When looking for the right
candidates for the main parts, producers and casting directors often give the
roles to the stars whose names are very popular, but not necessarily to the
actors that would be perfect in these roles. This drums up a lot of hype in the
media, which helps the financial success of the film, but critics and viewers
don’t usually forgive these miscastings.
candidates for the main parts, producers and casting directors often give the
roles to the stars whose names are very popular, but not necessarily to the
actors that would be perfect in these roles. This drums up a lot of hype in the
media, which helps the financial success of the film, but critics and viewers
don’t usually forgive these miscastings.
We at Bright Side decided to
remember the cases when casting directors obviously made mistakes and we have
good reasons to think that.
remember the cases when casting directors obviously made mistakes and we have
good reasons to think that.
1.
Snow White — Kristen Stewart
Snow White — Kristen Stewart
When the creators of the film
Snow White and the Huntsman decided to invite the Twilight star to their film,
they made a predictable mistake. The role of Snow White supposes that the
character has a wide range of emotions, but the actress had the same facial
expression throughout the whole film. It was especially evident compared to her
partners in the film — Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron that were very
convincing in their roles. The critics said, “She is laughably bad, alternating
between 2 facial expressions with her mouth half-open.”
Snow White and the Huntsman decided to invite the Twilight star to their film,
they made a predictable mistake. The role of Snow White supposes that the
character has a wide range of emotions, but the actress had the same facial
expression throughout the whole film. It was especially evident compared to her
partners in the film — Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron that were very
convincing in their roles. The critics said, “She is laughably bad, alternating
between 2 facial expressions with her mouth half-open.”
2.
Jack Reacher — Tom Cruise
Jack Reacher — Tom Cruise
Height — 6’3″, weight — 220 —
250 lbs, chest measures 50 in. This was the description of policeman Jack
Reacher from Lee Child’s books that the movies were based on. Tom Cruise who is
only 5’7“, was very far from this description. The casting of the actor
disappointed the readers, the critics, and the author himself. Child admitted
in the interview, “I really enjoyed working with Cruise. He’s a really, really
nice guy. We had a lot of fun. But ultimately the readers are right. The size
of Reacher is really, really important and it’s a big component of who he is.”
250 lbs, chest measures 50 in. This was the description of policeman Jack
Reacher from Lee Child’s books that the movies were based on. Tom Cruise who is
only 5’7“, was very far from this description. The casting of the actor
disappointed the readers, the critics, and the author himself. Child admitted
in the interview, “I really enjoyed working with Cruise. He’s a really, really
nice guy. We had a lot of fun. But ultimately the readers are right. The size
of Reacher is really, really important and it’s a big component of who he is.”
3.
Constantine — Keanu Reeves
Constantine — Keanu Reeves
The role of John Constantine
is a bright role in the actor’s filmography, but the actor was obviously
different from the character. In Francis Lawrence’s comics, the main character
is described as a British guy with an ironic sense of humor, who is tired of
his life. Many fans even thought that Hugh Laurie (Dr. House) would’ve been
great for the role. And Keanu Reeves’s Constantine lacked the charm, even
though the actor is incredibly talented.
is a bright role in the actor’s filmography, but the actor was obviously
different from the character. In Francis Lawrence’s comics, the main character
is described as a British guy with an ironic sense of humor, who is tired of
his life. Many fans even thought that Hugh Laurie (Dr. House) would’ve been
great for the role. And Keanu Reeves’s Constantine lacked the charm, even
though the actor is incredibly talented.
4.
Sherlock Holmes — Robert Downey Jr.
Sherlock Holmes — Robert Downey Jr.
Arthur Conan Doyle described
Sherlock Holmes like this, “Higher than 6 ft, and the fact he was slender made
him look even taller. The thin eagle-like nose made his face look energetic and
decisive. The square-shaped chin showed his strong character.” But with Downey
Jr., the differences between the character and the actor were not only about
the appearance, but also about the behavior. The critics said that Guy
Ritchie’s Sherlock was more like Indiana Jones or James Bond rather than the
quintessential Sherlock.
Sherlock Holmes like this, “Higher than 6 ft, and the fact he was slender made
him look even taller. The thin eagle-like nose made his face look energetic and
decisive. The square-shaped chin showed his strong character.” But with Downey
Jr., the differences between the character and the actor were not only about
the appearance, but also about the behavior. The critics said that Guy
Ritchie’s Sherlock was more like Indiana Jones or James Bond rather than the
quintessential Sherlock.
5.
Mary Corleone — Sofia Coppola
Mary Corleone — Sofia Coppola
The last film of the trilogy,
according to the critics, was far worse than the first 2 films for 2 reasons.
And one of them is Sofia Coppola portraying Mary Corleone. Director Francis
Ford Coppola invited his daughter into the film when he was forced to urgently
find a replacement for Winona Ryder. But between Mary and Vincent, there was no
chemistry at all and the scene where she dies looked unconvincing and
ridiculous. It was not surprising since Sofia Coppola had virtually no acting
experience at the time. This is why the critics thought it was a terrible
casting choice.
according to the critics, was far worse than the first 2 films for 2 reasons.
And one of them is Sofia Coppola portraying Mary Corleone. Director Francis
Ford Coppola invited his daughter into the film when he was forced to urgently
find a replacement for Winona Ryder. But between Mary and Vincent, there was no
chemistry at all and the scene where she dies looked unconvincing and
ridiculous. It was not surprising since Sofia Coppola had virtually no acting
experience at the time. This is why the critics thought it was a terrible
casting choice.
6.
