Succession star Brian Cox was originally offered the role of Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is one of the biggest shows of the 21st century, and even though the show’s ending didn’t please all its fans, the cast and the amazing cinematography stand tall as one of the best to have ever been on a TV show. There’s a reason why so many great actors wanted to be a part of the show, the list includes MCU’s Elizabeth Olsen, Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown, and quite surprisingly, Succession star Brian Cox.

Cox specializes in playing grizzled, no-nonsense types with a bit of an edge to them, which is why he’s so compelling as media empire head Logan Roy on Succession. In an excerpt from his biography Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, He revealed the role he was originally offered in Game of Thrones, but ultimately turned it down. He wrote:

“As we’re on the subject, 25th Hour was written by David Benioff, who of course went on to be showrunner for Game of Thrones. I’m often asked if I was offered a role in Game of Thrones—reason being that every other bugger was—and the answer is, yes, I was supposed to be a king called Robert Baratheon, who apparently died when he was gored by a boar in the first season. I know very little about Game of Thrones so I can’t tell you whether or not he was an important character, and I’m not going to google it just in case he was, because I turned it down.”

Putting the Rabbit in the Hat will be released on January 18. Do you think Brian Cox would have played a great Robert Baratheon on Game of Thrones? Talk to us in the comments below!