You Won't Believe Which A-Listers Almost Landed the Lead Roles in True Blood
Well, to be fair, they weren't yet A-listers back then.
True Blood, which debuted in 2008, became a fairly popular fantasy horror drama thanks to its unique twist on the usual urban fantasy premise (in this series, the secret world of the supernatural stopped being a secret shortly before the start of the series) and its strong, award-winning cast.
However, did you know that the cast could have been even stronger? In fact, a couple of A-list actors nearly ended up landing roles on True Blood. Who were they, and how did that happen, you ask?
For the series's tenth anniversary, its creator Alan Ball presented a special screening of the pilot episode, during which he revealed details about the actors who were considered for the supernatural series.
As it turned out, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jessica Chastain auditioned for the roles of the series' main characters: 'I read Benedict Cumberbatch. He came and read for Bill. … Jessica Chastain read for Sookie.'
This revelation seems less surprising given that the casting for True Blood characters was announced in February 2007, so Cumberbatch and Chastain must have auditioned before then. At that point, Cumberbatch was undoubtedly a rising star but not yet anywhere near the A-list. Chastain only made her breakthrough into the spotlight in 2011, when she played several acclaimed roles, most notably in The Help.
Furthermore, at the very start of her career, Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for the role of Crystal Norris, a supporting character - and she would have gotten it if not for the fact that she was 17 at the time. As a result, the age difference between her and her character's boyfriend would have been uncomfortably big.
Imagine how True Blood would have looked with all these stars in the cast! On the other hand, one has to wonder whether their careers would have developed differently had they been cast in True Blood.
With such a star-studded lineup nearly happening, it's interesting to think about how the show might have been different, too. In any case, True Blood remains a popular series, and it's always intriguing to explore the what-ifs of casting decisions.
Source: Hollywood Reporter.