Daniel Radcliffe Once Rejected This Script: Here’s Why

Daniel Radcliffe reportedly turned down the chance to appear in the 2013 comedy This Is the End because he didn’t like the script.

The actor, best known for the Harry Potter series, was approached by the film’s creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg early in the project.

“Two years before we brought it to anybody else, we brought it to Daniel Radcliffe, and he rejected it because it was *hitty, it wasn’t good enough,” Goldberg said in an interview with Buzzfeed.

Both Rogen and Goldberg admitted that Radcliffe was right—the first draft of the script needed work. Even after rewrites, Radcliffe declined to participate, choosing instead to focus on the black comedy Horns, a story about a man who wakes up turning into the Devil.

Goldberg added, “It was a bad early version. He taught us a lesson. We learned something from him that day.”

Goldberg also noted that timing might have influenced Radcliffe’s decision. “We got too excited, we jumped the gun on that. If we waited another year, I bet he would have done it,” he said.

This Is the End became a notable success after its release. Directed and written by Rogen and Goldberg, the film expanded on their 2007 short, Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse. The story follows a group of actors, including James Franco, Jonah Hill, and Emma Watson, playing exaggerated versions of themselves as a biblical apocalypse hits Los Angeles.

The movie received generally positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 82% approval rating, with critics praising the cast’s chemistry despite the loosely structured script. Metacritic gave it a score of 67 out of 100, signaling “generally favorable reviews.” Audience reactions were positive as well, earning a CinemaScore grade of B+. Critics highlighted its audacity and humor.

Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly called it “the wildest screen comedy in a long time,” while Brian D. Johnson of Maclean’s described it as “a profanely funny showbiz parody.” However, some reviewers were less impressed, like Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail, who found the film slow and criticized the cast’s performances. Commercially, the movie was a hit, grossing $127 million worldwide against a $32–42 million budget.

Radcliffe’s refusal shows that even highly sought-after actors are willing to turn down roles that don’t meet their standards. In hindsight, it also underscores the importance of timing and the development process in filmmaking.

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