Succession Star Brian Cox Refused Iconic Game of Thrones Role “Because they didn’t pay enough money”
Brian Cox is a Scottish actor who is known for his notable roles in movies like The Escapist, Troy, The Bourne Supremacy, and Bravehearts. He has delivered several outstanding performances in the film industry. Cox is renowned for portraying patriarch Logan Roy in the series Succession. Cox has dedicated his life to his work, playing iconic roles like Hannibal Lecktor in Manhunter and Agamemnon in Troy across several decades.
The 77-year-old has been part of various films and series. He even was offered to be part of Game of Thrones. The HBO show was the biggest TV show during the 2010s. The series had a successful run with its exciting and controversial eight seasons. The fantasy series had a huge A-list cast like Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke. Game of Thrones went in history to be one of the iconic shows. Brian Cox refused to be part of the show but later regretted his decision.
Brian Cox turned down Game of Thrones
HBO’s Game of Thrones was one of the most popular television programs. The eighth season of the fantasy series captivated viewers with epic stories from the mythical land of Westeros. The series had a huge ensemble cast like Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, and many others. Celebrities from the industry auditioned to be part of the show. However, all of them ended up on the show. Few were offered the role, but they turned it down.
Brian Cox was one of the actors who turned down Game of Thrones and later regretted it. The actor, famous for his role in Succession, revealed in an interview he had the chance to join HBO’s hit fantasy. However, Cox turned down the offer for the simple reason being money. The 77-year-old explained that the actors were not paid enough on the show. He said,
“Well, stupidly, I turned it down in the early days because they didn’t pay enough money. Now they have more money … I was silly, it was silly, because I’m a complete addict now. But I don’t know what I could play.”
The Manhunter actor had the opportunity to join the series earlier in the eight-season run of the program. The show was in the middle of its sixth season when he thought back on his decision to forego it. In 2016, the actor became a fan of the show and was very much open to being part of the show. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like that ever worked out for Brian Cox.
Brian Cox rules his own kingdom in Succession
Although he turned down the iconic fantasy series and missed the chance to scheme in ruling the Iron Throne, Brian Cox got his own series on HBO. The 77-year-old actor got the opportunity in Succession to rule his own kingdom. The Scottish actor gained notoriety among the younger generation when he portrayed the cunning Logan Roy in Succession. The series aired in 2018 and had a successful run with four seasons till May 2023.
The show traces the life of Logan Roy. Due to his early exposure to hardship, the billionaire founder of the media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo Roy has spent his life focusing on expanding his business, neglecting his four children in the process. Roy’s sudden retirement sets off a power battle among his children.
The 75th Annual Emmy Awards nominations are dominated by Succession. The adored and well-regarded drama received 27 nominations. Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, and Jeremy Strong created Emmy history by being the first three actors from the same program to be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Succession is available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: VODzilla
