When Lucifer star Tom Ellis auditioned for a major Outlander role

Tom Ellis and Sam Heughan are two very successful actors fronting two very successful shows: Lucifer on Netflix and Outlander on Starz respectively. As it ends up, they went to drama school together, and interviewed each other for a recent feature in Square Mile magazine.

Some interesting stuff came up. For example, at one point these two were on the verge of being costars on Outlander. “I’m going to let you into a little secret,” Ellis told Heughan. “I auditioned for Outlander, not for Jamie Fraser but for Tobias Menzies’ part, ‘Black Jack’ Randall. I remember reading the script thinking, ‘This is really good.’”

Black Jack Randall is an Englishman and bitter enemy of Heughan’s character, Jamie Fraser. In his most infamous act of villainy, he subjects Fraser to sexual torture. “Firstly, dude, I’m not sure how I’d have felt having you, I don’t know, assault me shall we say,” Heughan said.

Ellis agreed. “Exactly,” he said. “That sort of thing would have been quite tricky.” At same time, Heughan could also see an upside:

"That would have been quite tricky, but I know we would have had a great time. Actually, you would have been brilliant at that because Frank Randall is this charming, loveable character and then Black Jack, the other part you would have had to play, is just violent."

Game of Thrones veteran Tobias Menzies, who actually got the part, does indeed play a duel role: Black Jack Randall and Frank Randall, Jack’s ancestor. “It’s a great part. Tobias, of course, does an amazing job but that would have been so different.”

Sam Heughan never thought Outlander would be the success it became

Lucifer fans are currently waiting for the show to air new episodes of its fifth season, which will be followed by a sixth and final one. Outlander also has a sixth season on the way, although we don’t know when either of these shows will officially be back on the air.

For the two actors, that’s alright, because the series have been successful beyond their wildest dreams. “I remember the first day being driven in by my driver,” Heughan said. “He asked, ‘How long do you think it’s going to go for?’ I was like, ‘Two years max, that will be it.’ We’re into our eighth year and we’re still going.”

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h/t Express