Summary
Casting films is a tricky business, and sometimes it doesn’t quite go to plan. Inlong-running film series, it’s usually expected that actors will reprise their roles throughout those movies – but sometimes they don’t. While the character can be dropped from subsequent films,sometimes they’re just too important, and so they have to be recast.
While recasting in movies and TVcan be a success or failure, it can leave the production feeling different – possibly even worse – than when it had the original actors. Whether it’s because the character’s personality changed or because the second actor simply doesn’t understand their role as well, the feeling is disappointing for audiences, and likely to leave the film feeling like a pale imitation of its predecessor.
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10George Clooney as Batman In Batman & Robin (1997)
Clooney Wasn’t As Solid As Michael Keaton Or Val Kilmer
Tim Burton’s pair of Batman features,Batman(1989) andBatman Returns(1992), starred Michael Keaton in the title role. Very quickly, he became the definitive movie Batman, and despite initial concerns flew straight to the top of people’s lists. By 1995’sBatman Forever, not only had the director changed from Burton to Joel Schumacher, but Keaton had also refused to reprise the role, with Val Kilmer cast instead. Kilmer did a good job emulating Keaton’s Bruce Wayne – but when the final film in the series was made, he didn’t return either.
George Clooney reprized his role as Bruce Wayne inThe Flash.
George Clooney’s Batman had neither the charmof Val Kilmer nor the gravitas of Michael Keaton. Where the previous two actors managed to connect Bruce Wayne to his crime-fighting alter ego,Clooney’s performances as the two personas felt uncomfortably disjointed and unnatural. His delivery is a bit flat and uninspiring, and his approach to the role seemingly unbothered and uncaring, Clooney’s Batman will surely go down as the worst interpretation of the character ever committed to screen. Not only has he not lived up to his predecessors, he hasn’t lived up to any Batman that’s come since.
Batman and Robin
Cast
Following the events of Batman Forever, Batman & Robin is the fourth entry into Warner Bros.’s original Batman film franchise. Batman (George Clooney) and his sidekick Robin (Chris O’Donnell) team up with Barbara Wilson (Alicia Silverstone) to thwart the evil plans of Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). With Barbara assuming the mantle of Batgirl, the three heroes fight to save Gotham from two of Batman’s greatest enemies.
9Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor In Terminator Genisys (2015)
Linda Hamilton Gave One Of The Best Female Action Performances Ever
Terminator Genisysis a movie that has a lot of flaws. With many roles recast, it feels so detached from the original films that it’s almost an oddity of the industry that it was made at all.Linda Hamilton’s original portrayal of Sarah Connor was so good that she earned several awardsfor her performance. Comparatively, Clarke – while a big name – could never match it.
Part of the problem is almost certainly down to the production ofGenisysas a whole. With a completely different creative team behind it to all the previous installments in the franchise, it’s no wonder this film was a failure. It’s just a shame that Clarke had to be dragged into it. Perhaps, in a world where James Cameron returned, this could have been something different.
Terminator Genisys
Terminator: Genysis reboots James Cameron’s Terminator franchise by rewriting the events of the original movie. This time, Emilia Clarke’s Sarah Connor already knows why Jai Courtney’s Kyle Reese has been sent back in time, and an older T-800, once again played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, helps them in their quest to prevent an AI uprising.
8Maria Bello as Evelyn In The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
A Change From Rachel Weisz With No Explanation
Rachel Weisz’s performance as Evie O’Connell in thefirst twoMummyfilms, and her chemistry with Brendan Fraser, were a huge part of what made those films so successful. Weisz’s Evie was a strong, resourceful, and compassionate, and her evolution into a courageous adventurer from librarian won audiences over instantly. By contrast, when Maria Bello took over the role inTomb of the Dragon Emperor, the magic faded.
