There is little doubt that Game of Thrones didn't seem like a big deal when it was just starting out. So it's no surprise that some actors were not exactly eager to join the HBO series back in the day. For instance, Brian Cox has just admitted that he was offered the role of King Robert Baratheon. However, the Succession actor decided not to take the part because the character gets killed off in the first season!
Brian Cox has just released a book titled Putting the Rabbit in the Hat where he shares details about his long career. At one point, Cox confirms an old rumor that he was offered a part in Game of Thrones.
"I'm often asked if I was offered a role in Game of Thrones -- reason being that every other bugger was -- and the answer is, yes, I was supposed to be a king called Robert Baratheon, who apparently died when he was gored by a boar in the first season," Cox wrote (via GQ). He then adds that he still doesn't know much about the former King of the Seven Kingdoms.
"I know very little about Game of Thrones so I can't tell you whether or not he was an important character, and I'm not going to Google it just in case he was, because I turned it down," Cox wrote.
But why refuse to learn more about the character? Cox admitted that his reluctance has to do with the show's success despite its less-than-promising beginnings.
"Why? Well, Game of Thrones went on to be a huge success and everybody involved earned an absolute fortune, of course. But when it was originally offered the money was not all that great, shall we say," Cox wrote.
"Plus I was going to be killed off fairly early on, so I wouldn't have had any of the benefits of the long-term effects of a successful series where your wages go up with each passing season. So I passed on it, and Mark Addy was gored by the boar instead," he concluded.
It's interesting to consider that Brian Cox was almost King Robert. However, it seemed like the right choice for the actor and Mark Addy did a great job in Game of Thrones.
Brian Cox's book Putting the Rabbit in the Hat is now available in all your favorite book stores.
Related: George R.R. Martin Initially Surprised by Multiple Game of Thrones Spin-Offs
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!