Director John Hughes Initially Suggested Jon Cryer for Matthew Broderick’s Most Iconic Role, Book Claims

Ferris Bueller is without question the role Matthew Broderick is best known for — but his iconic big screen performance playing the witty teenager 40 years ago almost never happened.

A new book, per Entertainment Weekly, reveals how Broderick was not the first choice in mind when writer and director John Hughes pitched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Paramount executives Ned Tanen and Lindsay Doran. Instead he suggested actor Jon Cryer, who Hughes had previously worked with on the movie Pretty In Pink.

In the upcoming book Ferris Bueller…You’re My Hero: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Day Off, author Jason Klamm spoke to over 120 people connected with the movie.

“How it ended up not being Jon Cryer and being Matthew Broderick, I don’t really remember,” former exec Doran said. “I do remember that at least Jon’s representatives were disappointed about that.”

According to Entertainment Weekly, Cryer reveals in the book that he was unaware of the interest in him playing Bueller, but that the film sounded a “fun project” at the time and he thought he was being considered for another role.

The author also reflects on previous reports that Hughes’ three-time leading man, Anthony Michael Hall, was considered for the role. Hughes’ assistant Jane Lay revealed she is “sure he [Hughes] was thinking of Michael for Ferris at some point”.

As previously reported by Indie Wire on February 24, the new book is a comprehensive look at how the iconic film went from ill-fated early days — where things went wrong in the screen tests — to an eventual huge success, earning a Golden Globe nomination.

The new book also includes never-before-seen photos, rare production documents and anecdotes from cast and crew.

Ferris Bueller… You’re My Hero: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Day Off will be released on June 16 by 1984 Publishing.