- Stephen Moyer, True Blood, TV, 2008-2011. He auditioned for Vampire Bill (“tall, dark and dead… and 168!”) and won Eric Northman, the vampire sheriff of Area 5 (he’s more than a thousand years old!) in Alan Ball’s vampire series HBO’s biggest global hit since The Sopranos.. Alexander’s father, the Swedish star Stellan Skarsgård, was asked to guest but he was too busy. As always.
- Chris Hemsworth, Thor, 2010. After Brad Pitt passed, 007’s Daniel Craig was first choice for the disabled medical student Dr. Donald Blake with the mighty Thor as his alter ego. Among others in contention were the future Loki, RoboCop, Tarzan and Magic Mike: Tom Hiddleston, Joel Kinnaman, Skarsgård, Channing Tatum. Plus the baby brother Liam Hemsworth, Charlie Hunnam, Paul Levesque, Tyler Mane. Oh and the distinguished Dr. Erik Sevig became Stellan Skarsgård, father of the Swedish acting clan: Alexander, Bill, Eija, Gustaf, Sam and Valter.
- Chris Evans, Captain America: The First Avenger, 2010.
The first screen version of the WWII propaganda comicbook hero – Defender of the Defenceless – since Republic’s 1944 serial (with Dick Purcell), two 1979 tele-quickies (Rep Brown) and the 1989 movie (Matt Salinger, son of the monumental JD, no less). A 1981 Universal plan for Jeff Brtidges never flew. Nor did Cannon’s 1984 take which UK director Michael Winner never got around to casting (well, not out loud). Other hunks missing the 2010 nine-picture deal for Cap Am sequels, Avengersmovies and cross-overs were… Jensen Ackles, Wilson Bethel, Michael Cassidy, Dane Cook, Chace Crawford, Garrett Hedlund, Kellan Lutz, Ryan Phillippe, Scotty Porter, Will Smith, Sebastian Stan (chosen for Bucky Barnes), Channing Tatum (in last three), Mike Vogel, Sam Worthington. Plus two of the Jonas brothers band (Joe and Kevin), three of the TV-Marvelverse: Wilson Bethel (Daredevil), Chad Michael Murray (Agent Carter), Derek Theler (New Warriors). And John Krasinski. “This is stupid,” he yelled during his costumed test, “I’m not Captain America!” And he wasn’t. But he was Amazon’s TV’s surprise Jack Ryan in 2018. Just as Skarsgard was Tarzan in 2015! - Michael K Williams, RoboCop, 2013. The old model had a female cop partner. This weak reboot’s model – after Bernal, Logan Marshall-Green and Alexander Skarsgård were passd over – has a black cohort. Suitably enough, considering the new robo-design was black. Not, alas, the script.
- Henry Cavill, The Man From UNCLE, 2013. Superman Cavill goes solo. Napoleon Solo… After securing the 60s’ TV series rights in 1993, producer John Davis went through 20 years, 14 scripts, four directors (letting slip Soderbergh and Tarantino!), plus 19 Napoleon Solos. From George Clooney in 2010 to Tom Cruise three years later. By way of the early-21st century suspects: Skarsgård (switched to The Legend of Tarzan), Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joel Edgerton, Michael Fassbender, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ryan Gosling, Jon Hamm, Joel Kinnaman, Ewan McGregor, Robert Pattinson, Chris Pine, Ryan Reynolds, Channing Tatum. Even Russell Crowe, surely a better bet at 50 for old Waverly, the UNCLE boss. Poor Davis never got it right!
- Armie Hammer, The Man From UNCLE, 2013. Skarsgård was still waiting to reboot Tarzan when finding himself in the mix for Napoleon Solo’s partner, Ilya Kurakin. So were Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ryan Gosling. Director Steven Soderbergh quit in November 2011 when understanding Warner wanted a new franchise (like his Ocean’s 11 trilogy) … but didn’t want to pay for it!
- Jamie Dornan, Fifty Shades of Grey, 2013.
Mark Wahlberg tried to buy the porno novel. Social networks were full of weird suggestions for the porn novel’s BDSM lover, Christian Grey. From Robert Pattinson, Matt Smith to Henry Cavill (well, S/M also stands for Superman) and Captain America Chris Evans (as if Marvel would allow that). None led to talks, auditions or tests. Because the suits had eyes only for Ryan Gosling. No way, said he. Most wise. Next target was Charlie Hunnam. He agreed and then suddenly quit because of his Sons of Anarchy, series (among other issues), and a second batch of front-runners were seen: Luke Bracey (the inevitable Aussie), Canadians Patrick J Adams and François Arnaud (well versed in jiggery-pokery as Cesare in The Borgias series), plus Scott Eastwood, Theo James, Billy Magnussen – and Skarsgård, playing Tarzan by then with an Anastasia Steele hopeful, Margot Robbie. (Hunnam had also been in the ape-man mix). The first group had been Amell (he preferred Oliver Queen, aka DC’s Arrow, TV 2012-2016), ex-UK model David Gandy (who simply refused) while two other Brits, Christian Cooke (from Love, Rosie with London model Suki Waterhouse up for Anastasia) and Dominic Cooper (perfect, surely!), Aussie Daniel McPherson – and Santa Monica’s Ryan Paevey actually auditioned. As for the Belgian hunk, Matthias Schoenaerts – he fell asleep reading the scenario. Oh, and author EL James vetoed any idea of of Dornan’s pal, Eddie Redmayne! They were all lucky to escape the turgid, totally un-erotic enterprise. Only 14 minutes and 17 seconds of sex, no orgasms – and pubes added digitally to actors’ genital patches!! And poor Dornan was a zero without his beard. - Chris Pine, Wonder Woman, 2015. On Warner shelves for a full decade (not helped by David Kelley’s disastrous 2011 TVersion), the demi-goddess daughter of Zeus finally joined the DC Extended Universe in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2015. For her film, four guys were up for her WWII lover Steve Trevor – Tarzan, himself, Scott Eastwood, Liam Hemsworth, … and Star Trek’s Captain Kirk reboot.
- Will Smith, Suicide Squad, 2015. After seeing 14 possible Harley Quinns, director David Ayer shuffled through 19 Deadshots. None hit the target. Not Daniel Craig, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Idris Elba, Colin Farrell, Michael Fassbender, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jon Hamm. Nor Skarsgård, Oscar Isaac, Joel Kinnaman (he became Rick Flag), Matthew McConaughey, Ewan McGregor, Robert Pattinson, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves and Jason Statham Another Warner/DC flop because Warner wasn’t Marvel and Smith was way too top-heavy for a team effort.
- Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Invisible Man, 2019. The major flops of Dracula Untold, 2014, and The Mummy (even with Tom Cruise) in 2016, seemed to kill the new Universal Monsters idea. Certainly, all plans for an invisible Johnny Depp were shred. Then, Blumhouse Productions (makers of Paranormal Activity, 2009) found a whole new take. The title fella is now the villain, a scientist literally haunting and terrorising his ex-lover – a powerhouse performance from the glorious Elisabeth Moss. Armie Hammer and Alexander Skarsgård were touted for Mr Invisible before Londoner OJC – Jonathan Harker in Universal’s Dracula, 2013-2014; Luke Crain in The Haunting of Hill House, 20180-2020; even Prince William in Will & Kate: Before Happily Ever After, 2011.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 10