' is set to be released this summer.