Do You Remember When These Actors Stepped In?
Recasting always causes controversy, both for reasons of continuity and fan attachment. Here are 20 examples of recasts that ranged from highly contentious to rewarding artistically.
Dan Castellaneta In The Return Of Jafar
Robin Williams’ performance as Genie in the 1992 animated classic Aladdin was widely heralded as one of the most ingenious voice-acting performances of all time, with the actor being able to bring his signature comic talent to another medium. That being said, when it came time for a sequel, this wasn’t considered important enough.
Fox Broadcasting Company, Wikimedia Commons
Dan Castellaneta In The Return Of Jafar
Before Disney exploited every intellectual property to achieve billion-dollar theatrical grosses, they had a tendency in the 90s to not trust the idea of sequels, thus making them all direct-to-video ventures. When it came time for the sequel to Aladdin, the House of Mouse cut corners on budget and replaced Robin Williams with the voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta
Kevin Stockdale, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Maggie Gyllenhaal In The Dark Knight
If you can remember all the way back to 20 years ago, there was some theorizing that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ new romance was a publicity stunt for their respective summer movies, War Of The Worlds and Batman Begins. Unfortunately for Holmes, the pall of the Cruise relationship would continue beyond the summer of 2005.
Warner Bros., Batman Begins (2005)
Maggie Gyllenhaal In The Dark Knight
Holmes famously didn’t return for the role of Rachel Dawes in the Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, which saw further celebrity gossip speculation over Cruise trying to control her career. While Maggie Gyllenhaal was a more than adequate replacement, it still broke the continuity for a series that touted its surprising realism.
Warner Bros., The Dark Knight (2008)
Moira Kelly In Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me
By the time Twin Peaks was canceled in 1991, it was clear that the bloom was off the rose. This led to multiple actors from the show like Joan Chen, Sherilyn Fenn, and Richard Beymer not returning for the prequel film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
Propaganda Films, Twin Peaks (1990-91)
Moira Kelly In Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me
One of these stars who didn’t return was Lara Flynn Boyle in the role of Laura Palmer’s best friend, Donna Hayward. Despite continuity issues, some have argued that her replacement, Moira Kelly, brought a softer side to the role.
New Line Cinema, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Harry Styles In Don’t Worry, Darling
While Olivia Wilde’s high-concept thriller Don’t Worry, Darling has been largely forgotten in the years since its release, both its production and publicity tour were the sources of constant headlines. Many of these revolved around the role of the male lead, Jack.
New Line Cinema, Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Harry Styles In Don’t Worry, Darling
Initially, Shia LaBeouf had been hired for the role but was then replaced by pop star Harry Styles due to alleged creative differences. During promotion for the film, Wilde tried to state that she fired LaBeouf over his volatile behavior until he retorted with video proof of her begging him to not drop out of the film.
Daphne Maxwell Reid In The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air
The matriarch of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Vivian Banks, was one of the most positive representations of Black women onscreen in the 1990s. A large part of this was due to the strong performance of actress Janet Hubert in the role.
NBC, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-96)
Daphne Maxwell Reid In The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air
Hubert departed after the third season, years later citing drama in her personal life and poor salary offers by the network as her reasons. The role was recast with Daphne Maxwell Reid, and it was also subsequently written as a more passive character, disappointing people who saw Vivian as inspirational.
NBC, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-96)
Julianne Moore In Hannibal
Jodie Foster’s Academy Award-winning performance as Clarice Starling in The Silence Of The Lambs is one of the most iconic film turns in history. When it came time for a sequel a decade later though, both she and director Jonathan Demme didn’t feel the need to try and recapture the magic, and Foster opted out.
Orion, The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Julianne Moore In Hannibal
The role was recast with Julianne Moore, who while a highly capable actress, didn’t bring Foster’s gravitas. The key issue though was that the relationship between Clarice and Hannibal Lecter just couldn’t land with a recast actor.
Jessie Cave In Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince
The role of Lavender Brown was very minor in the second and third Harry Potter films, with two different actresses, Kathleen Cauley and Jennifer Smith, respectively, playing the character. Certain attitudes of Hollywood at the time became revealed though when it was time for the character to have a bigger role in the sixth film as a love interest for Ron Weasley.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Jessie Cave In Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince
The two different actresses portraying the role earlier were each Black women. When the character came to more prominence, she was recast with a White actress, pointing to potential racism on the studio and the producers’ behalf.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Stuart Townsend In The Queen Of The Damned
Tom Cruise’s casting as the diabolical vampire Lestat in Interview With The Vampire was the source of much controversy in 1994, with the book’s original author Anne Rice even signaling public disapproval. Yet the ever-hard-working actor he is, Cruise still managed to nail the role while slightly miscast.
Geffen Pictures, Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Stuart Townsend In The Queen Of The Damned
When it came to putting the vampire Lestat on screen again, the powers that be felt it was more appropriate material for a trashy B-movie. Thus the budget and director weren’t there to attract Cruise, and the role was recast with Stuart Townsend.
Warner Bros., The Queen Of The Damned (2002)
Mark Ruffalo In The Avengers
Rebooting the character of the Incredible Hulk for the Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed like a tall order, but an actor of Edward Norton’s caliber being attached made people less apprehensive. That being said, Norton’s off-screen behavior made him hard to maintain.
Marvel, The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Mark Ruffalo In The Avengers
Marvel fired Norton from the role in 2010, citing him as not being a team player. The role was subsequently recast with the very capable Mark Ruffalo, who’s depicted the character in multiple titles since but never in his own standalone Hulk film.
James Remar In Mortal Kombat Annihilation
One of the qualities that still makes the original 1995 Mortal Kombat such a cheesy delight is the performance by French star Christopher Lambert as Lord Raiden. With his signature low voice and stoic facial expressions, the actor brings his all even to a silly B movie.
