Justin Timberlake was set to play a drug addict teacher

Star showrunner and “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy has spilled a secret: Justin Timberlake was originally slated to star in the influential musical series.

In the podcast talk (“And That’s What You REALLY Missed”) with former Glee cast members Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams) and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang), he revealed that the original script was a lot darker than the eventual splash cheeky-cheerful version that became a great success.

The basis for co-writer Ian Brennan’s “Glee” was far too murky to be produced by a US television network, according to Variety. In the original version, Timberlake was intended for the not-so-charming teacher Mr. Schue. He was supposed to be a rather goofy crystal meth addict who also rids himself of his demons by working with the students.

Optimism beats gloom

In the version that was finally produced, which scores with inimitable song interpretations by the choir cast, fast-paced staging, a lot of empathy for his many diverse characters and an infectious optimism, William “Will” Schuester is ultimately a kind-hearted teacher, to whom the often uplift troubled Eleven.

Glee ran from 2009 to 2015 and spanned six seasons with numerous celebrity guest appearances from Adam Lambert to Ricky Martin to Olivia Newton-John. Also joining briefly were Britney Spears, who voiced Helen Mirren in one episode, and more prominently, Gwyneth Paltrow (who later became the wife of Glee co-producer Brad Falchuck).

More series news

Glee creators Murphy and Brennan are also hitting a big audience right now on Netflix with Monster: The Story of Jeffrey Dahmer. The true crime series is about one of America’s most dangerous serial killers.

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