Brian Cox Reveals In New Book He Turned Down ‘Game Of Thrones’ & ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’

In case you hadn’t heard, “Succession” star Brian Cox has released a memoir, “Putting The Rabbit In The Hat,” which includes various blunt opinions on projects and people within the film and television industry. The result? A lot of hot takes from the actor and some new revelations about nearly being in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and the “Pirates of The Caribbean” franchise.

According to book excerpts premiered by GQ, the veteran actor reveals that he almost took on the role of King Robert Baratheon in “Game Of Thrones,” played by Mark Addy, but decided to pass because of the low pay that HBO was offering and the limited screen time.

READ MORE: Brian Cox Takes Aim At “Overblown” Johnny Depp, “Meretricious” Quentin Tarantino & More In New Book

“When it was originally offered, the money was not all that great, shall we say,” he wrote. “Plus, I was going to be killed off fairly early on, so I wouldn’t have had any of the benefits of the long-term effects of a successful series where your wages go up with each passing season. So I passed on it, and Mark Addy was gored by the boar instead.”

At the time, the show wasn’t spending the kind of money on the first season as it would in later seasons when it became a global phenomenon. Brian Cox wouldn’t have seen the kind of money or exposure other cast members would have as “Game of Thrones” chugged along.

Cox previously called-out Johnny Depp’s performance in “Edward Scissorhands” as “overblown” but almost worked alongside him.

Cox reveals he “turned his nose up” at Jonathan Pryce’s role as the Governor in Disney’s successful “Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl,” the first installment in Gore Verbinski’s box office juggernaut trilogy of adventure films led by Depp. The Scottish actor had previously worked with Verbinski on the western remake of “The Ring” starring Naomi Watts.

Another project Cox discussed was the “Harry Potter” movies, suggesting he might have played Mad-Eye Moody, but says Brendan Gleeson got the job and praised the Irish actor’s talents.

“I think the part I might have played was the one that Brendan Gleeson got, Mad-Eye Moody, but Brendan was more in fashion than I was at that point, and that’s very much the way of the world in my business, so he got it. Also, he’s much better than I would have been,” Cox said in his new book.

A working actor being this candid isn’t the norm, but it’s certainly entertaining for the rest of us.