Sean Astin, renowned for his role in the beloved family film The Goonies, recently addressed a longstanding rumor about the movie, expressing mild offense at its persistence. The rumor suggested that child actors in The Goonies were deliberately kept from seeing One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship to ensure genuine reactions of awe on camera. However, during the “Hey You Guys! The Goonies Reunion” panel at Awesome Con, Astin clarified this was not entirely accurate, as some cast members had in fact seen the ship beforehand.
Astin shared his thoughts candidly, saying, “I was sort of offended that they had that idea, that they wouldn’t let the kids see the pirate ship, so that they could capture their real reaction. Like, what? We don’t know how to do real? We did real reactions all the time.” He further recounted his own experience, noting, “But I remember wanting to perform in such a way, because I had had a sneak peek of it. So I wanted to perform in a way that really made them think that they had captured the honest reactions, so they would for 40 years be like, ‘Oh, we got these kids to do this thing!'”
The tale did hold some truth for Martha Plimpton, who portrayed Stef in the film. She confirmed to the audience that her reaction was genuine as she hadn’t seen the ship prior to filming. In response to a question from her co-star Pantoliano, she stated, “I hadn’t seen it. My performance was honest. One. [That’s] all they needed, baby,” referring to the number of takes of her reaction.
Ensuring authentic reactions by keeping certain elements a surprise is not uncommon in filmmaking, especially with young actors. A similar technique was used in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where actress Georgie Henley was kept unaware of James McAvoy‘s transformation into Mr. Tumnus, resulting in a truly delighted reaction when she saw him for the first time.
In contrast, The Goonies rumors have been enhanced by nostalgic fans and media speculation over the years. The cast’s reflections on these experiences contribute a fascinating layer to the lore surrounding the film, which recently announced an eagerly anticipated sequel in February 2025. The sequel has prompted mixed reactions, with some fans preferring to let the classic stand alone, while others are excited to see the original cast return to the big screen.
The upcoming sequel will be penned by Potsy Ponciroli, as revealed by Variety, and will see the return of original creatives including producers Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Holly Bario, and Chris Columbus, the writer of the initial film. Lauren Shuler Donner will serve as executive producer, and more details are expected to emerge as production progresses.
Ke Huy Quan, who delighted audiences as Data in the original, shared his enthusiasm about the project, noting to Entertainment Tonight, “We have an incredible writer writing the script. Chris Columbus, Spielberg, obviously, same creative team. Except we’ve been developing for a long time. I want to be optimistic this time around. Hopefully, it will happen soon.”
As excitement builds and secrets unravel, fans are left to ponder how the sequel will honor the legacy of The Goonies while bringing fresh stories to life. Despite years of debate and speculation, Sean Astin’s insights provide clarity and a touch of nostalgia for those eager to revisit the magic of their childhood adventures.
