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ICYMI, Darren Criss won his first Emmy Award earlier this week! Yes, the 31-year-old Glee alum snagged the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. “Oh my god, you guys are witnessing the most extraordinary moment of my life thus far,” he said as he accepted the gold statue.
With his newfound success, we don’t anticipate him losing out on many roles in the near future… but that doesn’t mean he has a 100% track record. In fact, there are more than a handful of parts on TV, in movies and even on Broadway that could’ve gone to Darren Criss… but didn’t in the long run. Here are some of the best examples:
Finn Hudson, Glee
There are SO many members of the Glee cast that auditioned for other roles on the series first. Darren is no exception.
In an interview with Wall Street Journal (via Digital Spy), the actor revealed that, before he was cast as fan favorite Blaine Anderson, he OG tried out for the part of the dramedy’s lead male, Finn Hudson, originated by Cory Monteith. “I’ve gone out for Glee before, so I was no stranger to the general casting family,” he said. “I had gone out for the role of Finn before my senior year at the University of Michigan… You always go out for things that you may not be right for. I’m not a football guy, so I wasn’t heartbroken that I didn’t get it. It actually worked out just fine. Blaine is a really cool guy. It’s a dream come true as an actor to play someone so complex.”
Prince Zuko, The Last Airbender
If you’ve been a fan of Darren since his A Very Potter Musical days, then you’d know how much of a fan he’s always been of Avatar: The Last Airbender. That’s why it came as no surprise to learn that he’d reportedly auditioned for the live-action 2010 production.
The actor allegedly auditioned for the part of Prince Zuko. The part, however, went to Dev Patel. Eh, no big deal — the film was a total FLOP anyway.
J. Pierrepont Finch, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Darren’s portrayal of J. Pierrepont Finch in the Broadway production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was ***flawless. Like, Daniel Radcliffe & Nick Jonas both did phenomenal jobs portraying the same character… but there was something about Darren’s performance in 2012 that left us wanting more.
Maybe that’s why there was a message board on Broadway World that insisted the actor was tapped to star in the TV movie version of the production. Sadly, it never happened.
Various, American Idiot, Once, The Book of Mormon
Before Darren entered the Broadway scene in How to Succeed, as well as Hedwig and the Angry Inch, he reportedly auditioned for other well-known shows, including American Idiot, Once and The Book of Mormon. Obviously, though, he didn’t snag any of the parts.
Host, The X Factor
Back when The X Factor was still a thing in the States, rumors swirled that Darren was offered a hosting gig on the singing competition, but he allegedly said no to Simon Cowell because he was “too busy” and “more interested in being a performer than a host.”
Yeah… apparently, none of that was true. “Oh, it made me look awesome! I had nothing to do with it, and it made me look so cool. It was, like, free press,” he told The Hollywood Reporter at the 2012 Met Gala. “I’m happy to say that that was not actually true.”
“It was a classic example of people running with something that they didn’t bother to check facts with,” said the actor. “But I didn’t want to get in the way. I thought it was so cool.”
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