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Jim Parsons Shares Major Casting SECRETS From Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory cast could person looked a full batch different.
In the new book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff, creator Chuck Lorre and different producers revealed a fistful of stars who astir appeared connected the show, including Selena Gomez, Sandra Bullock, Macaulay Culkin and Ringo Starr.
But who, exactly, would these A-listers person played? According to executive producer Steve Molaro, producers reached retired to Gomez "a mates of times" aft she shared that she was a fan of the sitcom connected Instagram successful 2016, and the team thought she could possibly play Amy (Mayim Bialik)—with a twist, per TVLine, that she is actually "beautiful and large and everyone loves her." But unfortunately, the impermanent quality ne'er worked retired owed to scheduling conflicts.
Bullock, connected the different hand, was producers' archetypal prime for Raj (Kunal Nayyar)'s day to Sheldon and Amy's Nobel Prize ceremonial (he yet took Sarah Michelle Gellar).
"Sandra Bullock was really our archetypal go-to due to the fact that of Koothrappali's agelong emotion of her," enforcement shaper Steve Holland said. "We were truly excited astir it, but we got a polite diminution due to the fact that she was shooting a movie and wasn't available. But we were precise excited Sarah was disposable to travel on."
Another imagination casting telephone was legendary Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr, who Lorre himself noted bares a striking resemblance to Howard (Simon Helberg). Because of this, producers wanted him to play Howard's absentee father.
"It was a amusive speech based connected Simon's haircut and carnal appearance," Lorre said. "You could bargain the familial nexus to Richard Starkey…. We pursued it to the constituent wherever we got a coagulated no."
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While each these stars were courted for insignificant roles, determination were a fewer large names tossed astir for the leads. Marisa Tomei and Tara Reid nearly starred as the pistillate lead, which yet went to Kaley Cuoco. On the different hand, Home Alone's Macaulay Culkin was pursued for the pb relation of Leonard, which yet went to Johnny Galecki after Culkin decided helium "wasn't interested" following a gathering with the series' creators.
Lorre noted, "There's a peculiar ethereal prime to that histrion that I thought mightiness beryllium great."
Keep scrolling to spot much stars that were astir formed successful your favourite tv shows.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/Ron P. Jaffe/CBS
Jason Biggs arsenic Ted Mosby connected How I Met Your Mother
"I was offered the relation and it's astir apt my biggest regret, you know, connected passing," the American Pie alum revealed successful a 2021 SiriusXM interview. "I deliberation I was successful a signifier of, astatine the time—it sounds truthful obnoxious to accidental close now—but astatine the clip it was like, 'Okay, bash I privation to bash TV?' I don't cognize that I was rather acceptable to spell that route."
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Alden Ehrenreich arsenic Dan connected Gossip Girl
Casting manager David Rapaport told EW, "Before Penn was involved, I desperately wanted Alden Ehrenreich to play Dan," but producers thought helium was excessively abbreviated to play the relation of Blake Lively's emotion interest. So the relation went to Penn Badgley, who is conscionable astir the aforesaid tallness arsenic Ehrenreich, according to the internet.
Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Rob Lowe arsenic Derek Shepherd connected Grey's Anatomy
Lowe revealed that helium turned down the relation of McDreamy successful his 2014 memoir, and it came backmost up successful an occurrence of Marc Maron's podcast. "That's astir apt outgo maine $70 million," helium joked. "Eh, it's conscionable money." Lowe says helium watched the aviator erstwhile it came out, "and erstwhile they started calling the handsome doc 'McDreamy,' I was like, 'yeah, that's not for me.'"
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images, Moviestore/Shutterstock
Benedict Cumberbatch arsenic Bill Compton connected True Blood
Sherlock and Doctor Strange prima Benedict Cumberbatch auditioned for the relation of vampire Bill Compton backmost successful the day. Stephen Moyer went connected to onshore the part.
Gary Gershoff/WireImage, Moviestore/Shutterstock
Jessica Chastain arsenic Sookie Stackhouse connected True Blood
Before she was an Oscar nominee, Jessica Chastain work for the relation of Sookie Stackhouse. The portion yet went to Anna Paquin.
VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images, Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Jennifer Lawrence arsenic Crystal Norris connected True Blood
A 17-year-old Jennifer Lawrence work for the portion of werepanther Crystal Norris, and astir got the part, but her property played a origin successful the portion going to different actress. Lindsay Pulsipher landed the gig.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic, Warner Bros. Television
Tiffani Thiessen arsenic Rachel connected Friends
Saved By the Bell and Beverly Hills, 90210 seasoned Tiffani Thiessen said she auditioned for the portion of Rachel connected Friends, but she was excessively young for the role.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images, Cbs Television/Entertainment Pictures via ZUMA Press)
Katherine Langford arsenic Betty Cooper connected Riverdale
Katherine Langford connected Riverdale? It astir happened. The Golden Globe-nominated prima of 13 Reasons Why auditioned for the relation of Betty Cooper, according to Riverdale prima Camila Mendes. "I retrieve we went retired and we got falafel with a feline who was auditioning for Archie," Mendes told EW.
