"Can’t imagine": Succession star Kieran Culkin was first considered for playing Greg (Nicholas Braun's role) in the HBO comedy drama 

It's difficult to imagine anyone else portraying Greg Hirsch on Succession! HBO's comedy-drama television series has turned into television's most talked-about subject, courtesy of its sharp writing, multidimensional characters, and high-stakes family politics.

Nicholas Braun is the star of Greg, bringing a distinct blend of clumsiness, naivety, and humor to the role. But before Braun was hired, Kieran Culkin, who ended up playing Roman Roy, was actually set to play Greg for a brief period. This little piece of off-stage trivia provides an interesting glimpse into the early production and casting of Succession.

According to The Guardian, Culkin himself has spoken of the possibility, saying,

"I can’t imagine it now either. It even said “Greg, 26” on the script and I was 35 at the time. I was too old and could tell in my belly straight away that I wasn’t right for that part. But I liked the script enough to read on and when Roman walked in, his first line was “Hey, hey, motherfuckers”.

He added,

"The way he spoke just looked like fun. They weren’t auditioning for Roman yet but I picked three scenes, put myself on tape and sent it in anyway. [Series creator] Jesse Armstrong saw it and cast me."

His words are an indication of how vastly different the show would have been if roles had been swapped. Culkin's Roman is cocky, biting-tongued, and frequently brash, while Greg's personality feeds on nervous energy and social stuttering. One cannot imagine Culkin playing Greg in retrospect, even though the development team seriously considered it early on.

The casting process of Succession

The casting in Succession was always precise. Each actor's performance and energy were meticulously considered against the narrative and other actors. Greg Hirsch is not an ordinary supporting actor; he brings a specific perspective through which viewers can view the Roy family's cruelty.

Greg's social awkwardness, pleasing nature, and sometimes innocence make him a perfect foil to the other family members. Nicholas Braun's Greg became iconic within the initial couple of minutes with his skill of striking a balance between humor and vulnerability. It is his cluelessness that makes the mean-spirited corporate power plays of the Roy family all the more painful, and which provides audiences with an entry point to the Succession world, which is accessible.

Kieran Culkin's Roman, on the other hand, is a completely different vibe, keen, self-assured, and frequently irresponsible. This is made evident why the casting decision was so important and how it actually did have an effect on the chemistry of the series.

Why casting choices matter in Succession

The fact that Culkin was in the running for Greg speaks volumes about how much casting matters in a series like Succession. A slight variation in performance, timing, and slight variation in mannerisms can completely change the effect of a scene. The Roy siblings' interactions are so delicate, and every actor's take can change the tone of the series.

Casting directors usually audition several actors for every part, particularly in ensemble plays with intricate plots. With Succession, the energy of each character needs to mesh and clash with the others in some ways. Casting Nicholas Braun as Greg permitted writers and directors to achieve just the right level of awkwardness, humor, and tension, which would have been lost had Culkin played that role.

The Roman vs. Greg contrast

One of the strongest elements of Succession is the Roman Roy vs. Greg Hirsch contrast.

Roman, played by Kieran Culkin, is cocky, aggressive, and frequently irresponsible. Sarcastic and endearing in his rebelliousness against the establishment, he forms a scathing counterpoint to the neurotic, indecisive Greg.

Nicholas Braun's own performance brings Greg to life with a combination of humour and social exposure, and through him, the character must contend with his position in the powerful and sometimes aggressive Roy family.

This contrast also enables the show to tap into larger issues of ambition, privilege, and power. Braun's experience and assurance function to underscore Greg's innocence, and Greg's ambivalence often functions to reveal the ruthlessness and surrealism of the world of big business surrounding him.

Essentially, the contrast between Braun and Culkin provides depth to the story, allowing the audience to see a complete, three-dimensional representation of the Roy family's interpersonal relationships.

Behind-the-scenes insights

Culkin's own introspection on the role of playing Greg gives an insight into the back-story of the creation of Succession. Casting isn't really about casting great actors; it's about getting the right chemistry, timing, and energy from the pool of actors.

The producers of Succession have consistently made it a point to state that each actor's take on his or her character mattered most to the tone, the humor, and the tension of drama of the show.

Even a slight variation in delivery or pace could have completely altered Greg's character. Nicholas Braun's physicality, including the fretful tension, stammering grins, and uncertain speech habits, provides a counter to Roman's hostility that has been a signature of the show. Without Culkin as Greg, the fine line that has been paramount in making Succession so watchable could have been completely different.

The effect of casting on Succession's narrative

The cast decisions affect more than character relationships; they dictate the pacing, the humor, and the tone of the show. Greg's geekiness allows the show to include laughter during high-stakes corporate battles, and Braun's timing and delivery come naturally rather than being fabricated.

Roman's impulsive and reckless personality, meanwhile, provides conflict and unpredictability, making the scenes more tense and layered. Had Kieran Culkin played Greg instead, things would have unfolded differently. Culkin's dominating stage presence is ideal for Roman but would have altered the relationship between the older and younger generations of the Roy family.

This is proof of the strength of casting, especially in ensemble dramas where each actor's performance adds to the pace and atmosphere of the narrative.

Ultimately, Succession performers are invisible from their corresponding characters. The initial interest of Kieran Culkin to portray Greg highlights how careful casting choices affect not only the relationships between characters but also the audience's impression and the story overall.

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While it is fun to think about what might have been, in the end, the ultimate casting decisions did serve to further establish the exact, high-wire, and occasionally comedic universe of the Roy family, making Succession the show audiences now know and discuss.

Also read: "Very hard question to answer": When Succession casts engaged in an amusing round of answering questions from fans

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