Gossip GirlstarPenn Badgley reveals why he initially turned down the role of Dan Humphrey in the hit CW teen drama. After rising to prominence with a part in the soapThe Young and the Restless, his breakout role came as writer and romantic Dan as part of the cast ofGossip Girl, between 2007-2012. In the controversial season 6 finale,Dan Humphrey was revealed as the titular gossiper, cementing the character as an iconic yet divisive addition to popular culture. However, things could have been very different if another actor had played Dan.
Speaking to Alex Cooper on theCall Her Daddypodcast, Badgley revealed that he initially turned down the role of Dan.He explained it wasn’t even an indecisive ‘no,’ but it was a definitive rejection. The star described himself as feeling jadedand disillusioned with acting at the time, and tired of being in Hollywood, even in his 20s. Check out Badgley’s comments from the interview below:
“I was tired of television by the time ‘Gossip Girl’ came around… I initially turned the role down and I didn’t just kind of turn it down, I said, ‘So grateful you thought of me, wish you well, but no thanks.’ By the time I was 20, I was feeling really disillusioned and dried up and tired of being in Hollywood, of acting."
What This Means For Dan Humphrey’s Role In Badgley’s Career
His Breakout Character Has Shaped His Career Trajectory
It is interesting to note Badgley’s disillusionment with the industry at the time, which was likely to have been a common feeling among struggling actors in their earlier years. However, this can often come as a result of actors struggling to get roles, soit is interesting that this drove Badgley to turn down a role that could have been huge for him. It’s not clear what prompted the actor to change his mind and accept the role, but the decision has shaped the course of his career.
Dan Humphrey brought him global acclaim, and he has since built a strong career, starring as serial killer and writer Joe Goldberg, who can currently be seen as the lead in Netflix’sYouseason 5. But things could have been very different if Badgley had stuck to his initial decision about accepting the role of Dan. While it is difficult to think of any other actor in the role of Dan, this could very well have happened, and Badgley could have wound up quitting acting altogether. It has been noted thatactors like Alden Ehrenreich were also in considerationas Dan.
Our Take On A Different Dan Humphrey
It’s Hard To See Anyone Else As Dan
While another actor could have played the role of Dan, it is difficult to imagine someone other than Badgley as the character. I think that, in some ways,the murderous Joe Goldbergactually strengthens Badgley’s Dan Humphrey legacy.
The two characters share a lot of similarities, and, in many ways, Joe is a darker and more disturbing version of how Dan sees himself, the romantic, sensitive white knight with the soul of a poet.Gossip Girlremains an iconic show, and Dan Humphrey is an iconic character, and much of this is down to Badgley’s portrayal of him.
Gossip Girl
Cast
Set among Manhattan’s elite, this drama series follows wealthy teenagers whose scandalous lives are exposed by an anonymous blogger. The show delves into themes of betrayal, ambition, and the complexities of high-society friendships, as the characters navigate interpersonal conflicts and personal aspirations.
