Millie Bobby Brown Nearly Landed These Iconic Roles - Here’s What Happened

Published 06/19/2025, 1:11 AM EDT

Millie Bobby Brown did not tiptoe into Hollywood, she teleported in at age twelve with nosebleeds, superpowers, and the kind of screen presence usually reserved for Oscar winners. As Eleven in Stranger Things, she became a global phenomenon practically overnight. By her teens, she had already starred in blockbusters like Godzilla: King of the Monsters, launched her own skincare line, produced Enola Holmes, and snagged two Emmy nominations. Not bad for someone who still cannot legally rent a car. But even the brightest stars miss a few constellations.

There are several iconic roles Millie Bobby Brown came close to claiming, proving that even a rising powerhouse cannot play every part, yet.

Millie Bobby Brown nearly unleashed her inner mutant as Laura Kinney in Logan

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Millie Bobby Brown, barely a teenager, confessed to vying for X‑23 in Logan during Variety’s Actors on Actors interview with Evan Rachel Wood. She aspired to spar with Hugh Jackman and faced director James Mangold’s scrutinizing gaze, rehearsing her lines until her fingertips bled, figuratively speaking, of course. She has since called this experience the best audition of her burgeoning career, a bold testament to her talent and confidence even before most teenagers have figured out how to survive high school, let alone Hollywood’s pressure, politics, and unpredictability.

Despite Millie Bobby Brown’s fierce performance and strong audition, the part ultimately went to eleven‑year‑old Dafne Keen. Casting directors and filmmaker James Mangold opted for Keen’s raw physicality, quiet intensity, and remarkable ability to express emotion without dialogue, believing she embodied the character’s silent, feral nature more authentically. The young actress graciously applauded Keen’s work on screen, describing her portrayal as “incredible” when she finally saw the film. Proving that Hollywood’s mysterious alchemy of look, timing, instinct, and energy often shapes final casting decisions, even for rising superstars.

Had Millie Bobby Brown secured the role, she would have inhabited Laura Kinney’s emotionally complex world, balancing tender vulnerability with razor‑sharp violence. The part demanded wordless expression, every glance, twitch, and tremor conveying trauma and determination, skills Brown already demonstrated as Eleven in Stranger Things. She would have trained in stunt choreography, embodying X‑23’s animalistic grace and precision. Although there is no doubt that Dafne Keen was meant for the role, many fans still imagine Millie Bobby Brown dancing between innocence and ferocity as Wolverine’s cloned daughter.

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After narrowly missing the chance to unleash claws, Millie Bobby Brown nearly wielded a sword and a throne on Bear Island.

Millie Bobby Brown nearly ruled Bear as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones

Millie Bobby Brown once shared that she auditioned for the role of Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, a character who may have been small in stature but wielded more authority than half the kingdom’s war councils combined. She admitted the rejection stung so much it nearly made her quit acting, an emotional detour in a career built on intense characters, supernatural powers, and impossible odds. Ultimately, the role went to Bella Ramsey, who delivered it with scene-stealing excellence, ironclad presence, and unshakable resolve well beyond her years.

Millie Bobby Brown, however, was more than capable of commanding House Mormont. Her performance in Damsel proved she could carry the weight of leadership, courage, and emotional scars without ever losing depth or vulnerability. She would have brought a compelling balance of grit and grace to Lyanna Mormont, icy composure layered with quiet, explosive fury and a touch of youthful defiance. Though she did not get to rule Bear Island, one can easily imagine Millie Bobby Brown in furs, silencing full-grown lords with just a blink, a raised eyebrow, and absolute authority.

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Millie Bobby Brown may have missed out on a few legendary parts, but she has more than made up for it. From leading fantasy thrillers like Damsel to building her own production house, the young actress is proving herself to be an unstoppable force. She is currently attached to high-profile projects, collects leading roles like Pokémon cards, and is even rumored to be joining the Power Rangers reboot soon. If Hollywood were a kingdom, then Millie Bobby Brown is already ruling it, fierce, fearless, fabulously on schedule, and entirely impossible to ignore.

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Could Millie Bobby Brown have pulled off these iconic characters? Share your verdict and casting opinions in the comments down below.

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Iffat Siddiqui

337 articles

Iffat is a versatile wordsmith with 2 years of experience- a creative virtuoso who seamlessly fuses precision with adaptability to master any content. Being a budding writer, she wields her wit and craft with precision, ensuring every sentence carries a touch of intrigue and a spark of vitality. With her talent to hooking the audience to her opinionated writing, spinning theories like an Agatha Christie trying to piece the pieces of a puzzle together.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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