Would you say that there’s a plethora of actors who were almost in the iconic film Three Amigos? Well, maybe not a plethora, but according to Steve Martin, there were a few names being tossed around during casting besides his own, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase.
In a resurfaced interview from The Howard Stern Show, the Father of the Bride actor reflected on another one of his legendary roles — as one of the amigos in the cult classic film, Three Amigos.
The Amigos Who Might Have Been
In the clip, Stern asks Martin, “I don’t know if this is true … that was made for (John) Belushi and (Dan) Aykroyd to be in with you?”
Martin interjects and sets the record straight. “Well, there were names being tossed around … I don’t remember all the permutations of cast, but we always wanted Chevy, and we wanted John Candy. That’s what it was,” he explained. “And I remember thinking, ‘Too bad Belushi died,’ because he would be perfect.”
The Saturday Night Live alumni connections make total sense — Three Amigos was, after all, co-written by Martin, Lorne Michaels, and Randy Newman, with the kind of quirky humor that defined that era of comedy. Imagining Belushi and Candy as part of the trio definitely paints an intriguing “what if” picture for fans of the golden age of ‘80s comedy.
But Martin was quick to express how happy he was with the eventual casting. “We get Martin Short, which is such a great get — not only for the movie but also for my life,” he said warmly. “Now we’re working together, we’re on the road.”
Stern interjected with praise for Short: “He’s a genius.”
Martin agreed without hesitation. “Yeah, he’s hilarious,” he said. “There are certain people in life that you just love to be around.”
It’s a comment that hits even harder today, as Martin and Short continue their decades-long friendship and comedic partnership — from Father of the Bride to their hit Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, which they currently star in alongside Selena Gomez.
Fans React to the “What If” Casting
Fans on TikTok flooded the comments of the resurfaced interview, equally nostalgic and curious about how different Three Amigos could have been with a slightly different cast.
“John Candy as one of the ‘3 Amigos’ would have been great too,” one fan wrote, while another agreed, “Candy and Belushi would be great in anything.”
Still, most fans couldn’t imagine anyone but the trio we know and love. “All those other guys are great, but the 3 of them were perfect for that movie,” one commenter declared. Another wrote, “Best movie EVER!”
Others took the opportunity to shower Martin Short — and his real-life bff Steve Martin — with well-deserved love. “Martin Short and Steve Martin are national treasures,” one fan said. Another added, “Martin Short could be the funniest person ever,” while a lucky commenter recalled, “I spent a half hour with Short at my casino job once. Just as kind and funny as you would hope.”
And as one fan hilariously summed up the online consensus: “Remember that guy who said Martin Short isn’t funny? Yeah, neither do I.”
Related: Steve Martin and Martin Short Have ‘Perfect Wedding Gift’ for Selena Gomez
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
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