Netflix’s Stranger Things star David Harbour made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as the Red Guardian in 2021 with Scarlett Johansson-led Black Widow. But, it appears that he almost joined the 20th Century Fox’s Marvel world alongside Hugh Jackman in his $373 million X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009.
For someone who has worked with the likes of Tom Cruise (War of the Worlds), Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road), and Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace, being rejected for something like belly fat came as a surprise to him, he told 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 big supporting antagonist – Blob. The role ultimately went to actor Kevin Durand (Robin Hood) who wore a fat suit for the part.
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David Harbour Had Mixed Feelings About Blob
Harbour said that he came across one of the casting directors who was working on X-Men Origins: Wolverine and was looking for bulky actors to take on the role. The casting director, he pointed out, told him that she thought Blob was the perfect role for him. Telling her that he needed work, David Harbour heard the description of Blob that he didn’t see coming a mile away.
David Harbour told The Wrap –
“I was like, ‘Great, I need to work, what have you got?’ She’s like ‘THE BLOB!’ She was like, ‘Yeah, it’s like an X-Men, he’s like big, fat and controls gravity,’ and I was like ‘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 makers to get a better understanding of the part and made the joke that had him summoned by director Gavin Hood who turned him down.
Gavin Hood Allegedly Rejected David Harbour Due To Belly Fat Joke
During the audition process, Harbour thought of a comedic thing to do where he lifted his shirt to show the panel that he was there for the right character. He said, “I got your Blob right here” and that move got Hood concerned.
“I was like, ‘Why, what’s your concern? I’m good to go. I’m available, let’s do this!’ – he continued with The Wrap. “And they were like, ‘No, it’s just, you lifted up your shirt and we saw the… we’re just a little worried about your health.’”
Confused at the rejection, he told the directors, “You are telling me I’m too fat to play The Blob?” A decade later, he owned his physique with the Red Guardian and is slated to be back in next year’s Thunderbolts.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine can be streamed on Disney+.
Source: The Wrap
