Many actors strive to get a part in a franchise movie because these roles can lead to a seemingly endless number of acting opportunities. Some actors are fortunate enough to achieve this feat just once, while others are able to accomplish it multiple times while working in Hollywood. Mads Mikkelsen, who is famous for gravitating toward complex characters, has frequently stated a preference for roles that allow him to delve deeply into a role’s psyche.

The pleasure of appearing in films like Clash of the Titans, Doctor Strange, and Rogue One has come to Mikkelsen over the years. In addition, he recently also appeared in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The Danish actor and former gymnast seems to have secured his place in the industry.

Mads Mikkelsen
But years ago, Mikkelsen found himself in the running for a role in a 2005 superhero movie- Fantastic Four, but the audition did not go as planned.

Mads Mikkelsen’s ‘Humiliating’ Fantastic Four Audition

You might assume that Mads Mikkelsen was trying out for Doctor Doom if you do not know the background of this tale, as Hollywood often casts the Danish actor in roles that have negative shades. The actor, however, was actually trying out for Dr. Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic.

Before joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the supervillain Kaecilius in Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange, Mikkelsen had previously auditioned for the role of Mr. Fantastic in 2005’s Fantastic Four. Unfortunately, the 57-year-old actor decided against taking the role because he felt the audition was too humiliating because of how he was treated on set.
Mads Mikkelsen
Mikkelsen reflected on his disastrous 2005 Fantastic Four audition in a career-spanning interview with Vulture:
“Some of the stuff was interesting, and other things were just like — this is where I felt you can completely lose your confidence as an actor. Standing in an office with a person who looks down at his paper, and you pretend you have long arms and say one line…I know a lot of casting is just first impressions — is there anything there that reminds the producer and the director of the character they’re looking for?”
The actor had to act like Reed Richards, which required him to pretend to be able to extend his arms. He considered this to be “humiliating”. To quote him:
“But I find it rude to ask people to come into a room and say one line while pretending you have 80-foot arms like the rubber man. ‘Grab that cup of coffee over there’ — it’s like, Are you crazy? There’s not even a scene here. It was kind of humiliating.”
Sue (Jessica Alba), Reed (Ioan Gruffudd), Ben (Michael Chiklis), and Johnny (Chris Evans) in Fantastic Four

Mads Mikkelsen Found This Condition of Audition To Be ‘Embarrassing’

Mads Mikkelsen‘s performances in his acclaimed films attracted the attention of a sizable audience and led to a flood of auditions, though not all of them made him feel good inside. Previously, he said in a Rolling Stone interview:
“One day I found myself in an office, trying out for a Fantastic Four something, extending my arms like a rubber man. This is so embarrassing.”
He then recalled the moment he realized he could not take it any longer, saying:
“I’m standing in a f***ing office, reaching for something on the other side of the room, and I have one line. I can’t do this anymore.”
Mads Mikkelsen
When The A.V. Club asked Mikkelsen about his worst audition, memories of his utterly disastrous audition for Tim Story’s 2005 film immediately came to mind. The father of two responded:
 “I think I walked out on the Fantastic Four one.”
However, the actor later clarified that he did not actually leave the audition at the London Film and Comic Con, but he did not change his opinion regarding the rubber arms. In his words (via Screen Geek):
“When I left it, I was just like – this is crazy. I don’t even have long arms. What am I doing in here? The audition was only about long arms. No lines. I felt a little funny.”
Despite receiving mostly negative reviews from critics, Fantastic Four grossed over $333 million globally and was a box office success. Thankfully, leaving Fantastic Four had no negative effects on Mikkelsen’s career. He has kept up a steady work schedule and consistently delivered top-notch performances.
The uber-talented Mads Mikkelsen
Ioan Gruffudd ultimately won the role of Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in the film, which also starred Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans, Kerry Washington, and Julian McMahon.

Both Doctor Strange and Fantastic Four are streaming on Disney Plus.