Mahershala Ali’s audition for Game of Thrones might have seemed like a slam dunk, but it turned into a major misstep. Despite his acclaimed talent, Ali’s bid for a role in the iconic series was derailed by what he calls one of the worst auditions of his life. The reason? It was as unexpected as it was trivial, leaving Ali haunted by the missed opportunity for years.
Explore how a seemingly minor slip-up in his audition process cost him a chance in a game-changing role and how this experience became a memorable lesson in the unpredictable world of Hollywood casting.
Mahershala Ali’s Game of Thrones Audition: How a Missing Chair Turned Epic into Epic Fail
Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali almost traded in his crown for a dragon. The Moonlight star revealed in a 2017 interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he bombed his Game of Thrones audition for the silliest imaginable reason ever, and that was: no chair.
Back in 2012, the actor was all set to slay the GOT Season 2 audition, with lines memorized and power moves ready. But when he walked into the audition room at the HBO office, he found himself sitting on a tiny, backless stool. Recalling the moment, Ali confessed,
That was one of the worst auditions of my life… I am sitting there, feet halfway off the ground, a little bit stiff during the audition, and she goes, ‘Wow, you gotta loosen that up.’ That was really stiff, that was a problem. It was because I didn’t have a back to my chair.
Ali told Jimmy Kimmel that he was so very prepared to audition for the role of a merchant, but things didn’t entirely go as planned. He blew the audition because there was no chair in the room and this seriously haunted him. Even after so many years, Ali still called it the worst audition of his life. We can only imagine how epic it could have been with a comfy chair, though.
So, while we might never see Mahershala Ali on Game of Thrones, we can at least laugh at this hilarious audition story. And hey, maybe next time, casting directors, throw in a chair (with a back) for the actors. Who knows, it might just change someone’s life.
Mahershala Ali is in talks to join the new Jurassic World film
Get ready for a Jurassic Park shakeup! Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is in talks to join the next installment of the dino-packed franchise (via Hollywood Reporter). While this isn’t officially confirmed yet—if this happens, he’ll be sharing the screen with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and a few other big names.
Gareth Edwards will direct the yet-to-be-titled film, written by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp. Universal Pictures plans to release the action-adventure in theaters on July 2, 2025.
Watch Game of Thrones only on Max and Apple TV.