The chemistry between Bello and Fraser felt forced, and her performance didn’t capture the essence of the original character. Evie became something of a shadow of her former self, and the film’s comparatively negative reviews reflect this. Bello’s portrayal lacked the depth and charm that Weisz had brought to the franchise, ultimately impacting the trilogy’s overall appeal. While Weisz’s Evie was iconic, Bello’s attempt fell short, leaving fans longing for the original.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Rounding out The Mummy trilogy, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor stars Brendan Fraser in his return as Rick O’Connell, with Maria Bello replacing Rachel Weisz as Rick’s wife, Evelyn. Set 13 years after the previous film, the story follows the O’Connells as they are tasked with taking a gem called the Eye of Shangri-La back safely back to China, before being caught up in a plot to resurrect an ancient Chinese mummy called the Dragon Emperor along with their now adult son, Alex. Jet Li, John Hannah, and Michelle Yeoh also star.
7Dan Castellaneta as Genie In Aladdin: The Return of Jafar (1994)
It’s Impossible To Replace Robin Williams
Robin Williams madeAladdin. His portrayal of the Genie was genius. The constant riffing on other actors and performers, darting from impression to impression was truly awe-inspiring to watch, and it’s no surprise that much of this was down to Williams’s own unscripted improv in the recording booth. As such, anyone following such a perfect fit for a role would be in danger of underacting, and sadly, the task fell toThe Simpsons’s own Dan Castellaneta.
Robin Williams returned to play Genie in the thirdAladdinfilm,Aladdin and the King of Thieves(1997).
Castellaneta isn’t a bad actor by any means, and he had more voice acting experience by this point in his career than Williams did in the first film, butit’s arguable that none of this mattered, by the fact that he isn’t Robin Williams. His background isn’t in improv and impressions – it’s in voice acting, so it’s no surprise that his performance felt more reserved and cautious. Williams had a talent for knowing to draw the line right before he took it too far, but without this similar confidence, Castellaneta wasn’t going to live up to the original performance.
6Stuart Townsend as Lestat In Queen of the Damned (2002)
There’s No One Like Tom Cruise In A Rare Villainous Role
Unfortunately, taking over from Tom Cruise is never going to be an easy gig. This is something that cinemagoers would discover when a standalone sequel to 1994’sInterview with the Vampirewas released.Townsend’s Lestat is completely differentto Cruise’s interpretation. Where Cruise showcased his acting ability with a nuanced and grounded performance, Townsend gave nothing more than a pale imitation.
It’s cases likeQueen of the Damnedwhere the idea of doing a sequel without the original cast gets brought into question, becauseeven if Townsend had been fantastic, he still wouldn’t have been Tom Cruise. The relative failure ofQueen of the Damnedcan’t be pinned wholly on Townsend, but it would at least have been nice if his accent was a little better.
Queen of the Damned
Queen of the Damned is a horror film directed by Michael Rymer, based on the third novel of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series. The film stars Stuart Townsend as the vampire Lestat, who becomes a rock star and awakens the ancient queen Akasha, played by Aaliyah. As Lestat grapples with his newfound fame, Akasha sets her sights on ruling the world.
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5Nick Palatas as Shaggy In Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins
Matthew Lillard Embodies The Role Of Shaggy
In the first two live-actionScooby-Doo!movies, Matthew Lillard proved himself as the perfect actor to take on the mantle of Shaggy. He had it all – the voice, the look, even the distinct posture. When in the classic Shaggy costume, it felt like Lillard had been the character for all his life. In fact, the entire cast of those films was as near perfect as possible. The fact that prequels were even considered in the first place is baffling, and Palatas’s casting as Shaggy particularly so.
Lillard could take lines that seemed completely nonsensical and weird and turn them into gold, while despite Palatas’s best efforts, nothing he said or did in this film or its sequelCurse of the Lake Monsterlive up to that ingenious, defining portrayal. It’s not entirely Palatas’s fault –Lillard’s were big shoes to fill, and the scripts for these prequels didn’t helpeither, but the result is something that feels so far detached from its source material as to be a complete waste of time.
4Robert John Burke as Alex Murphy In RoboCop 3
Peter Weller Became A Sci-Fi Icon As Robocop
Peter Weller’s portrayal of RoboCop in the first two films set the gold standard. His performance was stoic yet vulnerable, his robotic movements and deadpan delivery capturing the essence of a man trapped in a metal shell, struggling to reclaim his humanity. Burke, unfortunately, lacks that same gravitas. Weller’s voice - part man, part machine - was unforgettable. His monotone delivery, punctuated by occasional emotion, made every line memorable. Burke’s voice lacks that distinctiveness.
