The Good Doctor Almost Had a Different Fate Without Freddie Highmore as the Lead
The Good Doctor fans could have gotten a very different show. Bates Motel almost made Highmore say no to the role of Shaun Murphy.
Ever since The Good Doctor premiered in 2017, the medical drama about an autistic savant surgeon has received mixed reviews. Viewers and critics may be unhappy about some storylines, but all of them agree on one thing, Freddie Highmore's performance is brilliant. Highmore playing the title character Shaun Murphy is so believable in his role that it is hard to imagine anyone else taking his place.
However, the show's fans almost lost Highmore as Shaun Murphy. The actor revealed to Ad Week that at first, he was hesitant to take on the role.
The reason behind this hesitation was another show he had just parted with, Bates Motel, a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's iconic Psycho. Freddie Highmore portrayed one of the most famous fictional serial killers, Norman Bates, and his development prior to the events of Psycho.
Though Highmore was highly praised for his work on the project, the five-season series taught him about the major commitment that taking part in a show entails. Highmore shared that he didn't want to "end up on something that he might not want to be doing for years and years."
Luckily for fans and the actor, he eventually decided to accept the role in the medical drama. The "importance" of the show featuring the autistic lead character made him say yes, Highmore revealed to Digital Spy.
After his positive decision, the actor seemed to entirely immerse in his new challenging role. He shared that he was constantly learning about autism. Besides research and working with a consultant, the actor also admitted to talking with viewers who had a personal connection to the show and were interested in the awareness of autism it raised.
In an interview with USA Today, Highmore added that he appreciated Dr. Murphy being "a fully formed character" instead of an emotionless and obsessed individual, autistic characters were often portrayed. Different life situations help Shaun open up to the audience, the actor said.
Looks like Freddie Highmore thrives in unique television roles. Though his Motel Bates character was very different from Dr. Shaun Murphy, they had one thing in common. There was no other character like this. Dedication like this makes Highmore an inspiring actor currently playing an inspiring role.