Several major TV shows featured a certain actor in the pilot episode that was recastfor the rest of the series. This may have been an unaired pilot shown to network executives before the show officially aired — manyTV show spinoffs that never airedmet their end at this stage. An early pilot like this allows producers to see what they have so far and decide if the series is worth pursuing, or if some changes need to be made before filming the rest of it — such as finding an actor more suited to the character.
SomeTV recasts were even betterthan the actor they replaced, whether they happened immediately after the first episode or later in the show.The secret pilots that general fans never see have immense value when it comes to perfecting the show,as many of the characters in question were doubtlessly meant to be played by the final actor. The result isiconic TV characters it would be impossible to recastwho changed the face of the industry.
TV show
Original actor
Replacement actor
10Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Tamzin Merchant As Daenerys Targaryen
Tamzin Merchant’s on-screen personas in fantasy and period dramas likeSalem, The Tudors, andCarnival Rowmake it possible to see why she was initially cast as Daenerys forGame of Thrones. Merchant has since revealed that she was uncomfortable with some of the requirements of filming and even tried to back out beforehand but was convinced to give it a shot by others (viaEntertainment Weekly). Merchant had this to say:
“I think it’s a testament to Emilia Clarke for making that role iconic—she was obviously excited to tell that story, and she was epic and excellent. But for me, it wasn’t in my heart to tell it.”
HoweverGame of Thronesended,everyone is glad that Emilia Clarke was the one to play the Mother of Dragons for its decade-long run.Clarke’s iconic performance is one of the pillars of the milestone fantasy series, delivering many unforgettable moments in Daenerys' rise to power in Essos as she plans to make a bid for the Iron Throne. Daenerys is not the only character to be recast after the unseen pilot: Michelle Fairley also replaced Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
9Full House (1987-1995)
John Posey As Danny Tanner
Full Houseis inseparable from the ensemble cast that portrayed the Tanner family, and Bob Saget was always the first choice to play Danny Tanner. However, for a moment, the producers thought they would have to let go of this dream.Danny was recast forFull Housemultiple times purely because of Saget’s fluctuating schedule.When it was believed that the role would need to be played by someone else,Full Housewent to relative newcomer John Posey,who filmed a pilot with the child actors who played the Tanner children.
When Saget’sThe Morning Programwas canceled and his schedule opened up, Posey was dropped fromFull Houseand a new (very similar) pilot was filmed.Full Housebecame one of the most famous family sitcoms of all time, while Posey went on to appear in various popular shows, includingBetter Call Saul, How to Get Away with Murder, andTeen Wolf. However, Posey and some of his would-beFull Houseco-stars were apparently disgruntled by him suddenly being fired.
Full House (US)
Full House (1987) is a family sitcom centered on Danny Tanner, a widowed father, who enlists his brother-in-law Jesse and best friend Joey to help raise his three young daughters in San Francisco. The series features themes of family, friendship, and humor, showcasing the everyday challenges and heartwarming moments as they navigate life together. Full House starred Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier.
8Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Florencia Lozano As Eleanor Waldorf
Eleanor Waldorf and Lily van der Woodsen, the respective mothers of Blair and Serena, the two main characters ofGossip Girl, are both important figures in the series. Both make the treacherous waters of New York high society an intergenerational affair, as they are wrapped up in their own drama that inevitably affects their teenage daughters. In the first episode of the series (not an unaired pilot), Eleanor is played by Florencia Lozano.
After the first episode,Lozano was replaced by Margaret Colin, said to be because Lozano looked too young to have a daughter Blair’s age(viaMovieWeb). Colin’s sharp performance as Eleanor became a memorable part ofGossip Girl, and most would agree that she was right for the role. Colin is also a better-known actress, and studio executives were probably happy with the extra publicity she would bring.
Gossip Girl
Set in New York, 2021’s Gossip Girl chronicles the lives of a new generation of private school teenagers who navigate social dynamics and scandals. Through the pervasive influence of social media, their secrets are exposed, while the anonymous titular blogger reveals the complexities of their intertwined relationships.
7Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)
James Neate As Toby Cavanaugh
Similar to Eleanor Waldorf,Toby was played by James Neate for his brief appearance in the first episode ofPretty Little Liars,when the main group sees Jenna and her stepbrother arrive at Alison’s funeral. The reasons for him being replaced by Keegan Allen are unclear, but Toby’s role in the series was always fluctuating. For instance, Allen revealed (viaTeen Vogue) that he was only supposed to be in six episodes of the series before his character was killed off, true to the books' storyline.
Allen’s performance possibly gave rise to the fan campaign to keep Toby in the series for the long run.
Allen’s performance possibly gave rise to the fan campaign to keep Toby in the series for the long run.Toby then ended up being Spencer’s main love interest,something else that wasn’t in thePretty Little Liarsbooks. Given how Toby’s role evolved within the production of the first season, it is not surprising that a recast happened at some point.
Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars is a Teen Drama and Mystery series based on the novel by Sara Shepard. The show was created by Marlene King and stars Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, and Holly Marie Combs. The series revolves around four friends who meet back up with one another and begin to receive strange threats from an unknown source simply labeled “A.”
The 36 Best TV Characters Of All-Time
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6Family Guy (1999-Present)
Rachael McFarlane As Meg Griffin
The true first episode ofFamily Guy, titled “Death Has A Shadow,” mostly follows the plot of Seth McFarlane’s unaired pilot.His sister Rachael McFarlane voiced Meg Griffinfor this unseen episode. Presumably, McFarlane lent her voice to the project just to help her brother pitch it, and Meg was properly cast once the series picked up. However, this was the beginning of the longstanding tradition of the creator’s sister voicing an absurd number of side characters inFamily Guy.
