Haley Lu Richardson Regrets That She Turned Down Midsommar
Haley Lu Richardson (The White Lotus) told Backstage that she regrets turning down the lead role of Dani in Midsommar.
The actress, known for her standout role as Portia in The White Lotus season 2, turned down a meeting with Ari Aster to star in Midsommar. Richardson explained that it was due to her not wanting to do another disturbing movie after doing Split a couple of years prior.
“There are a lot [of roles] that got away,” Richardson commented, “But I did get the script for Midsommar. I remember reading it; it was such a well-written, creepy script. I actually still haven’t seen the movie because I kind of can’t bring myself to watch it. They wanted to meet me.”
Haley Lu Richardson turned down a meeting with producers for 'MIDSOMMAR' despite receiving the script because she didn't want to do another disturbing movie after working on 'Split.' pic.twitter.com/JMrgFTPByB
— The ComicsGig (@thecomicsgig) May 2, 2023
She also went on that everything happens for a reason. “And, you know, that’s a pretty iconic movie, isn’t it? But I do think that everything happens the way that it’s supposed to. There was a reason I didn’t have it in me. And also, Florence Pugh is just such a good actor,” she adds.
Fans said the movie would not have been the same without Pugh as the lead. Pugh’s outstanding performance is debatably one of her breakout roles as an actress, leading her to snag many more lead roles.
WOW she had a chance to be florence pugh and continued doing shailene woodley movies
— i was in a movie with pedro pascal (@nicolascagefilm) May 3, 2023
Richardson’s dream since age 16 is to dance in a musical. “The thing I love about acting the most is the thing I love about dancing the most. It’s this thing that comes from your soul; it’s just such a vulnerable, abandoned thing,” she explained. There might be something circulating in that realm for her soon.
Haley Lu Richardson revealed that she turned down auditioning for Ari Aster’s “Midsommar” after starring in Shyamalan's "Split." At the time, she said she just didn't "have it in me, going around and crying at these disturbing things": https://t.co/ExsBkCLln6 pic.twitter.com/ciMwczN7kO
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) May 2, 2023
Richardson is by no means a failure in her own career, and turning down Midsommar clearly didn’t lead to her downfall in any way, it’s interesting to see what choices lead to what roles in their careers.
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