WHAT IF? - TV Casting Edition

Sawyer

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Basically what (preferably notable) actors were in the running, suggested for, or almost got a lead role in a series before the eventual actor landed the role?...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

- Pretty much half the actresses to show up in the first few seasons of BTVS (Charisma Carpenter, Julie Benz, Mercedes McNab, Elizabeth Anne Allen) auditioned for Buffy. Selma Blair and Katie Holmes were considered too. SMG auditioned for Cordelia.

- Ryan Reynolds was offered the role of Xander Harris.

- Nathan Fillion auditioned for Angel.

Shameless:

- Woody Harrelson was set to play Frank Gallagher when the show was in development, but dropped out after the success of Zombieland.

Grey's Anatomy:

- Rob Lowe was considered for Derek Shepherd.

Once Upon a Time:

- Katee Sackhoff auditioned for Emma Swan and it was down to her and Jennifer Morrison for who would play the role.

Breaking Bad:

- The studio and network were reluctant to cast Bryan Cranston, and instead suggested John Cusack and Matthew Broderick for Walter White. When both turned it down, Cranston was cast.

Game of Thrones:

- In the original pilot, Catelyn was played by Jennifer Ehle, and Daenerys was played by Tamzin Merchant.

LOST:

- In early stages, when the character of Jack Shephard was set to be killed at the end of the pilot, Michael Keaton was interested in taking the role. When ABC told the writers not to kill the protagonist so soon, and the role became a series regular, Keaton backed out.

- Yunjin Kim auditioned for Kate, and the producers were so impressed with her that they crafted the characters of Sun and Jin instead.

- Jorge Garcia, Dominic Monaghan and Matthew Fox all auditioned for the role of Sawyer, as not many of the other roles had been crafted at the time.

- Lance Reddick was the initial choice for Mr. Eko in season 2, but was unable to take the role due to his commitment to The Wire. He would later be cast in the fourth season.

- Jennifer Jason Leigh was approached to play Libby in season 2.
 
I didn't know the Shameless or Once Upon a Time ones! Can't imagine anybody else as Frank. Didn't know the one about Lance Reddick being Mr Eko either. That would've been interesting
 
John Hawkes was offered the Governor on The Walking Dead.

Scott Glenn was Clay Morrow in the original Sons of Anarchy pilot.
 
Sleepy Hollow

Paul Bettany and Karl Urban were both approached for Ichabod Crane.

The Walking Dead

Thomas Jane was set to play Rick Grimes when TWD was in the works at HBO.

The Blacklist

Kiefer Sutherland and Hugh Laurie were both approached for James Spader's role.

Michelle Monaghan was the first choice for the female lead.

Battlestar Galactica

Sam Shepard, Ed Harris and Harrison Ford were all considered for Adama.
 
Wonder who all auditioned for Dexter or True Blood. Ohh or who else was in the running in Hannibal
 
Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena - Vanessa Angel was originally cast as Xena, but dropped out due to illness (aka a romance with Richard Gere in England). It's a bit unclear, but it appears that Roma Downey, Melinda Clarke and others were then offered the role of Xena, but as it was "pilot season" in the US, they couldn't find a US based actress who was willing to film the initial three episode appearance on Hercules in New Zealand. Lucy Lawless was eventually tracked down while off on a camping trip and was offered the role.

Gabrielle - Sunny Knox/Doench was originally cast as Gabrielle, but dropped out because she didn't want to move to New Zealand. Renee O'Connor who had already played a love interest for Hercules in one of the original TV movies was then quickly cast.

Lois and Clark

Clark Kent/Superman - Kevin Sorbo. I vaguely recall reading that the man who would be Hercules was very close to being cast as Superman before Dean Cain got the role.
 
Wonder who all auditioned for Dexter or True Blood. Ohh or who else was in the running in Hannibal
David Tennant auditioned for Hannibal. He impressed Fuller so much, that Fuller wants to write him a guest role at some point.

Fuller also wanted Angela Lansbury for Gillian Anderson's role, and Lee Pace for Will.
 
Charmed
-Shannen Doherty was originally offered the role of Piper the middle sister but wanted Prue instead. She ended up convincing Holly Marie Combs to audition for the role and took her to her audition.
 
Glee

- Chris Colfer auditioned for Artie. Ryan Murphy liked him so much he created Kurt Hummel specifically for Colfer.

- Darren Criss auditioned for Finn Hudson and later Jesse St. James.

True Blood

- Ian Somerhalder auditioned for Jason Stackhouse

- Alexander Skarsgard auditioned for Bill before being cast as Eric. His father Stellan Skarsgard was offered a role but turned it down.
 
Married With Children:
The original unaired pilot had Tina Caspary as Kelly Bundy and Hunter Carson as Bud Bundy before Christina Applegate and David Faustino were eventually cast.

At one point, Sam Kinison and Roseanne Barr were being thrown around as names to play Al and Peggy Bundy

Michael Richards was also at one point being looked at for Al Bundy.
 
Ooh, MWC reminds me...

Ed O'Neill was nearly cast as Sam Malone on Cheers.

Ironic considering who plays his ex-wife on Modern Family.
 
I still wish they had gotten Katey Sagal to play his ex on MF.
 
CSI franchise

- When William Petersen left, John Malkovich and Kurt Russell were both considered for his replacement before Laurence Fishburne signed on.

- When Fishburne left, Robin Williams, John Ligthow and Tony Shalhoub were sent offers before Ted Danson took the role.

- The producers wanted Katee Sackhoff on the series when Jorja Fox left, but the network declined.

- Don Johnson was considered for the lead role in CSI: Miami.

- Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta were both approached for the lead role in CSI: NY.
I still wish they had gotten Katey Sagal to play his ex on MF.
Eh. I buy Shelley Long as Julie Bowen's mom more than I'd be able to buy Katey Sagal in the role. But I wouldn't mind a guest role at some point. Surprised it hasn't already happened. O'Neill on SOA is welcome too.
 
The Office (US)
The first 1:45 of this video...
[YT]h1DHuP_rgbY[/YT]
 
Smallville
Jensen Ackles auditioned for Clark Kent
Eric Johnson auditioned for Lex and Clark
 
I think Milo Ventigmilia auditioned for Clark too.
 
Ooh, MWC reminds me...

Ed O'Neill was nearly cast as Sam Malone on Cheers.

Ironic considering who plays his ex-wife on Modern Family.
David Milch wanted O'Neill as Swearengen in Deadwood, but HBO nixed it. Powers Boothe was cast, but got sick and we ended up with McShane. McShane, of course, is incredible, but I'd have loved to see O'Neill.
 
Oh man you guys have me sooo wanting some O'Neill dramatic work now. I seriously can't remember him in anything dramatic at all. Wayne's World, Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Dutch and.... What else?
 
Plus he had those cop shows Dragnet and Big Apple.
 
Yea I have John From Cincinnati just never have gotten around to watching it. Might have to give it a shot
 
Amanda seyfried auditioned for Veronica Mars. Alona Tal was rob Thomas' second choice for Veronica.

Kristen bell auditioned for chloe Sullivan on smallville
 
Friends:
Nancy McKeon almost landed the role of Monica Geller
Craig Bierko was almost cast as Chandler Bing
 

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