Sometimes, the role of a lifetime ends up costing you another role of a lifetime. So goes the story of Charlie Cox. Though the actor has been around for years, with credits that include The Theory of Everything and the underrated Stardust, most now know him for playing Daredevil on the Netflix series of the same name. And yet, a technique that's crucial to playing Matt Murdock on the show might have cost Cox a part in a movie shooting in a galaxy far, far away.
Daredevil is blind. Which means that, when he plays him, Charlie Cox often stares off into the distance, focusing on... nothing. In an interview with THR, the actor admits that this might have cost him the role of Han Solo in the planned prequel story set around the classic Star Wars hero. Cox admits:
I had gone to an audition --- one of those things that are super secretive and they don't tell you, but I'm pretty sure it was for the Han Solo reboot--- and halfway through it, the casting director stopped me and said, 'Why aren't you looking at me?' I realized I had gotten into a habit of not making eye contact, because the only thing I had done for two years is play someone who is blind. I never got invited back, probably because they couldn't figure out why I was acting like a complete idiot.
Go ahead. Laugh it up, fuzzball.
Truth be told, even if Charlie Cox was able to look his casting directors and agents in the eyes, there's no telling if he would have been able to land the part of Han Solo in the as-yet-untitled Han Solo spinoff movie. Everyone and their brother seemed to read for that part before Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) reportedly landed the gig.
And seeing as how Charlie Cox plans to be very busy with Netflix projects for the next few years, I'm not 100% sure he'd even be available. We know that Daredevil will be part of The Defenders, which is a smaller-scale version of The Avengers, that will use the TV heroes Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Also, because the second season of Daredevil was such a hit, I expect Marvel will want to move forward with a third season. Cox playing Han Solo might have complicated that schedule.
Alas, Charlie Cox as Han Solo wasn't meant to be. I guess you can say that he and the casting agents didn't see eye to eye.
I'll let myself out.
Movie junkie. Infatuated with comic-book films. ReelBlend cohost. Resident dad. Extroverted introvert. Wants to see the Snyder Cut. Managing Director at CinemaBlend.
