5. Various Cast Members Originally Auditioned For Different Roles In The Show
As is the case with most television series, various different actors in The Wire auditioned for a multitude of roles on the show before ultimately ending up with the character that they are now so famously associated with. A few of the actors and the roles that they initially auditioned for are listed here, simply because of how strange it is to imagine them as (often extremely) different characters to the ones that they became known for. Jamie Hector, who played drug lord Marlo Stanfield, initially auditioned for the role of boxer Cutty. Gbenga Akinnagbe, who played Marlos enforcer Chris Partlow, initially auditioned for the role of Marlow himself. Lance Reddick, who played Lieutenant (and later Major) Cedric Daniels, initially auditioned for the roles of homicide detective Bunk and drug addict Bubbles. Ray Winstone was offered a role written just for him but turned it down. Dominic West, who plays lead character Jimmy McNulty, agreed to star on the basis that he assumed the series would be cancelled after one season. Tray Chaney auditioned for the role of Barksdales enforcer Wee-Bey Brice but was considered too short, so the character of drug dealer Poot was written especially for him. Tristan Wilds, who played schoolboy and future Marlo enforcer Michael Lee, initially auditioned for the role of fellow schoolboy Randy Wagstaff. Seth Gilliam, who played cop Ellis Carver, initially auditioned for the role of drug enforcer Stringer Bell. Isiah Whitlock, Jr., who played senator Clay Davis, initially auditioned for the role of detective Lester Freamon.