Entertainment
Marvel Star Almost Played A Vampire In Violent Horror Series

By Erika Hanson
| Published

Benedict Cumberbatch has made a name for himself thanks to his portrayal of Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but long before he was a superhero, and before he played a famous dragon or the world’s greatest detective, he nearly got his Hollywood start as a popular vampire. In 2008, True Blood rocked the world with its raunchy take on the vampire genre, and Cumberbatch nearly played the broody vampire Bill.
Benedict Cumberbatch Was Nearly True Blood’s Bill

This revelation comes to us thanks to True Blood’s series creator, Alan Ball. Ball admitted that Benedict Cumberbatch auditioned for the part in 2007. While we still don’t know whether or not the Marvel star turned the role down, we do know that the part of Bill eventually landed with Stephen Moyer.
For those unfamiliar with the show, True Blood is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris. The HBO show follows Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a bartender living in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana in a world where vampires have publicly outed themselves.
The first season follows Sookie and Bill’s relationship, and we have to admit, it’s easy to picture Benedict Cumberbatch as the southern vampire even if we enjoyed Stephen Moyer’s version of the character come to life.
For starters, Benedict Cumberbatch having to work an English accent into a Southern drawl sounds very familiar to what Stephen Moyer went through prepping for True Blood (both actors are native to England). And, a side-by-side comparison of the two actors reveals more than enough physical similarities. But still, given what went down behind the scenes between Moyer and Paquin, things could have turned out a lot differently had Cumberbatch taken the role.
Could’ve Changed Things On And Off Screen

True Blood’s Sookie and Bill actors met on the set of the show and as it turns out, the actors didn’t have to pretend to fall for each other. Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer began dating within months of filming. To this day, they remain happily married.
Had Benedict Cumberbatch taken the True Blood role, would the sparks have flown so easily between the two Marvel stars (Anna Paquin played Rogue in the original X-Men movies)? Our guess is no, and even worse, it would have never given us one of Hollywood’s greatest lasting couples.
Other Celebs Who Auditioned

Benedict Cumberbatch nearly playing Bill in True Blood isn’t the only interesting bit of trivia about the popular vampire show’s casting process. Another Marvel alumnus, Jennifer Lawrence, auditioned for a role as a werepanther in Season 3. Likewise, Jessica Chastain was almost cast as Sookie.
It’s been a decade since True Blood came to an end, and the show continues to find new fans on streaming. The vampire show was so popular that just years after being canceled, HBO announced plans for a reboot. Those plans fell through in 2023, but who knows: maybe we will someday get a reboot or revival, and maybe Benedict Cumberbatch will even hop on board this time to play a different vampire.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love

Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.