Ryan Reynolds has done various roles, from superheroes to comedy roles and even romantic ones. The range he has in acting is undoubtedly brilliant and he does not shy away from showcasing the talent that is within him. However, one project that made him say so in an instant was that of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
While he has done roles both good and bad, the show was one of the few projects he was sure he would not want to do. Even though he is friends with Joss Whedon, it was not enough to tempt him to take up a role in the hit series led by Sarah Michelle Geller.
Ryan Reynolds Was Unwilling To Become A Part Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer
During the 1990s when Buffy the Vampire Slayer was just starting, Ryan Reynolds was fairly known in Canadian television series and movies. His recognition in Hollywood worldwide was yet to take off but he had been offered a role in the main cast of the show. This was specifically for the role of Xander Harris. The character was eventually played by Nicholas Brendon and he is a close friend of the protagonist, Buffy.
One of the few powerless yet integral beings of the show, Harris became a significant character regardless of not holding any form of superpowers or abilities to help fight supernatural forces. At that time, getting a role like that would have been the biggest win in Reynolds’ career.
The show dealt with various subgenres and gave the audience a taste of what supernatural shows could feel like, which led to other shows like Supernatural and The Walking Dead rising in popularity. It not only touched on matters of romance and action, but also mental illnesses, sexual assault, and addiction. The series became a changing point in media when a female lead was seen taking over pop culture.
Ryan Reynolds Was Concerned About Taking Up The Role of Xander Harris
Regardless of Ryan Reynolds having a great friendship with the creator of the show Joss Whedon, past experiences made the actor step away from the role no matter how career-changing it may have been for him. It was his life in high school that the actor wanted to avoid reliving.
“I don’t regret anything,” said Reynolds. “I don’t [even] regret having been beaten up in elementary school by the next-door neighbor. All these things led me to where I am. It builds character. I have no regret about doing any of this stuff.”
While there isn’t much that the actor regrets, not having said yes to the role is still on the list of the few things that he does. His being just out of high school made him run away from the role.
Source: The Toronto Star
