Sarah Finn has spent years assembling Marvel casts, but one audition remains especially emotional: Chadwick Boseman’s reading for Drax the Destroyer in “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Speaking with Variety, Finn recalled that she had known Boseman since meeting him in 2005. When he later auditioned for Drax, she saw something beyond the specific part he was seeking.
“He missed the humor in Drax, but he played him like a king,” Finn said. “It was really from that moment that I think I started tracing that for Black Panther.”
Finn described the memory as “very emotionally loaded” for her. At the time of the Drax audition, she said, Boseman was beginning to book leading movie roles.
The recollection offers a revealing glimpse into Finn’s casting process: An audition does not necessarily end when an actor is passed over for a particular character. A performance can instead highlight qualities that may eventually point toward a different role.
The Work Behind Marvel’s Biggest Casts
Finn has cast every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2008’s “Iron Man.” Her other credits include “Everything, Everywhere All at Once,” the 2019 version of “The Lion King” and “Chef.”
Despite the scale of her work, Finn said one of the biggest misconceptions about casting is that the process happens easily. She described it as hours of painstaking effort involving extensive searches, readings, experimentation and exploration.
When an actor ultimately appears to be the obvious choice, she explained, audiences may not see how much work went into reaching that decision.
Finn also addressed the secrecy surrounding Marvel casting and the D23 cast presentation that included Sadie Sink. She said she understands why the process is protected, even when that secrecy can be frustrating.
According to Finn, those measures protect the actors, filmmakers and wider creative process while preserving surprise and enjoyment for fans. She called this year’s D23 rollout exciting and described it as the biggest cast her team has assembled.
The expectations still carry pressure. Finn said she works closely with filmmakers to realize their vision while also wanting to get the casting right for fans, knowing that audiences will bring many different points of view.
Building the Ensemble of “Wild Horse Nine”
Finn’s latest project is Searchlight’s “Wild Horse Nine,” now in theaters. The film reunites her with writer-director Martin McDonagh following “Seven Psychopaths.”
John Malkovich stars as Chris opposite Sam Rockwell as Lee. The two play CIA agents sent from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief, MJ, played by Steve Buscemi. As the longtime partners confront their dark histories and present-day conspiracies, Chris develops a connection with two rebellious students, complicating trust among the characters.
Finn said the casting effort combined established professional relationships with a wider search designed around McDonagh’s vision. Before active casting began, the team spent several months exploring Chilean history and the country’s acting pool. At the same time, they considered each individual role, including Buscemi’s part, as a separate piece of the ensemble.
Finn believes Malkovich was particularly suited to play Chris at this point in his life. She praised his ability to move quickly among different sides of the character, whose story contains humor, danger, darkness, regret and a sense of atonement.
Rockwell, who had previously worked with McDonagh, brought another essential element to the film. Finn said his character required an understanding of the story’s dark comedy and moral ambiguity, along with complicated relationships involving his wife, boss and friend.
While Finn noted that Rockwell is often associated with kinetic and vibrant work, she described his performance in “Wild Horse Nine” as notably subtle, with much of its emotion carried through silence. She also said his performance helps audiences understand what Malkovich’s character is experiencing.
A Wide Search for the Supporting Cast
Mariana di Girolamo was already on Finn’s mind when the project arrived. Finn first met her in 2019 after Pablo Larraín’s “Ema” and had been looking for the right opportunity to cast her.
The team considered hundreds of people and auditioned many actresses. Finn said di Girolamo stood out for her range, talent and warmth, qualities the role needed alongside idealism, purity and hopefulness. The part also demanded command of highly specific and challenging language.
Parker Posey plays Rockwell’s character’s wife. Finn said the role allowed the casting team to consider a broad range of possibilities, but Posey’s distinctive qualities and work ethic made her the right choice. Finn highlighted Posey’s willingness to fly to Easter Island to read lines off camera for a phone conversation with Rockwell.
ShowBiz Take
Boseman’s Drax audition captures why Finn’s work cannot be reduced to filling a single vacancy. By her account, he did not deliver the humor required for that character, yet his regal approach revealed another possibility—one Finn began connecting to Black Panther.
That same attention runs through the “Wild Horse Nine” ensemble, from the months spent researching Chilean talent to the careful consideration of chemistry, language and tonal balance. Finn’s comments show that casting can be both immediate and cumulative: One audition may not secure the role in the room, but it can leave an impression that endures.