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Literally Just 26 Casting Secrets That You Never Knew About Your Fave Teen Dramas

The more you know.

Ajani Bazile-Dutes
by Ajani Bazile-Dutes

BuzzFeed Staff

1. Dianna Agron was cast in Glee the day before they started shooting the pilot.

Quinn Fabray from "Glee"
Fox

2. The character Kurt Hummel was created specifically for Chris Colfer.

Kurt Hummel from "Glee"
Fox

Chris Colfer originally auditioned to play Artie Abrams. Ryan Murphy was so impressed with the audition that he created a new character, Kurt Hummel, for Chris to play.

3. Darren Criss originally auditioned for the role of Finn Hudson.

Darren Criss and Finn Hudson from "Glee"
Getty Images / Fox

4. Blake Lively originally turned down the role of Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl.

Serena van der Woodsen from "Gossip Girl"
The CW

Lively turned down the opportunity because she wanted to go to college. The producers told her she could go to Columbia University one day a week and she'd be able to go to school and have a normal life after the first year of the series.

5. Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for Serena van der Woodsen before Blake Lively.

Jennifer Lawrence and Serena van der Woodsen from "Gossip Girl"
Getty Images / The CW

6. Shay Mitchell auditioned for the role of Spencer Hastings on Pretty Little Liars.

Shay Mitchell and Spencer Hastings from "Pretty Little Liars"
Getty Images / Freeform

7. David Boreanaz was cast in Buffy the Vampire Slayer after being spotted walking his dog by the casting director's friend.

Angel from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
The WB / UPN

The casting director's friend said that there was a guy on his street who was always walking his dog and fit the billing of Angel.

8. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Charisma Carpenter auditioned for each other's roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Buffy Summers and Cordelia Chase from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
The WB / UPN

Gellar originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia Chase. At the time, the casting director said they wanted Buffy's character to be a misfit and an outsider and they didn't think Gellar could be that.

9. The role of Willow Rosenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was recast after the pilot.

Willow Rosenberg from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
The WB / UPN

Producers didn't feel the original actress was a good fit, so when the show got picked up, they recast the role with Alyson Hannigan.

10. Angus Cloud was cast in Euphoria after being discovered while walking in NYC.

Fez from "Euphoria"
HBO

Angus Cloud was walking down a street in Manhattan when a casting representative stopped him and urged him to audition for a new TV show. Though he thought it was a scam at first, he ended up auditioning and getting the role as Fez in Euphoria.

11. The creator of The O.C. hated Adam Brody for the role of Seth Cohen.

Seth Cohen from "The O.C."
Fox

The creator of the series, Josh Schwartz, said that Brody was going to a lot of other auditions and didn't bother to learn his lines. The casting directer saw something in Brody and when Brody auditioned again, he did great.

12. Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke were meant to be guest stars in The O.C., not series regulars.

Summer Roberts and Julie Cooper from "The O.C."
Fox

13. Chad Michael Murray auditioned for the role of Ryan Atwood on The O.C.

Chad Michael Murray and Ryan Atwood from "The O.C."
Getty Images / Fox

14. Chad Michael Murray almost played Nathan Scott on One Tree Hill.

Chad Michael Murray and Nathan Scott from "One Tree Hill"
Getty Images / The CW

Murray was pegged for Nathan because he had a history of being typecast as the bad boy. However, Murray really wanted to play Lucas because he felt he could relate to the material more.

15. Sophia Bush read for the role of Brooke Davis on One Tree Hill three times.

Brooke Davis from "One Tree Hill"
The CW

The first time she was told she wasn't provocative enough, and the second time she was told she looked too sexy.

16. Madelaine Petsch was originally brought in for the role of Betty Cooper on Riverdale.

Madelaine Petsch and Betty Cooper from "Riverdale"
Getty Images / The CW

A casting director brought Petsch in for the role of Betty, but had another character in mind for her to play that he couldn't tell her. Four months later, she read for the role of Cheryl Blossom.

17. Casting for the role of Veronica Lodge on Riverdale took six months.

Veronica Lodge from "RIverdale"
The CW

Camila Mendes said that many actors were brought in to compete with her before they ultimately decided she was the best fit for the role.

18. Katherine Langford auditioned for 13 Reasons Why over Skype.

Hannah Baker from "13 Reasons Why"
Netflix

The Australian actor says she read for the show several times over Skype before she got the role.

19. Katherine Langford also auditioned to play Jessica Davis on 13 Reasons Why.

Katherine Langford and Jessica Davis from "13 Reasons Why"
Getty Images / Netflix

20. Brandon Larracuente auditioned to play Justin Foley on 13 Reasons Why.

Brandon Larracuente and Justin Foley from "13 Reasons Why"
Getty Images / Netflix

21. Devin Druid auditioned to play Clay Jensen on 13 Reasons Why, but was then asked to audition for Tyler Down.

Devin Druid and Clay Jensen from "13 Reasons Why"
Getty Images / Netflix

22. Paul Wesley auditioned for Stefan Salvatore about 15 times for The Vampire Diaries.

Stefan Salvatore from "The Vampire Diaries"
The CW

23. Nina Dobrev had a bad first audition for The Vampire Diaries.

Elena Gilbert from "The Vampire Diaries"
The CW

Dobrev was sick in her first audition tape and made no impression on the producers. She sent them another tape later and they loved her.

24. Paul Wesley, Nathaniel Buzolic, Zach Roerig, and Michael Trevino auditioned for Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries.

Paul Wesley, Nathaniel Buzolic, Zach Roerig, and Michael Trevino
Getty Images / The CW

25. Sarah Michelle Gellar turned down the role of Rose on The Vampire Diaries.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Rose from "The Vampire Diaries"
Getty Images / The CW

Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec really wanted Sarah Michelle Gellar to play Rose, but Gellar politely declined.

26. And Ashley Tisdale turned down auditions for The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars so she could star in Hellcats.

Ashley Tisdale
Phillip Faraone / Getty Images

Hellcats lasted one season.