- Christian Bale, Equilibrium, 2002. Purcell’s big break disappeared when Bale was finally free to be Senior Grammaton Cleric John Preston, responsible for 118 of the film’s 236 body count. Purcell became a lowly resistance fighter and made his name three years later in the Prison Break TV series, 2005-2008.
- Edward Norton, The Incredible Hulk, 2007. Welcome to Hollywood, Louis Leterrier… Marvel wanted Eric Bana to reprise his hulking from the first 2002 movie. The French director preferred Mark Ruffalo. He considered were Matthew McConaughey, Dominic Purcell and Liev Schreiber. But Marvel told him: “You should get Edward Norton because he’s more famous!” A genuine Hulk fan, Norton had refused the first movie in 2002. He hated the script – and would rewrite most of his one (as Edward Harrison), probably why he was replaced by Ruffalo for Disney’s first summit meeting of the Marvel superheroes, The Avengers, 2011. And six more chapters. At least.
- Liam McIntyre, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, TV, 2011. The former Prison Break star let it be known he was keen on succeeding the titular Andy Whitfield, tragically struck down by cancer in March 2010. The Starz company had two options: re-cast or end their hit series. While back home in Australia, Purcell shot his own test as the Thracian gladiator for the Starz brass. A few months earlier, his Prison Break brother, Wentworth Miller, had also tried to land the job. Both guys were turned down in favour of another Aussie. “Andy’s Spartacus is always going to be Andy’s Spartacus,” said Liam. “I’d never try and emulate that. Or try to be him. I think that should stand alone as his legacy.”
- Patrick Warburton, Mr Peabody & Sherman, 2013. Purcell, Jamie Bamber, Nathan Fillon and Karl Urban were heard to voice King Agamemnon. Since Mr P is a most amazing time-travelling dog… he also got to meet such other historical figures as Beethoven, Buill Clinton, Leonardo De Vinci, Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, the baby Moses, Shakespeare, Spartacus, George Washington, the Wright brothers… and Mel Brooks voicing Einstein.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 4