Before Lois Lane Casting in DCU, Rachel Brosnahan Paid Heavy Price For Not Being Funny Enough: “It wasn’t like an insulting thing”

Before Lois Lane Casting in DCU, Rachel Brosnahan Paid Heavy Price For Not Being Funny Enough
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Laying out narrative plans in January for James Gunn’s latest on-screen iteration Superman: Legacy, DC knighted Rachel Brosnahan to play the coveted role of Lois Lane. Casting her alongside David Corenswet, who is set to play Superman, Gunn’s original screenplay is set to release on July 11, 2025. 

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Rachel Brosnahan
Rachel Brosnahan

Gaining success after her role as a stand-up comedian in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan became a household name and made her way into DC. However, the actress experienced major rejections in pursuit of her career. Labeled as “unfunny” despite her comedic role as Midge, Brosnahan even felt indebted to her show’s executive producers for taking a chance on her. 

Also read: ‘I’m here, I’m about to be available’: Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Star Rachel Brosnahan on Fantastic Four’s Sue Storm Casting Rumors

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Rachel Brosnahan Wasn’t A Natural Fit For Her Comedic Role 

Appearing in the 2017 released period comedy-drama, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan played the role of a stand-up comedian, Miriam “Midge” Maisel. Discovering her talent for stand-up comedy, Brosnahan decided to go professional with it, and while many found her a natural fit for the role, not everyone was on the same page with her. 

Rachel Brosnahan
Brosnahan was rejected from roles for being unfunny

The day I found out I was going to be their Midge, [I] lost a role that morning because I wasn’t funny enough. They wanted someone funnier.” the actress recalled. 

While many felt that Rachel Brosnahan was meant for the comedic role, she only recently revealed how she was rejected for not being funny enough, before booking the lead role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Opening up about being called unfunny at the beginning of her career, Brosnahan disclosed how she “spent the first couple years of my career being told I was not funny.” 

Rachel Brosnahan
Brosnahan wasn’t a natural fit for comedic roles

Considered not a natural fit for comedic roles, Brosnahan was repeatedly rejected before The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel‘s executive producers offered her a chance. Trying without losing her spirit, the actress stated how considering the rejection as a challenge helped her land the lead role as Midge.

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Also read: Sex Education Star Emma Mackey Leads Lois Lane Race for James Gunn’s Superman Movie Despite 32 Year Old Rachel Brosnahan’s Outstanding Audition

Rachel Brosnahan Is Grateful To Her Show’s Executive Producers 

Although Rachel Brosnahan has been recently selected for the role of Lois Lane in James Gunn’s latest on-screen iteration of Superman: Legacy, she suffered her fair share of rejection in the industry. Despite garnering praise and earning an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards, for her comedic role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Brosnahan was previously rejected for being unfunny. 

Rachel Brosnahan
Brosnahan was advised to pursue other roles

It wasn’t like an insulting thing. It was really just a lot of people who were professionals kind of saying, ‘You might want to head in a different direction. Maybe consider something over here.’ I think it’s been a really challenging and incredible exercise over the last couple of years” Rachel Brosnahan mentioned. 

Repeatedly being advised by professionals to go another route, Rachel Brosnahan mentioned pursuing comedic roles as a challenge. She later confessed how The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel‘s executive producers took a chance when no one else did. Being grateful to the executive producers Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino “for saying yes and taking that kind of chance on someone” like her, Brosnahan claimed to be “eternally indebted”. 

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Rachel Brosnahan
Brosnahan is grateful to Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino

Losing roles in different projects, prior to her appearance as Midge in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Rachel Brosnahan claimed to have dealt with critiques throughout her career. However, eventually, she proved everyone wrong with her outstanding performance in all four seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime Video. 

Read more: You’ll Be Surprised To Know Where These 15 Actors Keep Their Awards

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Source: People

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Written by Krittika Mukherjee

Articles Published: 1592

Krittika is a News Writer at FandomWire with 2 years of prior experience in lifestyle and web content writing. With her previous works available on HubPages and Medium, she has woven over 1500 stories with us, about fan-favorite actors, movies, and shows. Post-graduate in Journalism and Honors-graduate in English Literature, when this art enthusiast isn't crafting your next favorite article, she finds her escapism in coffee, fiction, and the Wizarding World.