Glee's Darren Criss Reveals that He Had Auditioned for Role of Finn

Glee's Darren Criss may be a hit in his new role as Blaine, but the actor told Wall Street Journal that he had originally auditioned for the role of Finn.

Darren Criss had been in Glee casting circles for awhile, and posted Myspace music videos. Before beginning his senior year at the University of Michigan, Criss had auditioned for the role of Finn.

As Criss comments, everything happens for a reason. He was not too disappointed about losing the role of Finn, as Criss doesn't see himself as a football guy.

I actually think he would have done well in the role of Finn. Compared to Cory Monteith, Darren Criss looks a bit more like Lea Michele and has the vocals to carry male leads, but Monteith has more of the aw-shucks mannerisms that make Finn so endearing.

Criss enjoys playing Blaine on "Glee," and says that it's a dream come true to play someone who is so complex. "He's an out-and-proud student who goes to an all-boys school, which is similar to the all-boys school I had gone to. When I got to the set I was like, 'How did they know?'"

Criss will not confirm or deny whether or not he is a love interest for Kurt. Still, Criss hopes that he'll be able to remain on Glee for as long as possible.

Will Kurt and Blaine make a love connection? Or is Blaine's role solely as a platonic mentor? What will happen with the "Kurtofsky" story line?

I'm just glad that Criss is playing Blaine. As an added bonus, he looks mighty adorable in his prep school blazer.

There is another reason that the Kurt/Blaine (KIaine) friendship almost didn't happen. According to a Backstage.com interview, Chris Colfer had originally auditioned for the role of Artie. Although Glee had decided to cast Kevin McHale instead, they liked Colfer so much that they created the role of Kurt just for him.

Just imagine Kurt and Blaine played by actors other than Colfer or Criss...

Needless to say, Glee would have been a very different show with Darren Criss as Finn, Chris Colfer as Artie, and no Kevin McHale. While we're at it, just imagine a show with Chord Overstreet as Puck, Kevin McHale as Jacob Ben Israel, Cory Monteith as Karofsky, Mark Salling as Blaine, and Matthew Morrison as Figgins.

Sources:

'Glee': Darren Criss on His Guest Role as Blaine in 'Never Been Kissed', Wall Street Journal

Life Stages, Backstage.com