Unbelievable! The Surprising A-lister Who Almost Stole Blake Lively's Iconic Gossip Girl Role

Summary

Blake Lively's role in Gossip Girl almost went to another major star, potentially changing modern Hollywood.

Blake Lively's selection for the role was influenced by the positive response of her previous work, which ultimately proved to be the right decision. Renowned for her portrayal of Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, Lively narrowly secured the role, ultimately reshaping the landscape of contemporary Hollywood. Adapted from Cecily von Ziegesar's book series, Gossip Girl delved into the lives of affluent teenagers residing in Manhattan's affluent Upper East Side. While Lively has tackled a diverse range of characters in her career, Gossip Girl remains one of her most iconic projects. Yet, she faced competition during the audition process, and had another aspiring superstar clinched the part, the course of Hollywood would have drastically altered.

During its six-season run, Gossip Girl gained an immense following, catapulting its young ensemble into household names. Blake Lively uncovered in a Collider interview that her role in Gossip Girl came to be after fans of the book series noticed her portrayal of Bridget in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and actively supported Lively to portray Serena. Observing this enthusiastic response, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the co-creators of the television show, opted to choose Lively for the role instead of holding auditions and making the decision themselves. Ultimately, this choice proved to be the right one, although Gossip Girl was on the verge of featuring a different Serena.

Pre-Fame Jennifer Lawrence Almost Played Serena In Gossip Girl

Jennifer Lawrence, before her rise to fame, was a contender for the role of Serena in Gossip Girl. In an interview commemorating the show's tenth anniversary, Josh Schwartz disclosed that Lawrence had indeed auditioned for Serena and felt disappointed when she didn't land the part. Given the immense popularity of the Gossip Girl books, it's not surprising that Lawrence tried out for the much-awaited television adaptation. At that time, she would have been the same age as Serena in the first season, 16 years old. With her remarkable acting range, Lawrence could have effortlessly portrayed a privileged and admired high schooler, making her portrayal captivating to watch.

However, casting Lively as Serena was the right decision made by Schwartz and Savage. The overwhelming passion of Gossip Girl book readers wanting Lively in the role certainly paid off; she is incredibly captivating to watch as Serena. Jennifer Lawrence, on the other hand, found herself in a leading role on television. Even though the Gossip Girl audition didn't work out for her, she managed to land a part on the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show as Lauren Pearson, Bill's teenage daughter. Both Lively and Lawrence's careers flourished, although Lawrence's trajectory would have been notably different if she had secured the role of Serena.

Gossip Girl Would Have Changed Jennifer Lawrence’s Career (& Modern Hollywood)

Jennifer Lawrence's career and the landscape of modern Hollywood would have been drastically different if she had landed a role on Gossip Girl. Succeeding in nabbing the part could have steered her away from independent films like Winter's Bone. Director Gary Ross discovered Lawrence's talent through her phenomenal performance in Winter's Bone, leading to her casting as Katniss in The Hunger Games. This pivotal role would have gone to someone else, propelling them into stardom. While it's undeniable that Gossip Girl would have elevated Lawrence's profile, it would not have reached the same heights as the Hunger Games franchise, which solidified her status as a true movie star.

The Hunger Games movies transformed Jennifer Lawrence's career path, paving the way for more opportunities, one of which was her award-winning performance in Silver Linings Playbook. Although Lawrence could have still achieved success if she had been part of Gossip Girl, Blake Lively found her footing in the film industry both during and after her time on the show. Projects like The Town, directed by Ben Affleck, and the black comedy crime thriller A Simple Favor contributed to Lively's success. However, it is arguable that it was for the best that Jennifer Lawrence did not land the role. While portraying Serena in Gossip Girl would have been an incredible opportunity, it is undeniable that Jennifer Lawrence's film career, as well as the Hollywood industry as a whole, would have experienced significant changes.

Sources: Collider, Vulture