Since the launch of Adolescence on Netflix, viewers around the world have been raving about the performance of teenage actor Owen Cooper in his debut acting role.
However, it might amaze fans to learn that other teenage actors who auditioned to play Jamie Miller were also in the cast in the acclaimed TV drama.
Starring Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty and Ashley Walters, Adolescence tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who’s accused of murdering a girl from his school in a horrifying knife crime.
Owen, 15, made a star-making turn as Jamie in the one-shot series, prompting audiences to speculate that this is just the start of a hugely successful acting career ahead for the exciting talent.
Ahead of Adolescence’s launch, Stephen – who stars as Jamie’s dad – and director Philip Barantini spoke at the streaming giant’s Next on Netflix event to discuss the harrowing show.
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At the event, which was attended by Metro, they explained how they narrowed the casting for Jamie down to four contenders before selecting Owen – but that wasn’t the end of the road for the other actors who went for the lead role.
‘We made a show about a 13 year old boy as the lead. And we were thinking, are we going to be able to get a 13 year old to do what we need them to do? It’s heavy. We scoured the northwest. Shaheen Baig, our amazing casting director, is incredible at finding young talent,’ Philip recalled.
‘We have actors who’ve done a few bits and bobs, but also kids who’ve never acted before. And Owen was one of those kids.’
The director, who also directed Stephen in the 2021 film Boiling Point, revealed how they knew that Owen ‘had something’ when they watched his self-tape.
‘He’s so spontaneous, and he’s listening. He’s not thinking about acting. He’s not acting, he’s just being. So we put him through his paces. I think there’s five or six audition processes, and Stephen did some screen tests with him.’
At this point, Stephen, 51, jumped in to share the thoughtful gesture they made to the other young boys who weren’t chosen to play Owen in Adolescence.
‘We narrowed it down to four boys. There was hundreds – hundreds, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. We got it down to these last four, but I think what we did is something that’s never really been done before,’ the actor and co-writer shared.
‘We were conscious not to go, “Thank you very much and see you later, ta rah.” We knew that we wanted one kid, but the other four that we’d got down to our final selection, we gave them the opportunity to play all the characters within our piece.’
Stephen explained that the boys who missed out on the lead role weren’t asked to audition again, but were simply offered the chance to still appear in the drama.
He feared the idea of ‘breaking their little hearts’, adding: ‘That’s not what you want to do.’
When they had to break the news to the teenage boys that they weren’t going to play Jamie, they explained that it wasn’t down to the fact that they weren’t good actors – it was solely because they weren’t quite right for this specific part.
‘What you’re explaining from that very beginning is this is not down to your talents or your ability. It’s just that you don’t fit this particular thing that we’re looking for now. But we would like to offer you another role, and each and every one of the kids were absolutely superb, weren’t they? All of the kids within our piece are fantastic,’ he stated.
Adolescence is teeming with plenty of young talent, in addition to Owen as Jamie.
Amélie Pease, who played his on-screen sister Lisa, had also never acted professionally before, while Kaine Davis upped the suspense with his portrayal of Jamie’s friend Ryan, when the teenager flees from the police during questioning.
Amari Bacchus had a pivotal role as Adam Bascombe, as the young boy sheds further light on incel culture and the way it’s infiltrated into young people’s lives while speaking to his dad DI Luke Bascombe, played by Top Boy star Ashley.
It hasn’t been confirmed which teen stars that were in the Adolescence cast were almost cast as Jamie.
Nonetheless, given the ‘absolutely superb’ performances they gave in the drama, we reckon we might be able to spot who the other contenders might have been.
Metro has contacted Netflix for comment.
Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix.
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