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Katherine Heigl arsenic Jen Lindley connected Dawson's Creek
It's hard to ideate anyone other playing Capeside's nonmigratory NYC transplant, but arsenic creator Kevin Williamson revealed to Entertainment Weekly, the relation of Jen astir went to aboriginal Grey's Anatomy prima Katherine Heigl, acknowledgment to aviator manager Steve Miner, who brought the prima of his 1994 movie My Father the Hero to Williamson's attention. "She looked somewhat older astatine that time. Even though she was younger, I conscionable deliberation she was much mature," Williamson recalled. "She gave a large audition, I retrieve we were each benignant of like, ‘Wow, she's good.'"
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Selma Blair arsenic Joey Potter connected Dawson's Creek
The relation of Dawson Leery's lovesick BFF Joey Potter turned Katie Holmes into a star, but the relation astir wasn't hers. As creator Kevin Williamson admitted to Entertainment Weekly, the relation was Selma Blair's to yet lose. "I truly loved Selma until, of course, I got the infamous videotape from the basement of the Holmes household successful Toledo, Ohio,"he said of Holmes' last-minute audition. "And erstwhile that video showed up, it changed my full life."
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Lisa Edelstein arsenic Carrie Bradshaw successful Sex and the City
The House and Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce histrion was truthful adjacent to taking connected the iconic relation of Carrie Bradshaw that she adjacent had a completed contract. In the end, however, she was conscionable the back-up to the producers' archetypal choice, Sarah Jessica Parker. "I was either going to bash it oregon not. It each depended connected whether she said yes," Edelstein said. "My declaration was complete. I was waiting." While we conflict to imagine a satellite successful which SJP is not Carrie Bradshaw, Edelstein really makes a batch of sense.
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Ashley Olsen arsenic Serena van der Woodsen connected Gossip Girl
Initially, The CW wanted Ashley Olsen arsenic our favourite beauteous blonde Upper East Sider, casting manager David Rapaport told Buzzfeed, but helium lone had eyes for Blake Lively. "I was terrified we wouldn't get her oregon they wouldn't similar her because, honestly, the amusement lived and died connected her and I had perfectly nary different ideas," helium said.
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Rumer Willis arsenic Blair Waldorf connected Gossip Girl
The CW wanted aboriginal Dancing With the Stars champion Rumer Willis arsenic the bitchy Gossip Girl lead, but casting manager David Rapaport knew she wasn't close for the relation (and would yet formed her connected 90210). "I emotion Rumer," helium told Buzzfeed. "She's grown into rather an astonishing histrion and person, but that, to me, was based connected protecting the concern of a tv amusement wherever creatively, these lesser-known girls truly captured the essence of the amusement and carried it for six years."
Getty Images; Kharen Hill/The CW
Keke Palmer arsenic Iris West connected The Flash
Before Keke Palmer was formed connected Fox's hilarious fearfulness drama Scream Queens, she was successful the moving to play Iris West connected The Flash, a relation that yet went to Candice Patton. "We had seen Candice initially, but I deliberation we were excessively aboriginal connected successful the process to formed her truthful we ended up investigating Keke Palmer and this different girl, but they felt a small excessively young adjacent to Grant [Gustin]," casting manager David Rapaport told Buzzfeed. When helium brought Candice back, "it was magic."
Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO
Iwan Rheon arsenic Jon Snow connected Game of Thrones
Iwan Rheon told The Telegraph that erstwhile the Game of Thrones aviator was being cast, helium made it to the last 2 for the relation of Jon Snow. Of course, Rheon went connected to play Ramsay Snow, aka play 5's astir hated character, portion Kit Harington cemented a spot successful our hearts arsenic Jon. We can't adjacent carnivore to ideate it immoderate differently, truthful we conscionable won't.
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Chris Pratt arsenic Chuck connected Chuck
After moving with the Guardians of the Galaxy prima connected the last play of The O.C., Josh Schwartz revealed Pratt was his archetypal prime for the relation that yet went to Zachary Levi. "He was the archetypal feline I wanted to play 'Chuck'. But arsenic destiny would person it, helium was destined to defender the galaxy, not the Buy More," Schwartz revealed. "And mightiness I add, couldn't hap to a nicer guy."
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images, Jessica Miglio/Netflix
Katie Holmes arsenic Piper connected Orange Is the New Black
The Dawson's Creek seasoned met with Orange Is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan aboriginal successful the show's development, Kohan revealed. Holmes, who is an admitted instrumentality of the series, had "other things to do," Kohan told E! News. "And besides successful the opening nary 1 knew what this was."
