Is there anyone who doesn’t love Timothy Olyphant? Seriously, if you need someone to play a badass, but also sensitive, lawman with a code of honor, he’s your guy. He’s having a bit of a moment right now, with his return to the role of US Marshal Raylan Givens in Justified: City Primeval, and his recurring role as Cobb Vanth in the Star Wars universe. But Olyphant was nearly part of another huge franchise. He was very nearly the face of the MCU before the role of Tony Stark went to Robert Downey Jr.
Speaking with ThePlaylist (prior to the SAG strike), Olyphant talked about his tryout for the role of Tony Stark in Iron Man, and how it led to his meeting with The Mandalorian co-creator Jon Favreau…
“I can only tell you that I remember thinking that was the first time where, because I’m a bit of a slow learner and I think I was scared to death of the things that come with success in this business, but that was the time where I remember thinking, ‘Well, I can’t get any more grounded and so this would be fun.”
Olyphant continued, “And so, if you’re going to go down that road, you’re not going to find anyone better to go down it with [than Jon Favreau], so I have fond memories of that experience, you know? I try to see things simply for what they are and not what they could be and any conversations I had with Jon about that job and about that process, I remember it very fondly. It was an enjoyable process…And, well, he’s the one who hired me for [‘The Mandalorian’], so he doesn’t owe me anything.”
Okay, so what Cobb Vanth? With The Mandalorian‘s Dave Filoni directing his own Star Wars movie set very much in the show’s universe, there’s a chance that Olyphant could be in it. Well, he ain’t spilling the beans, replying “If I had [talks with Filoni], I wouldn’t tell you” when asked by the interviewer. Oh well.
But if given the chance, Olyphant would jump at the chance to play Cobb Vanth again.
“Honestly, I can tell you that I’ve been very, very lucky with those guys. I’ve only done two episodes and to have only done those two episodes and feel like you’re part of a world and they created such a memorable character,” said the actor. “I mean, you know, I’m getting away with something here. I did two episodes and I’ve got like four toys out there. It’s ridiculous, and I know it because all of a sudden there’s people at the airport with toys. That’s new. But, it was a ball working on those things and those guys know if they call me I’d show up. I don’t care if it’s a big giant thing or just to show up for an afternoon. It’s a fun gig.”
You can watch Olyphant now on Justified: City Primeval, airing on FX.