Andrew McCarthy shades Judd Nelson for mixed messages about appearing in âBratsâ doc
Apparently, he forgot about him.
Andrew McCarthy, 61, who created and directed the Brat Pack documentary âBrats,â has revealed that Judd Nelson, 64, originally was enthusiastic about participating before he declined to appear in it.
âAt the beginning when I am calling everyone up, thereâs one moment where Iâm saying to someone, âDonât tell me now ⌠I want to get this all on film,â and that was Judd I was talking to,â McCarthy revealed on SiriusXMâs âAndy Cohen Live.â
McCarthy, who was himself a member of the Brat Pack, having appeared in âPretty in Pinkâ and âSt. Elmoâs Fire,â added about Nelson, âWhen I called Judd up, he was the most excited of anyone ⌠and he just launched in about all the Brat Pack.â
McCarthy added, âAnd thatâs when I said to him, which is in the movie, you know, âDonât tell me now. I want to get this all on film. Just slow down, Judd. Iâll come to LA, and weâll sit down.'â
According to McCarthy, Nelson said to him: ââGreat. Call me when youâre ready. Iâm here.ââ
Now streaming on Hulu, the documentary is about the titular group of â80s stars.
In it, McCarthy, who also directs it, tracks down his former compatriots such as Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore and Ally Sheedy and asks them about their experiences, and how they felt about the âBrat Packâ label.
Onscreen, Estevez shared that he felt being called âthe Brat Packâ created âthe perception that we were lightweights, that we didnât take it seriously,â while Lowe said he initially thought the label was a âfâking disasterâ but now has ânothing but goodwill.â
The doc has some notable absences, such as the Brat Pack queen, Molly Ringwald, and her âBreakfast Clubâ and âSixteen Candlesâ co-star Anthony Michael Hall.
Nelson, who was most notably in âThe Breakfast Clubâ and âSt. Elmoâs Fire,â does not appear in the doc â except seemingly via a phone call in the final scene, when McCarthy is shown saying, âHello, Judd?â on his phone, implying that Nelson is at the other end of the line. However, his voice isnât heard on screen to confirm that itâs him.
Before the doc premiered, Nelson seemingly scoffed about it, and told Us Weekly, âIt seems strange to have that subject matter be something for edited entertainment.
âAlso, like, [McCarthyâs] a nice guy,â he continued, âbut I hadnât seen him in 35 years. And itâs like, Iâm not going to [be] like, âHey!â No, dude.â
According to McCarthy, however, Nelson âbecame like a unicornâ after initially showing interest in the project.
âWe couldnât find him for months and months and months,â he added. âAnd then finally, he just said, âI donât want to do it.â Yeah, he just changed his mind, which is fine.â
Cohen replied, âWow. Thatâs so annoying.â
Anthony Michael Hall, 56, has also spoken out about why he turned down âBrats.â
âI was asked to be a part of it, but you know what, Iâll tell you my attitude is you have to wish everyone success. It was just something I chose not to do because Iâm always trying to move forward and make new things and do new stuff,â Hall told TV Insider.
Nevertheless, McCarthy said those not âwanting to do itâ are still âin the movie quite a bit.â
âYou know, theyâre in interviews and the archival stuff of them being, you know, intelligent and sensitive as I know them to be, but even people choosing not to participate, that says something,â McCarthy told Cohen.
âThis is 40 years ago almost. It still touches whatever it touches with people. Itâs like, âWow. Okay, interesting.â And so thatâs saying something too.â