Will Arnett Recalls Painful Audition With Kevin Costner for The Postman

There are bad audition stories — and then there are the kind that make you sweat just thinking about them.

Will Arnett recently shared one of his most uncomfortable career memories during an appearance on Hot Ones, the popular YouTube show hosted by Sean Evans.

While answering a question about painful audition experiences, Arnett recalled a meeting with Kevin Costner for the 1997 film The Postman — and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

A Very Uncomfortable Audition

Arnett explained that the night before the audition, he became seriously ill after eating something bad. He was so dehydrated that he ended up in the hospital.

By the time he went to meet Costner the next afternoon, he had barely been away from a bathroom for nearly 14 hours.

“I remember getting up there and just meeting him and being a fan of his,” Arnett said. “This was like a big deal. And just sweating and thinking, ‘This can go really bad right now.’”

He added that he was genuinely worried about having an accident during the meeting.

Despite the high-pressure moment, Arnett didn’t reveal which role he auditioned for. Ultimately, he did not land a part in the post-apocalyptic drama, which Costner also directed and produced.

The film went on to star Olivia Williams, Will Patton, Tom Petty, Peggy Lipton and Larenz Tate alongside Costner.

Early Career Struggles

At the time of the audition, Arnett’s career was still in its early stages. He had made his big-screen debut in 1996 with roles in Ed’s Next Move and Close Up, but steady work was hard to come by.

During his Hot Ones appearance, Arnett also reflected on his difficulties during pilot season in Los Angeles. He had previously told Variety in 2004 that he had sworn off auditioning for television pilots after repeatedly being cut from projects.

One example was the CBS sitcom Still Standing, where his role was eliminated after the network ordered more episodes.

“I’m not entirely sure,” he once said about what happened. “I know that both things happened.”

Breakthrough With Arrested Development

Everything changed in 2003 when Arnett landed the role of Gob Bluth on Arrested Development.

The cult-favorite comedy series became his breakout moment and helped establish him as one of television’s most recognizable comedic actors.

Since then, Arnett has built a successful career in both live-action and voice roles — including his popular portrayal of Batman in animated projects.

More From His Hot Ones Interview

During the episode, Arnett also discussed:

• The art of giving a great talk-show appearance

• His obsession with the arcade-style golf game Golden Tee

• How he developed his distinctive Batman voice

Though the Postman audition didn’t go his way, Arnett’s story proves that even Hollywood setbacks — and painfully awkward moments — can eventually lead to major success.