- Robert Pattinson, Twilight, 2008. . Finalists up for Edward Cullen – and the birth of a triumphant franchise – were Pattinson, Jake Abel, Ben Barnes, Dynamo (the future Magician Impossible), Shiloh Fernandez, Colton Haynes and Jackson Rathbone… who played Jasper, instead
- Dev Patel, The Last Airbender, 2009. After auditioning for Prince Zuko, the Twilight saga star became Sokka in director M Night Shyamalan’s ninth (and worst) fantasy.
- James D’Arcy, Hitchcock, 2012. Hitchcock’s back in business! With two films headlined by UK actors (Anthony Hopkins, Toby Jones) in bad impressions and fat suits. This is the second one: Hopkins directing Psycho. And telling Janet Leigh: “You can call me Hitch. Hold the cock.” If Hitch didn’t look (nor sound) like Hitch, likewise those playing Janet Leigh and Vera Miles, young D’Arcy made an uncanny Anthony Perkins. Rivals for the role had included Rathbone, Ben Barnes, Tom Felton, Andrew Garfield, , Ryan Merriman, Aaron Taylor-Johnson – and Jack Huston, whose Uncle Danny was already in the cast.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 3