Hugh Jackman is such a big name in Hollywood it's hard to believe he could ever have been passed up for a role. Over the years, the A-lister has graced the Hollywood scene with notable credits in the Oscar nominated film The Prestige and the widely successful X-Men franchise.
But if one could imagine a Hugh Jackman before all of his glitz and glamor, they might envision an up and coming actor attempting to be cast as FBI agent Eric Matthews in the hit turn of the century comedy Miss Congeniality.
Jackman recently revealed in an interview with Variety he auditioned for the movie back in the day, but ultimately didn't make the cut.
\u201cHugh Jackman recalls his audition opposite Sandra Bullock for \u201cMiss Congeniality\u201d: \n \n\u201c\u2018Holy s---! She\u2019s amazing! And so quick and fast. I\u2019m not even vaguely up to speed here.\u2019 I was pedaling as fast as I could.\u201d https://t.co/3tJLeoN8DJ\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1666802700
The star cites one reason for missing out on the role being he had yet to make a name for himself.
"No one knew X-Men, yet. I was a nobody."
Making matters worse, he only went to the audition at the behest of his agent—who concocted an elaborate plan to use his casting as a bargaining chip for a role Jackman had already been offered.
The actor admits he went in to the audition with no interest in the movie whatsoever. Naturally, things could only spiral downhill from there.
When Jackman first arrived at the studio, he was greeted with a shock. Jackman was immediately directed to read lines across from critically acclaimed actress Sandra Bullock.
The actor recounts how he felt he simply could not keep up with Bullock's performance.
"Holy sh*t! She's amazing! And so quick and fast. I'm not even vaguely up to speed here. I was pedaling as fast as I could, but I didn't know the script well enough."
"It was the first time I'd tested with another actor. I was impressed that she was in there. I didn't expect her to be in there. I'm guessing eight people she tested with."
Bullock would go on to eventually become the star of Miss Congeniality and Jackman ultimately missed out on playing the role of her love interest.
Instead, the producers opted to give the honors to actor Benjamin Bratt leaving the X-Men star feeling humiliated.
"That's humiliating when your agent says I don't want you to get this job, but just go get it and then you don't get it."
Meanwhile, fans are disappointed to hear Jackman wasn't cast in the movie.
\u201c@FilmUpdates WHAT omg we could\u2019ve had sandy and hugh???\ud83d\ude2d\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1666798442
\u201c@CNN Outrageous. This man is perfection\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1666891811
\u201c@FilmUpdates Imagine if he did that and then his follow up to it was X-man\u2026that movie would\u2019ve become more of a cult classic than it already is\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1666798442
\u201c@FilmUpdates You want me to believe Benjamin Bratt was better? LMAO\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1666798442
However, one user came to the defense of Bratt's casting.
\u201c@cnni thank god it went to benjamin bratt, their chemistry \ud83d\udd25\u201d— CNN International (@CNN International) 1666881040
Others praised Sandra Bullock.
\u201c@FilmUpdates ofc she did, it's Sandra Bullick we're talking about\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1666798442
\u201c@FilmUpdates oh sandra we love you\u201d— Film Updates (@Film Updates) 1666798442
\u201c@Variety Sandy's amazing... we all knew that.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1666802700
Luckily for Jackman, by the time he auditioned for Miss Congeniality he had already finished filming his iconic role as X-Men's Wolverine.
Both movies aired in the year 2000 marking two important milestones for both Jackman and Bullock.
Jackman is now set to reprise his role as Wolverine opposite Ryan Reynolds in the upcoming Deadpool 3.
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