- Jonathan Hyde, Ri¢hie Rich, 1993. After John Clesee fled, Thewlis also spurned the Hollywood offer of… what else but Richie’s English butler: Herbert Arthur Runcible Cadbury. Hyde is Australian – and stole the show.
- Jeremy Irons, Die Hard With A Vengeance, 1995. Blocked by Bruce Willis, who did not rate him as an actor, despite him winning the 1993 Cannes Best Actor award for Naked. (Whereas Irons had won something far more important to any Hollywoodian – an Oscar!). Earlier, Sean Connery rhad efused to be “schush a diabolical villain,”
- Tim Roth, Rob Roy, 1995. True Brits both but Roth was better known to US backers. And audiences.
- Ian Hart, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 2000. Thewlis passed on Professor Quirinus Quirrel. Hart grabbed it … and when 2002 came around, he advised Thewlis to accept Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón’s offer to become Professor Remus Lupin. “Best part in the book,” said Hart.
- Jason Flemyng, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, 2002. Considered for Jekyll and Hyde – although Jekyll’s alter-ego in Alan Moore’s graphic novel is far larger than the good doctor. Cheapskate casting was the order of the day in what (alas) proved to be Sean Connery’s finale.
- Ciarán Hinds, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, 2020 Thewlis and Jared Harris wre also in the mix for Roy Bland in Danish director Tomas Alfredson’s first cinema adaptation of John Le Carré’s breakthrough spy thriller.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 6