Channel 4 The Inbetweeners: The Hollywood stars who nearly played Will McKenzie but were ‘too dashing’
Everyone can remember awkward Will McKenzie, who was everyone’s favourite geek from the hit E4 coming-of-age sitcom The Inbetweeners. As one of the main characters of the show, Will had a very distinctive look- with his nerdy specs and less-than stylist hairstyle that set him apart from the crowd.
Even though it’s hard to think that someone else could’ve played Will aside from Simon Bird, there were in fact a few famous celebrities who you might be surprised to know had their eye on the role and even went on to audition for the part.
Marvel actor Dominic Cooper and former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith, were both interested in appearing on the show but were sadly turned down because they were “too dashing”. Series creator Iain Morris had previously revealed to Digital Spy in 2009 that they were both in the running.
READ MORE: The Inbetweeners star says there’s ‘not enough money in the world’ to return
“We auditioned literally 1000 people – including Matt Smith who is the new Doctor. And I’m sure Dominic Cooper at one point too. He was brilliant – down to the last two for Will, I think. I think he was a bit too dashing!” said Morris. “That’s why he’ll be brilliant in Doctor Who – he’s got something sort of heroic about him.”
Dominic Cooper first TV role was playing The Infinite Worlds of H.G Wells in 2001 playing Sidney Davidson. While Matt Smith began his TV career in The Ruby in the Smoke back in 2006 playing Jim Taylor and is also famous for starring in Netflix’s the Crown as Prince Phillip.
Inbetweeners ran for three series from 2008 but ended in 2010. It followed the lives of four misfits students at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive school.
The show, which is loved by many, won a number of awards including an award for Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy in 2011 and wining the Audience Award at the British Academy Television Awards in 2010.
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