Will Arnett’s early career included moments far less polished than his later on-screen success. One audition, in particular, stands out for reasons unrelated to acting. The comedian and actor recently shared how a badly timed illness turned a major Hollywood meeting into a stressful endurance test.
Will Arnett revealed that he auditioned for Kevin Costner’s 1997 film, ‘The Postman’, under extremely uncomfortable circumstances. The audition took place shortly after Arnett experienced food poisoning that left him severely dehydrated.
During an appearance on the Thursday, Jan. 29 episode of Hot Ones, host Sean Evans asked Arnett to recall his “most painful” audition story. The answer came quickly.
“Remember, Kevin Costner did that movie, I think it was called The Postman? Does anybody remember that movie?” Arnett said before explaining the situation in detail.
Instagram | @isthisthingonfilm | Will Arnett pushed through illness and nerves to face Kevin Costner, turning a painful audition day into a legendary story.
He shared that the night before the audition, he had eaten “something bad,” which led to a hospital visit due to dehydration. By the time the meeting with Costner arrived, the situation had not improved.
“At that point, that afternoon going to meet him, that was the furthest I’d been away from the bathroom in like 14 hours,” Arnett said. Meeting one of his film heroes under those conditions only added to the pressure.
“And I remember getting up there and meeting him and being a fan of his and just sweating. And just thinking like this could go really bad right now. I was meeting Kevin Costner, and I legitimately was worried about crapping my pants.”
About ‘The Postman’ and Its Cast
Kevin Costner starred in and directed ‘The Postman’, a 1997 film set in a post-apocalyptic version of the United States. The story follows a man who adopts the role of a postal worker to help reconnect scattered communities across the country.
The film featured a notable supporting cast, including Will Patton, Olivia Williams, Tom Petty, and Giovanni Ribisi.
Arnett did not specify which role he auditioned for, and he ultimately did not appear in the movie.
Early Career Struggles Before Fame
Instagram | @hollywoodreporter | Will Arnett turned early rejections into fuel and built a career defined by persistence and breakthrough success.
At the time of the audition, Arnett was still building his career. He made his on-screen debut in 1996 with the films ‘Ed’s Next Move’ and ‘Close Up’. While his first several roles were in movies, widespread recognition came later.
In 2003, Arnett found major success playing Gob Bluth on the television series ‘Arrested Development’, a role that changed the direction of his career.
Before that breakthrough, landing steady work was a challenge. Arnett has spoken openly about the frustration of early auditions and short-lived roles.
In a 2004 interview with Variety, he explained why he had stopped auditioning for television pilots before 'Arrested Development' came along. Previous experiences had left him discouraged.
“When it went to series, my character got cut, or I got fired,” he said, referencing several projects. One example was the CBS series ‘Still Standing’, where he was removed after the network ordered additional episodes. “I’m not entirely sure. I know that both things happened.”
Arnett’s experience underscores how uncertain early acting careers can be, even when major opportunities arise. Auditioning for a film like ‘The Postman’ offered no guarantees, especially when personal challenges interfered.
His account of meeting Kevin Costner while dealing with food poisoning strips away Hollywood’s polished image and highlights the persistence required to succeed. Behind later achievements were uncomfortable moments, setbacks, and determination that shaped his career path.