Andrew McCarthy Shares How Molly Ringwald Got Him in ‘Pretty in Pink’

Almost 40 years after starring in John Hughes’ iconic 1986 film pretty in Pink, Andrew McCarthy He says his co-star is responsible for his “miscasting” Molly RingwaldSitting down for an ET retrospective, the 61-year-old actor recalled how The Breakfast Club The 56-year-old star helped him land the role of dreamboat Blaine McDonagh.

In pretty in PinkAndie (Molly Ringwald) is an outcast at her Chicago high school who has only two friends: her older boss (Annie Potts), who owns the record store where she works, and her quirky classmate Duckie (Jon Cryer), who has a crush on her. When a rich and popular boy at school, Blane (McCarthy), asks Andie out on a date, it seems too good to be true.

“The role was written for a square-jawed, big, hunk, quarterback, and Molly got me the part,” McCarthy recalls. “I auditioned and Molly said, ‘Oh, that’s who I’d fall for. He’s dreamy. He’s poetic.’ And then John Hughes said, ‘Really? That wimp?'”

McCarthy says that despite the legendary author’s doubts, he “listened to Molly” and offered her the role.

“They listened to Molly, which is what John did. John respected young people, not only on screen but in real life,” St. Elmo’s Fire the star shared. “So, I was kind of wrong. I did what I had to do [have] “I was a punk, so I had some sympathy for him.”

“That’s why at the end we had to reshoot the whole scene, because, you know, the movie is a fairy tale, so you have to give the girl what she wants,” McCarthy said, explaining how Hughes changed the film’s original ending – which features Andy and Ducky together – after a poor response from test audiences.

Hughes wrote a new five-page ending, in which Andie and Blane appear together, which was filmed several months after the film’s initial production.

“John took young people and their emotional lives seriously,” McCarthy says of the late director, producer and screenwriter. “And that’s why people [are] I am still watching those movies.”

McCarthy has done a number of jobs behind the camera in recent years such as 15-20 And sinner as well as his new Hulu documentary feature, inhabitants,

The documentary, directed and produced by McCarthy, focuses on the 1980s stars known as the “Brat Pack,” a term applied to the teen actors of the ’80s who dominated Hollywood thanks to their big movie roles. The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, Pretty in Pink even more.

inhabitants It features interviews and plenty of behind-the-scenes footage from the promotion of those iconic films of the 1980s that shaped a generation.

McCarthy first interacted with author David Blum, who coined the term Brat Pack, in 1985. New York Magazine Main story.

McCarthy joked to ET that he was excited to begin the filming process inhabitantsHe was afraid that the people he approached would reject him.

“I was surprised because so many people wanted to talk to me [that] “I did it because I thought the biggest challenge would be convincing people to participate,” he said. “I knew it was still kind of questionable in some people’s lives.”

Whereas Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson declined his invitation to appear in the documentary, McCarthy was able to reunite Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy and Rob Lowe for the project. He also brought together “Brat Pack”-related stars such as himself pretty in Pink co-stars, Jon Cryer, and Back to the future Actress Lea Thompson.

McCarthy says that while some people watching the documentary might see the final scene as a hint at a possible sequel, he is confident that there will be a sequel. inhabitants Starring in the film is substantial for a group of actors who have spent much of their formative years in the spotlight.

“We’re getting ready for part two,” he joked, adding that for those who have come together to share their grief, “I think once was enough.”

Watch its trailer inhabitants In the player below:

inhabitants It premieres June 13 on Hulu.