In the fast-paced world of Hollywood, where every missed opportunity can feel like a career-ending blow, Felix Mallard’s journey to stardom is a rollercoaster of near-misses and triumphant comebacks. The Australian actor, now beloved as the brooding Marcus Baker in Netflix’s hit dramedy Ginny & Georgia, has captured hearts with his nuanced portrayal of a troubled teen navigating love, loss, and mental health struggles. But before he became a household name, Mallard had a chance to break out in a different Netflix juggernaut—a 79%-rated teen drama that exploded onto the global stage. The twist? He flopped that opportunity, leaving fans and industry insiders alike stunned. As of June 27, 2025, this revelation, uncovered during a playful cast game for Ginny & Georgia Season 3, has sparked a frenzy, shedding light on the unpredictable path that led Mallard to his current success. Let’s dive into the story of how a missed shot turned into a career-defining triumph.

The Missed Opportunity: Outer Banks and the Role That Got Away

The saga begins years before Mallard’s rise with Ginny & Georgia, which premiered on February 24, 2021, and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Long before he donned Marcus’s leather jacket, Mallard was in the running for a role that could have catapulted him to fame much earlier. That role was John B, the charismatic leader of the Pogues in Netflix’s Outer Banks, a sun-soaked mystery thriller that debuted in April 2020. With a solid 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Outer Banks turned into a global hit, amassing a devoted fanbase and cementing Chase Stokes as the face of the show. But it nearly belonged to Mallard.

The revelation came to light on June 6, 2025, during a cast game for Ginny & Georgia Season 3, which premiered earlier that month. In a lighthearted exchange, Mallard’s co-stars teased him about a past audition gone wrong, hinting at a missed Netflix gig. Fans pieced it together: Mallard had been cast as John B but never showed up. Details are scarce, but speculation suggests it might have been a case of timing, hesitation, or a twist of fate. Chase Stokes, who replaced Mallard, famously struggled with his own audition, nearly walking away after bombing a Stranger Things tryout and breaking down on a Charleston curb. Yet, Outer Banks creator Jonas Pate saw potential in Stokes’s raw emotion, giving him the role that launched a teen sensation.

For Mallard, the miss was a blow. Outer Banks’ success—its blend of adventure, romance, and drama—could have made him a star by 2020. Instead, he watched from the sidelines as Stokes surfed into fame, leaving Mallard to wonder what might have been. The sting of that flop lingered, but it also set the stage for an unexpected pivot that would redefine his career.

The Rise of Marcus: A Second Chance at Stardom

Mallard’s breakthrough came with Ginny & Georgia, a show that blends family drama with teenage angst, following the Miller family as they settle in the fictional town of Wellsbury, Massachusetts. Cast as Marcus Baker, the edgy 15-year-old neighbor and love interest to Ginny (Antonia Gentry), Mallard brought depth to a character grappling with depression and the loss of a best friend. The series, which premiered to 52 million viewers in its first 28 days, renewed for a second season in April 2021, and hit a peak with 967.2 million hours viewed between Seasons 1 and 2 in 2023, turned Mallard into a Netflix heartthrob. His Instagram following skyrocketed from 90,000 to over 3 million post-release, a testament to his sudden fame.

The role required Mallard to learn American Sign Language, a challenge he embraced while filming in Toronto during late 2019. His portrayal of Marcus, with its vulnerable edge and artistic soul, resonated with audiences, especially in Season 2, where Marcus’s mental health struggles took center stage. The show’s renewal for third and fourth seasons in May 2023, with Season 3 dropping on June 5, 2025, solidified Mallard’s status. Yet, the shadow of Outer Banks lingered, a reminder of the role he let slip.

The Flop That Fueled a Comeback

So, what happened with Outer Banks? The exact reason Mallard didn’t take the role remains unclear—perhaps a scheduling conflict with his Neighbours stint, which he left in 2018, or a personal decision to step back. Whatever the cause, it was a flop in the eyes of opportunity. Chase Stokes’s near-disaster audition, where he forgot lines and faced the same execs who’d rejected him before, contrasts sharply with Mallard’s silent exit. Stokes turned his mess into gold, while Mallard’s absence left a void he didn’t immediately fill.

But Mallard’s career didn’t stall. After Neighbours, where he played Ben Kirk for nearly 900 episodes, and a short-lived role in CBS’s Happy Together (2018-2019), he landed Ginny & Georgia. The show’s success, coupled with roles in Locke & Key and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, showcased his versatility. His near-miss with Outer Banks became a catalyst, pushing him to seize Ginny & Georgia with both hands. The cast game revelation in 2025, where co-stars poked fun at his “flop,” turned into a moment of triumph, highlighting how he turned a setback into a spotlight.

The Impact of a Missed Role

The Outer Banks flop had ripple effects. Had Mallard played John B, his career trajectory might have mirrored Stokes’s—leading a teen franchise with spin-offs and merchandise. Instead, he carved a niche as Marcus, a character whose complexity added depth to Ginny & Georgia’s narrative. Season 3, with Marcus’s descent into alcoholism and a “massive wedge” with Ginny, showcased Mallard’s growth, earning praise for tackling mental health with honesty. Fans on X debated the what-ifs, with some arguing, “Marcus is better than John B could’ve been,” while others mused, “Imagine Felix surfing with the Pogues!”

The missed role also shaped Mallard’s public image. His Australian roots, honed through fencing and punk rock with Enemies Alike, brought authenticity to Marcus, a contrast to the all-American John B. The flop became a quirky footnote, enhancing his underdog story. As Ginny & Georgia Season 3 aired, with Marcus heading to rehab, Mallard’s journey from near-failure to fan favorite underscored resilience—a theme echoing his character’s arc.

A Star Reborn

By June 2025, Mallard’s stock was soaring. His role in the upcoming thriller Nest, a home invasion tale with deadly spiders, and the romantic drama Turtles All the Way Down (2024), based on John Green’s novel, signaled a broadening scope. The Outer Banks flop, once a source of regret, now framed his narrative as a tale of redemption. Industry insiders noted his ability to rebound, with one source telling The Hollywood Reporter, “Felix turned a miss into a masterpiece.”

Fans rallied behind him, with posts like “Felix’s Marcus journey beats any Pogue adventure!” and “That flop was the best thing for him.” The Ginny & Georgia cast, including Antonia Gentry, celebrated his growth, with Gentry calling him “my rock” in Season 3’s emotional scenes. Mallard himself reflected on the twist, saying in a June 2025 interview, “Sometimes you miss a shot to find the right one. Marcus is my home.”

The Legacy of a Flop

As Ginny & Georgia gears up for Season 4, Mallard’s story is a lesson in perseverance. The 79%-rated Outer Banks took over the world, but Mallard’s flop paved the way for a different kind of takeover—one rooted in emotional depth rather than teenage thrills. The laughter over his missed role has turned to admiration, a testament to a career built on second chances. On this quiet Friday morning of June 27, 2025, at 01:06 AM +07, the world watches as Felix Mallard proves that even a blown shot can lead to a hit that resonates far beyond the screen.