Jonathan Bennett sends Mean Girls fans into speculation frenzy after revealing he wasn't first choice to play Aaron Samuels
- Jonathan Bennett admitted he was the second-choice actor in the 2004 rom-com
- Fans thought it might be Ryan Gosling, Ben McKenzie, or Chad Michael Murray
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Mean Girl fans are desperate to figure out who was originally cast as Aaron Samuels in the 2004 movie after Jonathan Bennett admitted he was technically the second choice.
During a Hallmark Channel panel, Jonathan, 43, explained he wasn't originally cast as the heartthrob in the Lindsay Lohan movie.
'Here's the tea. I wasn't the original Aaron Samuels,' he told the crowd in a viral TikTok video shared by Holly Bee. 'I'm a recast.'
The Veronica Mars actor then gave a lengthy 'CliffsNotes' version of the story, explaining how he auditioned for the film and made Lindsay blush on camera, which impressed the director.
He was told he was going to get the part and didn't, so he 'went back to folding sweaters at Abercrombie & Fitch.'
The Hallmark holiday movie star admitted they hired another actor with blonde hair and blue eyes, who looked like Paul Walker and Brad Pitt, which was what was 'hot at that time.'
The president of Paramount, Sherry Lansing, hired the anonymous blue-eyed actor, although Jonathan knew he was producer Lorne Michael, writer Tina Fey and star Lindsay's choice.
However, the first actor didn't end up impressing the creators during the table read, and was quickly replaced by Jonathan.
Mean Girl fans are desperate to figure out who was originally cast as Aaron Samuels in the 2004 movie after Jonathan Bennett admitted he was technically the second choice
During a Hallmark Channel panel, Jonathan, 43, explained he wasn't originally cast as the heartthrob in the Lindsay Lohan movie
The president of Paramount, Sherry Lansing, hired the anonymous blue-eyed actor, although Jonathan knew he was producer Lorne Michael, writer Tina Fey and star Lindsay's choice
'It was just super awkward,' Jonathan said, adding that the initial star was 'mumbling' during the table read, and Lorne was used to impeccable reads from his time at Saturday Night Live.
The first actor was also wearing baggy sweatpants, a baggy hoodie, and a hat.
He also didn't recognize his costar, Tim Meadows, who was the longest-running actor on SNL.
The team ended up calling Paramount and hiring Jonathan instead, who was still working at Abercrombie and was in the midst of folding sweaters while shirtless.
Jonathan got a call from his manager during his 15-minute break and was told he booked the part.
He ended up putting his shirt back on, and walking out of the mall retail store after quitting.
Jonathan said he wouldn't reveal the name of the original actor, but plenty of super sleuths rushed to the comments to attempt to figure out which early aughts actor was meant to play the high school jock.
Principal photography started on September 27, and ended on November 25, 2003 and the movie was released on April 30, 2004, so many potential actors named were filming other projects at the time.
Many fans of the early aughts rom-com thought the original heartthrob was James Franco, as he was famously considered for the role, but he didn't have blonde hair or blue eyes
Ryan Gosling, who starred in The Notebook - which filmed from November 2002 to February 2003, leaving him available - was another popular answer
Others theorized the Mean Girls cast member could have been Ben McKenzie (left) or Chris Carmack (right), who both starred in the teen TV show The O.C.
One of the top guesses was Chad Michael Murray, who was starring in the WB show One Tree Hill at the time as basketball player Lucas Scott.
Ryan Reynolds was another guess, who starred in the 2002 movie Van Wilder, but seemingly would have been available to film Mean Girls.
Many fans of the early aughts rom-com thought the original heartthrob was James Franco, as he was famously considered for the role.
The Freaks and Geeks actor doesn't have blonde hair or blue eyes but he does have a penchant for mumbling.
Ryan Gosling, who starred in The Notebook - which filmed from November 2002 to February 2003, leaving him available - was another popular answer.
Others theorized the Mean Girls cast member could have been Ben McKenzie or Chris Carmack, who both starred in the teen TV show The O.C.
One commenter summed it up when they said, 'Anyone else as Aaron Samuels would have ruined the whole movie.'