Where Weller performed robotically, his every movement deliberate, and with an imposing physicality, Burke lacks this effect, barely commanding attention when he walks into a room. What’s worse,Burke was forced to re-use the suit from the second film, which wasn’t fitted to himand so was incredibly uncomfortable, making moving at all very difficult. In this regard, it’s no surprise that his performance lacked something that Weller had, given he likely didn’t want to be there – just like viewers when watchingRoboCop 3.
3Mike Weinberg as Kevin McCallister In Home Alone 4
Weinberg Couldn’t Replace Culkin’s Most Famous Role
After McCauley Culkin’s Kevin McCallister had already had two outings in the first pair of movies from theHome Aloneseries, the third film shifted focus to an entirely different family instead. However, by the fourth film, a return to the McCallisters was in order – but the children had all grown up. Instead, it was down to nine-year-old Mike Weinberg to portray Kevin, but unfortunately, this was a very different film to its predecessors.
Where Culkin had given Kevin warmth, pathos, and curated sympathy from the audience,Weinberg’s portrayal came across as a spoiled brat who no one in their right mind would ever root for. The blame is not wholly at Weinberg’s feet – Kevin was written incredibly differently in this movie than preciously, and it wasn’t helped by an additional recast of criminal Marv from Daniel Stern to the comparably lackluster French Stewart – but what’s left is an over-the-top, whiny, unsympathetic child who feels as far removed from the original productions as can be.
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2Jonathan Groff as Agent Smith In The Matrix Resurrections
Hugo Weaving Gave An All-Time Villain Performance
Jonathan Groff has more than proved himself as a talented actor on both stage and screen. He has great range, with several Tony nominations (including for his role as George III inHamilton), and going from films likeFrozentoKnock at the Cabinwithout much difficulty. However, when taking over a role from another actor, things are different. Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith from the first threeMatrixfilms is unnervingly subtle, and he felt like the perfect fit for the role.
Groff doesn’t necessarily give a bad performance, but he doesn’t allow the character to feel like a natural progression from Weaving’s interpretation.Weaving was able to inject a creepy, unblinking feeling into the character that feels lost in Groff’s take. It’s a shame, but it’s only a minor scratch on Groff’s otherwise very strong track record.
The Matrix Resurrections
Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison - a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.
1Jared Leto as the Joker In Suicide Squad
Fans Expected An Oscar-Worth Performance… Until They Saw Early Images
Jared Leto isn’t technically a recast, as the Joker had been played by a number of actors before him and would be continued to be played by a number of other actors after him. This was merely an interpretation of the character for his introduction into the short-lived DC “Snyderverse”.Unfortunately, it was unlike any Joker that came before, in the worst way possible. Covered from head to toe in some of the most desperately-trying-to-prove-he’s-edgy tattoos imaginable (“Damaged” right across his forehead bears unfortunate implications), this was an attempt to be dark and gritty that was beyond unsuccessful.
It’s unsurprising that, bar one appearance in Snyder’s re-released cut ofJustice League, this iteration of the character was never to be seen again – even when he shows up for a second or two in spin-offBirds of Prey, he was played by a double. While the choice from director David Ayer was new and could even be described as interesting, comparing this to the incredibly sinister, uncomfortable performance given a few years earlier by Heath Ledger – or going further back even to César Romero’s turn in the ‘60s –Leto’s attempt severely misses the mark.
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad team is made up of villains, captured and kept in a secret prison, and offered reduced sentences if they participate in dangerous missions. In the tradition of continuity within DCEU films, the event comes in the wake of Superman’s death and the seclusion of Batman after the events that occurred in Batman V Superman. Agency head Amanda Waller, played by award-winning actress Viola Davis, is the one striking deals with the inmates of Belle Reve Prison. Heading “Task Force X” is Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag, alongside Will Smith’s Deadshot, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang, Jay Hernandez’s El Diablo, Adewale Akinnuoye’s Killer Croc, and Adam Beach’s Slipknot. Karen Fukuhara’s Katana also joins the mission to keep Rick safe from the villains. Jared Leto (Joker) and Ben Affleck (Batman) have smaller roles in David Ayer’sSuicide Squad, as does Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress.