Meanwhile,Meg was recast again afterFamily Guyseason 1. Lacey Chabert amicably left the show because she was still in high school at the time and was forced to choose between projects to allow time for her studies.Mila Kunis was then cast as Megand is now the actress most famously associated with the role. The consensus is that Kunis voicing Meg was overall the right choice for the show going forward.
Family Guy
Family Guy is an animated series following the eccentric Griffin family. Led by bumbling patriarch Peter and long-suffering Lois, the family includes the sadistic baby Stewie, unpopular teenager Meg, dim-witted Chris, and Brian, their talking dog. The show explores their outlandish adventures in the fictional town of Quahog.
5True Blood (2008-2014)
Brook Kerr As Tara Thornton
True Bloodalso had to recast Tarato allow Rutina Wesley to become one of the cornerstones of the show.Some scenes featuring Brook Kerr as Sookie’s childhood best friend in the unaired pilot are available online,allowing fans to compare the performances. No official reason was given for recasting Tara, with it being vaguely said that Kerr left the budding adult vampire series due to"creative differences.“The many similarities between the original pilot and the one fans got suggests that it was only re-filmed because of the recast.
Showrunner Alan Ball also said (viaThe New York Times) that Wesley was cast because she"was the first person who showed [Tara]’s vulnerable side.“Given the limitations of her role in the first episode, accomplishing this in the eyes of the creator is impressive for Wesley to have done.Wesley remained a part of theTrue Bloodcast until the end,launching her TV career into other major series likeQueen SugarandThe Last of Us.
true blood
True Blood is a horror/fantasy drama series created by Alan Ball and starring Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, and Alexander Skarsgård. The series follows the life of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic powers that lives in a fictional town in Louisiana. In this town, a new synthetic “drug” has allowed vampires to escape their coffins and roam amongst the living.
4Man With A Plan (2016-2020)
Jenna Fischer As Andi Burns
Matt LeBlanc took another shot as a post-friends sitcom inMan with a Plan, in which he stars as a contractor adjusting to life as a stay-at-home dad. Another sitcom veteran,Jenna Fischer, played LeBlanc’s Adam’s wife Andi in the unaired pilot.After that, she was replaced by Liza Snyder, who remained in the role for its four-season run. Producers might have thought having two huge sitcom stars was a recipe for success, but later concluded that it was the opposite.
Fischer reportedly lost the role after the pilot when test audiences reacted negatively because"Pam wouldn’t marry Joey”(viaDeadline). She revealed in an interview that she was told:“I don’t believe Pam would marry Joey. The chemistry doesn’t work between these two.“This is perhaps one of the most explicit examples ever of the double-edged sword of having played such an iconic role when audiences can’t separate the actor from the character. Either because LeBlanc was attached to the show first or had been a comedy icon for longer, he stayed on board while Fischer was let go.
3Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Mitchel Musso As Aang
Mitchel Musso almost added another popular character to his resume in the 2000s environment of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon’s parallel content. Musso is famously Oliver, one of Miley’s two best friends in the classic Disney Channel seriesHannah Montana. Pre-Hannah Montana,Musso was in the running to voice Aang forAvatar: The Last Airbenderand recorded the original pilot alongside Mae Whitman as Katara, then called Kya (viaEntertainment Weekly).
During theHannah Montanaera,Musso did some great voice acting as DJ inMonster Houseand Jeremy inPhineas and Ferb,showcasing his talent in this area. However, he was still replaced by Zach Tyler Eisen forAvatar: The Last Airbender. Most fans of the original animated series don’t have many complaints about its cast or storytelling, demonstrating that recasting Aang was probably in the best interest of the show.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2005, follows a young boy in a war-torn world of elemental magic as he reawakens to embark on a challenging mystical quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar and restore peace to the world.
2Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Alex Borstein As Sookie St. James
Alex Borstein as Sookie, the head chef at the Independence Inn inGilmore Girls, might have been fun to see.Borstein was already known forFamily Guy,and far in the future, would dazzle and provoke endless laughter as Susie, Midge’s no-nonsense manager inThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Despite her comedic talent and potential to shine in this role, Borstein was unable to get out of another contract, leadingGilmore Girlsto recast Sookieas the then-comparatively unknown Melissa McCarthy.
This role helped launch McCarthy’s career, while Borstein was already an established star.
This role helped launch McCarthy’s career, while Borstein was already an established star. Based on Borstein’s harsher performance inThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,it’s easy to see how McCarthy was better for Sookie’s warm and supportive personality.Suffice it to say, both actresses have led enormously successful careers, no matter the outcome ofGilmore Girls.
Gilmore Girls
In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
10 TV Character Recasts That Couldn’t Match The Original Actors
Though recasting a beloved TV character is sometimes inevitable, that doesn’t mean the actor who takes over for the role will be as good.
1Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Riff Regan As Willow Rosenberg
Alyson Hannigan is another actor inextricably associated with an iconic role;in her case, the powerful witch in the making Willow in the milestone fantasy showBuffy the Vampire Slayer. Hannigan’s performance ranges from Willow’s most timid and awkward moments to the intensity of Dark Willow. It also includes the groundbreaking depiction of her relationship with Tara, a major moment for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media.
Riff Regan filmed aBuffy the Vampire Slayerpilot before Willow was recast. Producers reportedly didn’t feel like Regan was a fit for the character or the series;Willow then ended up being Hannigan’s breakout role.TV allows for major changes like this because pilots are shown before a network orders a full series, which leads to some casting choices that fans are now grateful for and characters they couldn’t imagine being played by anyone else.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