New Line Cinema, Mortal Kombat (1995)
James Remar In Mortal Kombat Annihilation
Citing the quality of the script as his chief reason, Lambert didn’t return for the sequel in 1997, instead being replaced by James Remar, who while a strong actor, didn’t have the same qualities as Lambert. A notoriously lousy movie, Lambert was smart not to reprise the role.
New Line Cinema, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
Maria Bello In The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor
The two Mummy movies played a big role in elevating the public profile of British actress Rachel Weisz, who was primarily known for art films and stage work beforehand. Her star rose even more after winning an Oscar for her role in the 2005 political drama The Constant Gardener.
Maria Bello In The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor
With her stock at an all-time high, Weisz was able to make more decisive career decisions, which included turning down the third Mummy film after not liking the script or the proposed shooting schedule. The role was subsequently recast with American actress Maria Bello, which did not please fans.
Universal, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
Robert Burke In RoboCop 3
The original RoboCop was a classic due to several factors, and one of them was the perfectly concentrated performance by lead actor Peter Weller. While the film’s sequel was far lesser in quality, the actor still brought his all to the project.
Orion Pictures, Robocop (1987)
Robert Burke In “RoboCop 3”
But when it came for another sequel, Weller did not return. While he was apparently still interested in portraying the role one more time, the schedule of other films conflicted, so he made the decision to let the role go. It was subsequently given to Robert Burke.
Screenshot of Robert Burke from - RoboCop 3 (1993)
Charles Melton In Riverdale
In the first season of CW guilty pleasure Riverdale, the supporting role of Reggie was portrayed by actor Ross Butler. Yet the actor was replaced in the second season, leading to the social media hashtag #NotMyReggie.
Charles Melton In Riverdale
That being said, Butler was replaced with Charles Melton who soon became one of the breakout stars of Riverdale. He was seen recently with a surprisingly nuanced turn in the film May December.
Javicia Leslie In Batwoman
Actress and DJ Ruby Rose was riding a bit of a hot streak when cast in the titular role of the CW series Batwoman. But she exited the series after only one season.
Warner Bros., Batwoman (2019-22)
Javicia Leslie In Batwoman
Rose cited poor working conditions on set for her departure, but regardless, the show had to go on and actress Javicia Leslie took up the cape and cowl. The show only went on for two more seasons.
Warner Bros., Batwoman (2019-22)
Mads Mikkelsen In Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore
The villainous role of Grindelwald in the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts was set up to be a multiple-film arc, with superstar Johnny Depp making a cameo appearance in the first film. But by the time it came for the third film in 2022, Depp was not such an alluring star prospect anymore.
Warner Bros., Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Mads Mikkelsen In Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore
Due to off-screen drama involving domestic abuse allegations and its fallout, Depp was replaced by actor Mads Mikkelsen in the third entry. Depp still had a rabid online fanbase, though, who managed to raise a stink about the recasting.
Warner Bros., Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore (2022)
Maika Monroe In Independence Day: Resurgence
One of actress Mae Whitman’s earliest roles was as the President’s daughter in the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day. But when the time came for the character to return in the 2016 legacy sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, producers balked.
Twentieth Century, Independence Day (1996)
Maika Monroe In Independence Day: Resurgence
A seasoned actress who’d been actively working since her child star days, Whitman ended up being replaced by It Follows star Maika Monroe. The ugly reason theorized was that Monroe was considered more conventionally attractive than Whitman.
Twentieth Century, Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
Dick Sargent In Bewitched
Dick York made a name for himself portraying the role of Darrin on the popular sitcom Bewitched for five seasons. Yet off-screen, the actor was ,unfortunately, suffering through severe health issues, which impacted his ability to perform.
Screen Gems Television, Bewitched (1964-72)
Dick Sargent In Bewitched
York was replaced with Dick Sargent, who did his best in the role yet couldn’t help but be associated with the show’s decline in popularity. Still, he had three seasons to his name in the role.
Screen Gems Television, Bewitched (1964-72)
George Clooney In Batman & Robin
The previous Batman, Val Kilmer, was already a replacement for Michael Keaton, so imagine the whiplash when yet another actor stepped into the suit. This time, it was ER star George Clooney. Though it wasn’t necessarily his fault that Batman & Robin was the worst Batman movie yet.
Warner Bros., Batman Forever (1995)
George Clooney In Batman & Robin
Clooney notoriously has spent decades publicly badmouthing the film, providing one more reason he should not have done it in the first place. That being said, he did reprise the role of Bruce Wayne for a jokey cameo in the 2023’s The Flash.
Warner Bros., Batman & Robin (1997)
Don Cheadle In Iron Man 2
The first actor to sign onto 2008’s Iron Man wasn’t Robert Downey Jr, but supporting actor Terrence Howard, who had just come off his Academy Award-nominated turn in Hustle And Flow. The role of James Rhoades should have been set-up for future films—but Howard fumbled the bag.
Don Cheadle In Iron Man 2
Howard was actually the highest-paid actor on the first film, and wasn’t happy when he wasn’t offered the kind of raise that Downey was for the sequel. Don Cheadle soon stepped into the role and is still playing it to this day, with a streaming show dedicated to the character on the horizon.
Liam Hemsworth In The Witcher
Based on the popular video game and series of books, the fantasy series The Witcher was an instant smash hit for Netflix. The show was led by former Superman actor Henry Cavill, who’s always been a divisive figure.
Liam Hemsworth In The Witcher
Behind-the-scenes drama with Cavill being tyrannical on set led to the actor being fired and replaced. The new actor was Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth, who virtually nobody is a fan of.
