Ryan Reynolds’ disastrous audition for the Coen brothers: “What are you doing here?”
In the film industry there are various kinds of actors – the ones that do a mix of commercial and indie films, those who prefer ‘high-brow’ and challenging parts, and then the stars who stick firmly to the mainstream. Ryan Reynolds certainly falls into the latter category, typically opting for blockbusters and lighthearted comedies that cater to a wide-reaching audience.
He began his career in the early 1990s with roles in shows like Hillside and The Odyssey before making his film debut with 1993’s Ordinary Magic. However, it was his part in the sitcom Two Guys and a Girl that allowed him to gain recognition in the mainstream, leading to roles in comedies like The In-Laws, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.
As Reynolds’ career continued, he appeared in the rather questionable comedy Just Friends, in which he donned a fat suit, alongside popular rom-coms like Definitely, Maybe, and The Proposal. He also lent himself to some dramas and thrillers, but it was his roles as the superheroes Green Lantern and Deadpool that have come to define the star.
Since the early 2010s, the actor has consistently appeared in big-budget movies from The Croods to The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Detective Pikachu, Free Guy, IF, and various Deadpool movies. He’s a Hollywood staple, but not one that typically goes for roles that could truly challenge him, at least psychologically. Reynolds never really works with particularly acclaimed filmmakers or appears in indie films these days, suggesting that he prefers a comedic or action-filled role that will earn him a quick cheque.
That’s not to say that he hasn’t tried to land roles in slightly more interesting films, however. In an interview with Variety, Reynolds revealed that he once auditioned for the Coen brothers, but they weren’t remotely interested in having the star in their movie. “I auditioned and failed for the Coen brothers. Hail, Caesar! was it? No, it was the one before that,” he revealed, which suggests that he was trying for a part in Inside Llewyn Davis, which starred Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan.
He continued, “It wasn’t the right fit, mostly because they’re very high class. They were just quietly shaking their heads, like, ‘What are you doing here? Do you have a SAG card?’”
At least Reynolds knows his place in Hollywood as a big-budget star, more likely to be cast in the lead of an animated children’s movie or an action hero blockbuster than a gritty drama or a psychological thriller. Yet, Reynolds clearly has acting talent – it has carried him through several decades of box-office successes – and it’s a shame that he has built up a reputation for himself that has subsequently prevented him from securing different roles.
It’s not clear who he was auditioning to play in the Coen brothers’ film, but it doesn’t seem like the directing duo were that bothered about casting ‘high-class’ actors, considering that they picked Justin Timberlake for a role. The singer’s acting credits until this point were largely on par with the kinds of films Reynolds had done, with titles like The Love Guru, Yogi Bear, and Friends With Benefits to his name. It seems like Reynolds just wasn’t the right fit for the Coen brothers’ movie.
