Joe Pesci steps into Home Alone villain role after big names decline

Joe Pesci was not the first choice for the villain role in "Home Alone." Initially, Robert De Niro and Jon Lovitz were considered, but both declined. Pesci eventually accepted, marking his first major comedy role. Director Chris Columbus faced challenges with casting. The studio hesitated to hire Daniel Stern due to cost concerns. After a screen test with another actor showed no chemistry, Columbus successfully advocated for Stern's casting. "Home Alone," released in 1990, became a classic, featuring Macaulay Culkin alongside Pesci and Stern. Pesci reprised his role in the sequel, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."