How Theo James Landed the Role of Tobias Eaton in Divergent and Became a Star

You know the feeling when you watch an actor in a new role and think, “They were born to play this part!” That’s exactly what happened when Theo James landed the career-making gig of Tobias “Four” Eaton in the Divergent movies. But it turns out James wasn’t the first choice for the role. In fact, it almost went to Val Kilmer, Tom Cruise’s co-star in Top Gun: Maverick! Can you imagine Iceman as the mysterious yet sensitive Four? Yeah, me neither. Looking back, Kilmer definitely dodged a bullet by passing on Divergent. Meanwhile, James became an instant star and heartthrob after the first film exploded at the box office. Not too shabby for the new guy. But let’s back up a minute and talk about how this relative unknown scored the role of a lifetime in one of the biggest YA franchises ever.

Theo James Becomes Tobias Eaton in Divergent

You were probably swooning over Theo James as the mysterious and brooding Tobias “Four” Eaton in the Divergent series. ###James landed his breakthrough role as Four after an arduous audition process, beating out several well-known actors. His chemistry with co-star Shailene Woodley ensured the films’ success.

Four is a Dauntless initiate instructor who helps guide Tris through her initiation. James portrayed Four as a complex and layered character, a man struggling with his own demons while trying to do the right thing. Fans adored James’ interpretation of the character, praising how he captured Four’s intensity and vulnerability.

Initially, the role of Four almost went to Val Kilmer, Tom Cruise’s co-star in Top Gun: Maverick. While Kilmer is undoubtedly talented, it’s hard to imagine anyone but James as the perfect Four. Kilmer likely doesn’t regret losing the role, as the grueling physical demands required for the Divergent films may have been too taxing.

The massive success of Divergent cemented James as a rising star and leading man. His natural charisma, piercing blue eyes, and talent for playing compelling yet complex characters have earned him a devoted fan following. While the final Divergent film received mixed reviews, James’ performance was continually praised. His star continues to rise with roles in films like How It Ends and the TV series Sanditon.

Though the Divergent series has concluded, James’ breakout role as Four will live on as one of the most memorable YA love interests in recent years. His chemistry with Woodley and ability to capture Four’s intensity, vulnerability, and moral ambiguity were instrumental to the franchise’s success. Not bad for an actor who almost missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime.

Competition Was Fierce for the Role of Four

When the role of Tobias “Four” Eaton was up for grabs, every young actor in Hollywood wanted in. After all, Theo James landed the part and became an overnight sensation, but the path wasn’t easy. Other contenders included Miles Teller, who starred opposite Shailene Woodley in The Fault in Our Stars, and English actor Luke Bracey.

You may not have heard of Bracey, but he was considered a front-runner for the role. The Australian hunk was known for soap operas and modeling gigs, not major blockbusters. While Bracey had the look, James had raw talent and charisma that shone through during the audition process. Casting directors knew he was the perfect blend of tough yet sensitive to play the complex character of Four.

James didn’t have a huge resume at the time but impressed with his breakout role in the TV series Bedlam. His chemistry with Woodley was also off the charts. In the end, it was a case of the underdog beating out more established names. Looking back, Bracey and the others were probably relieved they didn’t land the part. The Divergent franchise received mixed reviews and declining box office returns with each installment.

Meanwhile, James has gone on to star in many other films while becoming a teen heartthrob. Woodley has also built on her success, earning accolades and awards. Their on-screen connection in Divergent lives on as one of the series’ most compelling aspects, proving that sometimes taking a chance on fresh talent pays off. When it came to finding the perfect Four, thinking outside the box led to discovering Theo James.

Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick Co-Star Almost Played Tobias

As a teen, you probably read the Divergent books and wondered who would be cast as the mysterious and brooding Tobias “Four” Eaton in the film adaptation. Little did you know that Theo James wasn’t the only actor up for the role.Miles Teller, who stars alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, was also being considered to play Four.

Teller auditioned for the part, but ultimately lost out to James. Looking back, Teller is likely glad things worked out the way they did. Had he been cast as Four, he wouldn’t have been able to star in the massive blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. The action film earned over $1.4 billion at the box office, proving Teller made the right choice in signing on to play Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw.

While Teller has found success, James catapulted to stardom through Divergent. When the film was released in 2014, James was still a relative unknown. His performance earned rave reviews, with critics praising his portrayal of the guarded yet charismatic Four. James and co-star Shailene Woodley also had undeniable chemistry on screen, which contributed to the movie’s passionate fanbase.

