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It’s the great '80s pop culture crossover that never happened: Corey Feldman — star of Gremlins, The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and more — was almost cast in Tim Burton’s first feature film, 1985’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. The reason he didn’t make it into the movie is just as mysterious as to how he was invited to be part of it in the first place… and, in fact, was part of the same conversation, as he’s recently revealed.

Talking to the crowd at the Goonies Never Say Die Cast Reunion panel at Rose City Comic Con 2025, Feldman revealed, “Pee-Wee was working across the set from us —  we were on stage 16, and on stage 15 was Paul working with Tim Burton on his first film, which was Pee Wee's Big Adventure. So I was walking by the cafeteria one day, and Paul Reubens [Pee-Wee’s real name] was there. I saw him, but I didn't know who he was, because I knew Pee-Wee. And so, this guy goes, 'Excuse me, yes. What's your name?' I was like, I'm Corey. And he's like, 'Hi, I'm Paul.' I'm like, 'Hi, Paul'. He goes, ‘Do you like Pee-Wee Herman? And I was like, 'Sure. I like Pee-Wee Herman,' he's like, 'Good. Would you be interested in being in his movie?’”

Who knew how easy it was to be discovered? Alas, fame proved to be as fickle as it’s rumored to be, as Feldman demonstrated as he continued his story.

“I was like, 'Okay, well, what were you thinking?' He goes, 'Well, there's this part, it's a small part, but it's a kid who steals my bike. I would love to have you be this kind of bratty kid that steals my bike.' And I said, 'Well, sure, you know, call my manager.' He said, 'Let me ask, what are you doing here? What are you working on, on that side?’ and I said, 'I'm here working on Goonies.' He's like, 'Oh. Oh, you're on that. Never mind.' What do you mean, never mind? I want to do this!”

What did Paul Reubens have against The Goonies? We’ll never know — but the prospect of Corey Feldman taking Mark Holton’s place in the 1985 classic and extending his reign as 1980s teen hero incarnate is certainly a fun one to contemplate.

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