Dylan O’Brienrecalls bombing his audition to joinFrozen 2, the massively successful Disney sequel. O’Brien is returning to promote his role as comedy legend Dan Akroyd intheSNLbiopicSaturday Nightfrom director Jason Reitman, which releases in the U.S. on October 11. It’s one of several projects that theTeen WolfandMaze Runnerstar has in the works. But there is one gig that he readily admits he wasn’t right for.
In an interview onLate Night with Seth Meyersto discuss his role inSaturday Night, O’Brien talked about bombing his audition forFrozen 2. The star ofThe Maze Runnerwas candid about the fact that he was probably a bad fit forthe Disney sequel, which went on to gross more than $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office. In the quote below, although O’Brien jokes that his poor performance might have upset a casting associate due to his lack of singing abilities, he notes that he doesn’t regret the experience:
I knew I probably wasn’t going to get it. So, it’s a musical, and, like, they are looking for sort of multi-talented, multi-hyphenate people, who can act and sing. I didn’t check, well, to be honest probably either. But I sang across a desk to the casting associate, and I know I can’t sing, but I just wanted to do it, because sometimes it’s just good. I don’t always feel like a real actor. Cause I’m not.
Oh, this poor woman. I remember, actually, she asked me painfully if I could get to the chorus because she needed to see if I had a certain range, and I was just kind of swimming in the first verse a little bit, you know? And, reluctantly, she was like, ‘I do need to hear more,’ I was like, ‘Okay.’ And then I went higher and it was really bad. And she—I knew. She knew. It’s okay.
Frozen Might’ve Meant A Different Career Path For O’Brien
He’s Since Taken On Varied Roles
Considering the success of the firstFrozenmovie, and O’Brien’s own enduring popularity, a role in the sequel might have meant a springboard into bigger roles for the actor. But though he’s taken on a somewhat lower profile since his days leadingThe Maze Runnerand the action thrillerAmerican Assassin,O’Brien’s movie roles have been varie, and he may well be in the public eye more frequently over the next few years.
Since the release ofFrozen 2in 2019, O’Brien has starred inLove and Monsters,The Outfit, and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” short film, among others.
Along with his high-profile role inSaturday Night, O’Brien has earned praise for his performance in the queer thrillerPonyboi. He also leads theM. Night Shyamalan-producedCaddo Lake, which releases on the Max streaming service on October 10, in addition to films like the comedyTwinlessand the mysteryAnniversary. So despite the disappointment of losing out on a big franchise role, O’Brien has still been a part of big and diverse movies.
Our Take On O’Brien Missing Out On Frozen 2
It Worked Out For The Best
It’s probably a bit of a bummer for O’Brien to lose out ontheFrozen 2casting. Not only are there videos online of theTeen Wolfalum belting out “Let It Go”, but the franchise probably lends itself to other opportunities depending on how big his role was. Still, the actor seems to have taken it in stride and with the realization that he most likely would have been a bad fit. In any case, on the bright side, it hasn’t slowed him done. If anything, his fans should expect to see more of him.
Frozen II
Cast
The sequel to Disney’s smash hit musical animated film, Frozen II sees the return of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf as they embark on a new journey to save the kingdom of Arendelle. When Elsa and Anna learn about a betrayal that occurred between their nation and a local tribe in the Enchanted Forest, they discover they must seek the truth about their parents and the origin of Elsa’s powers to stop the rampaging spirits and the takeover of their home.