The Divergent series went on to generate over $765 million at the worldwide box office across three films. Though Allegiant underperformed compared to the first two installments, the franchise established James as a bankable action star and leading man.

Like Teller, James has moved on to star in major blockbusters, recently appearing alongside Millie Bobbie Brown in Netflix’s Enola Holmes. However, for many fans, James will always be the perfect embodiment of Four: brave, intelligent and willing to defend others at all costs. While the odds were stacked against him, James beat out a talented field of contenders to land the role of a lifetime in Divergent. And in the end, that’s exactly where he belonged.

How Theo James Beat Out Ansel Elgort and Other Contenders

When the role of Tobias “Four” Eaton in the Divergent film series became available, Theo James was up against some stiff competition. No less than eight other actors were in the running for the part of the mysterious Dauntless instructor who would capture the heart of Tris Prior.

Ansel Elgort

You may know Ansel Elgort from his role as Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars. He was one of the final contenders for the role of Four. While Elgort likely would have done a fine job, his boyish looks and charm were better suited for the sensitive Augustus. Theo James’ intensity and rebellious spirit were a much closer match for Four.

Other Notable Contenders

Two other well-known actors who screen-tested for the role were Garret Hedlund, who starred in Tron: Legacy, and Luke Bracey, who appeared in G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley’s The Spectacular Now co-star, was also considered briefly but was deemed too similar in age and appearance to Woodley to be a convincing love interest.

In the end, James’ undeniable charisma, his “old soul” quality, and his natural chemistry with Woodley won over the filmmakers. When the final decision was down to just James and Elgort, Woodley herself gave James her vote of confidence. Clearly, it was the right choice, as James went on to star in all three Divergent films, ascending to stardom right along with the massive success of the franchise. Any of the other contenders, as talented as they were, just wouldn’t have brought the same intensity and passion to the role of Four that made Theo James so perfect for the part.

The stars aligned for Theo James and the role of a lifetime in Divergent. His performance helped launch a blockbuster franchise and turn James into a household name. Not bad for an actor plucked from relative obscurity to headline a $347 million film series.

The Success of Divergent Launches Theo James’ Career

An Unknown Actor Gets His Big Break

When Theo James landed the role of Tobias “Four” Eaton in the Divergent film series, he was a relatively unknown actor. While he had some minor roles in TV shows and films, Divergent was his first major break. The film’s huge success introduced Theo James to a massive global audience and cemented his status as an up-and-coming leading man in Hollywood.

Connecting with Fans

Part of the reason Theo James was so perfectly cast as Four was his ability to connect with the themes of identity and nonconformity in Divergent. In interviews, he spoke passionately about the story’s message of embracing your uniqueness and refusing to be labeled or put in a box. This authenticity resonated with fans and helped propel the popularity of the franchise.

From Divergent to Stardom

The success of Divergent launched Theo James into stardom and opened up countless new opportunities. He went on to star in the Divergent sequels Insurgent and Allegiant, as well as other major films like the apocalyptic thriller How It Ends and the historical drama Sanditon. Theo James has become a recognizable name and face around the world, all thanks to one breakout role that allowed his talents to shine through.

While Theo James started as an unknown actor, his memorable turn as Four in Divergent helped showcase his abilities and charisma to a huge audience. The film’s themes of identity and courage clearly resonated with Theo James on a personal level, allowing him to deliver an authentic performance that connected with fans. This breakout role demonstrated Theo James’ potential as a leading man and set him on the path to stardom. Overall, the success of Divergent launched an exciting new career and introduced the world to a talented actor with a bright future.

Conclusion

So that’s the crazy story of how Theo James landed the role of a lifetime as Tobias “Four” Eaton in the Divergent franchise. Who knows if Val Kilmer would’ve been up for all that intense Dauntless training – and let’s be honest, it’s hard to picture Iceman rocking those tattoos. But as wild as it seems looking back, Theo was almost passed over, and Miles Teller nearly got to romance Shailene Woodley and lead a rebellion. Just imagine Tris and Peter together! While Val’s probably relieved he dodged that bullet, we’re grateful Theo’s star-making turn let him become both an action hero and total heartthrob. He found the perfect part to launch his career. And the rest is dystopian movie history.