those of Netflix Stranger Things Star David Harbor made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Red Guardian in 2021 with Scarlett Johansson directed Black Widow. But it seems he almost joined 20th Century Fox’s Marvel world alongside Hugh Jackman in its $373 million budget. X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009.
For someone who worked with Tom Cruise (War of the Worlds), Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road), and Daniel Craig in Quantum of comfort, Being rejected for something like belly fat was a surprise to him, he said in an interview with The Wrap in 2017.
He detailed his audition and revealed that he made a joke in front of the panel that, instead of winning him the role, cost him the opportunity to shine as the major secondary antagonist – Blob. The role ultimately went to actor Kevin Durand (Robin Hood) who wore a big suit for the role.
Read more: 10 Times Marvel Angered Fans By Canceling Movies That Would Have Set The Box Office On Fire
David Harbor had mixed feelings about Blob
Harbor said he met with one of the casting directors who worked on X-Men Origins: Wolverine and was looking for bulky actors to take on the role. The casting director, he pointed out, told him she thought Blob was the perfect role for him. Telling him he needed work, David Harbor heard Blob’s description that he hadn’t seen coming a mile away.
David Harbor told The Wrap –
“I was like, ‘Great, I need to work, what do you have?’ » She’s like “THE BLOB!” » She said to me, “Yeah, he’s like an X-Men, he’s big, fat and controls gravity,” and I said, “Okay, wow, that’s flattering.” And she was like, “No, no, it’s not that you’re fat, it’s just that we need a big guy to wear the suit.” »
He sat down with the creators to better understand the role and made the joke that got him called in by director Gavin Hood who turned him down.
Read more: Mark Wahlberg was tired of making films rejected by Tom Cruise or Leonardo DiCaprio, he called it the main reason he made a bold career decision
Gavin Hood Reportedly Rejected David Harbor Over Belly Fat Joke
During the audition process, Harbor thought of a comedic thing to do by lifting his shirt to show the panel that he was there for the right character. He said, “I have your Blob here” and this decision worried Hood.
“I said to myself, ‘Why, what are you worried about?’ I’m ready to go. I’m available, let’s do this!’ – he continued with The Wrap. “And they were like, ‘No, it’s just that you lifted your shirt and we saw the…we’re just a little worried about your health.'”
Suggested: ‘I Might Fail At This’: Jessica Alba Faced A Harsh Reality After Watching Old People Completely Destroy Her While Hiking
Confused by the rejection, he told the directors: “Are you telling me I’m too fat to play The Blob?” » A decade later, he owned his physicality with the Red Guardian and is expected to return next year. Love at first sight.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine can be streamed on Disney+.
Source: The Wrap