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Cobie Smulders arsenic Kate connected Lost
Yep, Robin Scherbatsky could person been Kate Austen, and 2 of our favourite shows were astir precise different, according to Cobie Smulders.
"[Evangeline Lily and I] were some investigating for Lost. She owes a batch to maine due to the fact that I went successful and I bombed the audition. [laughs] And she was like, ‘Thank you!'"
NBC; Larry Busacca/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Nancy McKeon arsenic Monica connected Friends
Back erstwhile Friends was inactive being cast, Courteney Cox work for the relation of Rachel, but wanted the relation of Monica. However, NBC was looking astatine The Facts of Life prima Nancy McKeon to capable the role.
"Nancy McKeon, from The Facts of Life, also work for Courteney's part. She gave a terrific performance," Lori Openden, caput of casting for NBC astatine the time, said. "Warren [Littlefield, the past NBC president] fto Marta [Kauffman] and David [Crane] marque the call. They went disconnected for a locomotion and came backmost and said Courteney."
NBC; Larry Busacca/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Lisa Whelchel arsenic Rachel connected Friends
The erstwhile Facts of Life prima revealed she work for the relation of Rachael Green erstwhile Friends was inactive successful its aviator stage. "I retrieve speechmaking the aviator occurrence and I said to my husband, ‘This is the funniest publication I person ever work and this is going to beryllium a immense hit,'" Lisa Whelchel said connected an occurrence of Oprah: Where Are They Now? But she didn't prosecute it due to the fact that she knew the amusement would find a batch of its drama successful sex, she said.
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Helen Hunt, Ashley Judd arsenic Alicia connected The Good Wife
Everybody knows The Good Wife is Julianna Margulies' show, but that astir wasn't the case. The Emmy victor revealed the workplace wanted Ashley Judd and Helen Hunt earlier she got the gig.
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Katie Holmes arsenic Buffy connected Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Hard to ideate anyone other hunting down vampires successful Sunnydale, but the ex-Mrs. Cruise astir had the rubric relation successful the WB series. Katie Holmes turned it down to spell to precocious school, and Sarah Michelle Gellar was cast.
HBO, Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Lorraine Bracco arsenic Carmela Soprano connected The Sopranos
The relation that yet went to Edie Falco was primitively offered to Lorraine Bracco, but the Oscar nominee said she had already done the relation successful Goodfellas and wanted to effort her manus astatine thing new.
FOX, ABC
Taraji P. Henson arsenic Olivia Pope connected Scandal
Before she was breaking records connected Fox's Empire, Taraji P. Henson revealed she auditioned to beryllium Scandal's eventual fixer, Olivia Pope. "When I went successful to work for Shonda Rhimes, successful my caput I was like, ‘This is Kerry Washington. Why americium I adjacent successful here?'…It was hers," she said.
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Gillian Anderson arsenic Lady Cora connected Downton Abbey
Can you ideate Agent Scully residing successful Downton Abbey? It astir happened, but the X Files prima turned down the relation that yet went to Elizabeth McGovern.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Variety, Sony Pictures Television, AP Photo/John Stillwell, Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Danny DeVito, Chris Rock and More arsenic George connected Seinfeld
Jason Alexander revealed Chris Rock, Danny DeVito, Larry Miller, Nathan Lane and much celebrated faces were each up for his relation connected Seinfeld earlier helium got it.
NBC;Valerie Macon/Getty Images
Courtney Cox arsenic Rachel connected Friends
Most die-hard Friends fans cognize this, but for the uninitiated, Courteney Cox auditioned for Rachel earlier being formed arsenic her champion person Monica. Jennifer Aniston won the relation of Rachel and the remainder is history.
CW; Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images
Ashlee Simpson arsenic Elena connected The Vampire Diaries
It's hard to ideate anyone other playing Elena Gilbert connected the CW deed series, but Jessica Simpson's sister was the network's archetypal choice. It wasn't until the producers took a 2nd look astatine Nina Dobrev's audition portion that they decided to spell with the Bulgarian beauty.
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Mary Lynn Rajskub arsenic Pam connected The Office
Damnit, Chloe! As overmuch arsenic we emotion you, you were ne'er meant to play Pam. The 24 prima auditioned for the relation that yet was won by Jenna Fisher, and the remainder is insubstantial institution emotion history.
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Ray Liotta arsenic Tony connected The Sopranos
The precocious James Gandolfini was superb arsenic Tony Soprano connected the HBO drama, but Ray Liotta was the archetypal prime to play the mob boss. In a Today Show interview, helium said helium turned it down due to the fact that helium wanted to absorption connected movies, and helium didn't privation to marque the two-year commitment.
