During an audition for Kevin Costner’s 1997 film The Postman, actor Will Arnett faced not only the usual nerves but also a desperate physical challenge. Arnett revealed that the night before the audition, he had become severely ill and dehydrated to the point of needing hospital care, which made his Kevin Costner audition story uniquely stressful.
The Struggle Behind the Scenes of a Missed Role
In an interview on the show Hot Ones, hosted by Sean Evans, Arnett recounted the near-disastrous moment. He described how he was
“the furthest I’d been away from the bathroom in like 14 hours,”
after struggling with illness the previous night. The actor said he
“legitimately was worried about c–pping my pants”
during the audition and was trying to maintain control despite the intense discomfort. This harrowing experience overshadowed the excitement of meeting the Oscar-winning director.
At that time, 71-year-old Kevin Costner was already a celebrated filmmaker with two Academy Awards for Dances With Wolves, while Arnett was still working toward his first major break. Despite the intimidation factor of auditioning for a Hollywood heavyweight, it was his physical condition that left Arnett most apprehensive.
Missing The Postman Role: A Fortunate Turn?
Ultimately, Arnett did not get the role, and looking back, this may have been fortunate. The Postman was critically panned, sweeping the 1998 Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Actor, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Original Song. Early in his career, Arnett had appeared in minor roles and guest spots, but his real breakthrough came in 2003 with Arrested Development.
Reliving Spicy Food Fears on Hot Ones
More than 30 years after this stressful audition, Arnett revisited his anxiety on Hot Ones, a show where guests eat progressively spicy chicken wings while answering questions. He admitted his nervousness around hot foods, saying,
“I‘m so nervous about eating hot food. I can’t even watch people eat hot food, spicy food.”
When initially invited to appear, Arnett hesitated because he feared embarrassment.
“I‘m gonna have to wear a Depend during taping,”
he joked to his publicist.
Despite his apprehensions, Arnett completed the interview without incident, though he humorously asked about “lip replacement surgery” while trying to soothe the heat with milk, exclaiming,
“My mouth wants to leave my body.”
Current Work and Cultural Presence
Will Arnett, now an Emmy-nominated actor, stars in the Bradley Cooper-directed film Is This Thing On?, portraying a stand-up comedian whose divorce influences his act. The film premiered at the New York Film Festival and is currently showing in theaters, adding to Arnett’s growing presence in contemporary cinema. This ongoing work cements his climb from challenging auditions to notable roles, underscoring a career shaped by perseverance amid tense, sometimes overwhelming moments.
