There have been a lot of times when Hollywood casting decisions led to surprise and even outcry from fans. Fans often think they know better than casting directors when it comes to filling the roles of their favorite characters. Here are fifteen wild casting decisions, some of which resulted in awesome movies — and some that ruined entire franchises.
Austin Butler as Elvis Presley
Austin Butler was mostly known as a former Disney Channel actor before he popped up in the epic biopic Elvis. Butler seemed like an odd call for this role, but his unbelievable acting chops made him a natural fit and he wowed critics and audiences alike. Now, he’s one of Hollywood’s most in-demand character actors.
Michael Keaton as Batman
This might be hard to believe these days, but Michael Keaton was once exclusively viewed as a comedic actor. As such, when it was announced that he’d portray Batman in Tim Burton’s highly anticipated 1989 superhero movie, many fans were skeptical of his potential. Naturally, he blew everyone away and created an iconic version of the character.
Zachary Quinto as Spock
After his turn on Heroes as Sylar, Zachary Quinto earned a name for himself as a great “logical” actor who could bring a scary intellect to any role. What better use for a brainy performer than as the living embodiment of logic, Spock? Quinto was delightful in the JJ Abrams Star Trek film series and provided fans with another beloved take on the classic character.
Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker
Darth Vader is one of the most iconic film characters ever, full stop. As such, George Lucas’s choice to have Vader’s younger self, Anakin Skywalker, played by the relatively unknown Hayden Christensen was controversial among fans. His performance was panned, but recent Star Wars shows have given Christensen a chance to reprise the role with somewhat stronger writing and direction.
Chris Pratt as Mario
This one shocked everyone and was treated as more of a punchline when Nintendo announced it. Chris Pratt, of Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy fame, was going to voice Mario, the overall-wearing Italian plumber? Weirdly, it worked. Pratt clearly put in the practice in the booth and ended up with a great performance that actually fit the character.
Tom Cruise as Lestat
Tom Cruise is known for his explosive, energetic performances as the leading characters in action movies. Anne Rice, who wrote Interview with the Vampire, was understandably a bit let down when Cruise was cast as the iconic vampire Lestat in the film adaptation of her book. However, Cruise tapped into another side of his acting abilities and portrayed Lestat with a thoughtful, understated performance that caused Rice to retract her earlier complaints.
Marlon Brando as Jor-El
The Christopher Reeve Superman series is great, and one unexpected element of the franchise is how good Marlon Brando is as Clark Kent’s birth father, Jor-El. Though he’s not in the movie for very long, Brando’s Jor-El brings a regal dignity to the proceedings that helps explain just where future Superman hails from.
Daniel Craig as James Bond
Can you believe there was a point in time when people were mad about Daniel Craig playing James Bond? In fact, there was a popular joke about the English actor, calling him “James Blonde.” Yes, back in 2006 people were mad that the guy playing Bond didn’t have dark hair.
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man
RDJ had a rough time of it in the 90s. His name was basically mud in Hollywood for about a decade before Marvel Studios said they wanted to anchor their entire film franchise on his performance in Iron Man. The freshly rehabilitated RDJ absolutely nailed his part as Tony Stark and kickstarted the entire Marvel movie machine.
Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides
Timothee Chalamet has been making big moves in Hollywood for a while now. His role as Paul in both Dune movies has really opened a lot of people’s eyes to how strong of an actor he is, bringing out a Messianic depth to the role of the Maud Dib that escalates the space opera films to epic heights.
Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a frustratingly uneven movie. Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder are phenomenal, but Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker struggles to keep up with the megaton power before him on set. It was odd that Coppola hired Reeves for the role of the male lead in the Gothic horror film, as he was clearly not up to the task when compared to Oldman and Ryder giving career-defining performances in the same film.
Robert Pattinson as Batman
Fans get really passionate about Batman, and any casting choice is heavily scrutinized. The same was true of Robert Pattinson, mostly remembered for his role in the critically-panned Twilight series. However, the Battinson, as fans have come to call his portrayal, led to the best superhero movie in years.
Kristen Stewart as Diana, Princess of Wales
Speaking of former Twilight stars, Kristen Stewart has also struggled to shake the reputation of being a wooden actor that has stuck with her and costar Pattinson. If you need a quick primer in how awesome she is, just check out Spencer, where she plays Diana, Princess of Wales in a genuinely moving performance.
Read More: 15 Actors Who Passed on Major Roles
Heath Ledger as the Joker
Can anyone ever play the Joker quite like Heath Ledger? Weirdly, the reveal that the brooding Australian actor would take on the role of the Clown Prince of Crime was quite shocking back in 2007, with many fans questioning if Ledger had the spark to make it work. Indeed, his performance is singular as the force of chaos in a clown outfit—and he won numerous posthumous awards for the role.
Read More: Lights, Camera, Confusion: The Weirdest Casting Choices in Film
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
Is it cheating to list RDJ twice? Well, if it’s cheating for us to do it, it’s cheating for Marvel to bring him back as Doctor Doom after Iron Man’s story wrapped up in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. We’re hoping Downey Jr. keeps the iron mask on throughout his role, and that his voice is heavily obscured by some kind of modulator, so only his physical performance will sell the menace and gravitas of the villain.
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