Scott Pilgrim — Michael Cera
Scott Pilgrim — Michael Cera
Critics write, “Scott played
by Cera is a silly loser in a jacket with a hood. This is probably the role
Michael Cera will continue to appear in until the end of his life.” Pilgrim
portrayed by the actor looked really boring and indecisive. This kind of
character might have looked fitting if the film was a satire from start to
finish.
by Cera is a silly loser in a jacket with a hood. This is probably the role
Michael Cera will continue to appear in until the end of his life.” Pilgrim
portrayed by the actor looked really boring and indecisive. This kind of
character might have looked fitting if the film was a satire from start to
finish.
7.
Emma Morley — Anne Hathaway
Emma Morley — Anne Hathaway
At the beginning of the book,
David Nicholls describes Emma Morley as an insecure girl with a couple of extra
pounds, pimples, and freckles. And Hathaway looked pretty much the opposite. In
order to hide the bright appearance and natural beauty of the actress, makeup
artists put glasses on her, and made her hair look a bit messy, but it clearly
wasn’t enough.
David Nicholls describes Emma Morley as an insecure girl with a couple of extra
pounds, pimples, and freckles. And Hathaway looked pretty much the opposite. In
order to hide the bright appearance and natural beauty of the actress, makeup
artists put glasses on her, and made her hair look a bit messy, but it clearly
wasn’t enough.
8.
Geralt — Henry Cavill
Geralt — Henry Cavill
Even though Netflix’s The
Witcher is not going to be released until December 2019, the casting choice has
already sparked a lot of arguments about the main character. Many fans of the
books and the games were disappointed by Cavill’s Geralt even before they saw
him in action. They imagined Geralt in a completely different way. In the
books, the character is much older and he is quite thin, unlike Cavill who
looks like a Superman. And Geralt is not supposed to be this attractive. Many
internet users thought that Mads Mikkelsen (the star of Hannibal) would’ve made
a great candidate for the role.
Witcher is not going to be released until December 2019, the casting choice has
already sparked a lot of arguments about the main character. Many fans of the
books and the games were disappointed by Cavill’s Geralt even before they saw
him in action. They imagined Geralt in a completely different way. In the
books, the character is much older and he is quite thin, unlike Cavill who
looks like a Superman. And Geralt is not supposed to be this attractive. Many
internet users thought that Mads Mikkelsen (the star of Hannibal) would’ve made
a great candidate for the role.
9.
Mystique — Jennifer Lawrence
Mystique — Jennifer Lawrence
Screen Rant says, “Jennifer
Lawrence’s Mystique is a rehash of Katniss, but crash-landed in the X-Men world
— a symbol of peace and hope, the Mockingjay to the mutants.” Unfortunately,
the Oscar and 3-time Golden Globe winner was really unconvincing in this role.
When Mystique was giving a speech, she looked more like a child that was trying
to fake their voice to seem older.
Lawrence’s Mystique is a rehash of Katniss, but crash-landed in the X-Men world
— a symbol of peace and hope, the Mockingjay to the mutants.” Unfortunately,
the Oscar and 3-time Golden Globe winner was really unconvincing in this role.
When Mystique was giving a speech, she looked more like a child that was trying
to fake their voice to seem older.
10.
Prince of Persia — Jake Gyllenhaal
Prince of Persia — Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake Gyllenhaal is an
extremely talented and versatile actor, but he looks really weird as Prince of
Persia. Even though the actor spent months working out in the gym for this
role, the casting director’s choice disappointed both the critics and the
viewers. Some people even thought that Gyllenhaal looked like he was cosplaying
the character, rather than actually playing him.
extremely talented and versatile actor, but he looks really weird as Prince of
Persia. Even though the actor spent months working out in the gym for this
role, the casting director’s choice disappointed both the critics and the
viewers. Some people even thought that Gyllenhaal looked like he was cosplaying
the character, rather than actually playing him.
11.
Allison Ng — Emma Stone
Allison Ng — Emma Stone
The most important difference
between the actress and her character is that the main character of the book
was Asian. Allison Ng is Hawaiian and Chinese, whereas Emma Stone is a
completely white girl with big green eyes. This difference sparked a lot of
arguments online, so much so that the director of this film and even the
actress herself had to apologize and the comedy film got very low reviews from
critics and viewers.
between the actress and her character is that the main character of the book
was Asian. Allison Ng is Hawaiian and Chinese, whereas Emma Stone is a
completely white girl with big green eyes. This difference sparked a lot of
arguments online, so much so that the director of this film and even the
actress herself had to apologize and the comedy film got very low reviews from
critics and viewers.
12.
Alexander the Great — Colin Farrell
Alexander the Great — Colin Farrell
“His Alexander is more like a
desperate housewife than a soldier. He’s always crying, his voice trembles, his
eyes fill with tears,” critics said. The appearance of the actor was also
pretty strange: not even the whitened eyebrows and the wig helped Farrel look
more convincing in the role of Alexander the Great.
desperate housewife than a soldier. He’s always crying, his voice trembles, his
eyes fill with tears,” critics said. The appearance of the actor was also
pretty strange: not even the whitened eyebrows and the wig helped Farrel look
more convincing in the role of Alexander the Great.
13.
Norman Bates — Vince Vaughn
Norman Bates — Vince Vaughn
Critics claim that “Vaughn,
which is not surprising at all, is the weakest part of the film.” Even though
at the end of the 90s, the actor wasn’t known only as a comedy actor, he still
looked very strange in this film. Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates was beefy and
mechanical, whereas the character is supposed to give the viewers the chills.
which is not surprising at all, is the weakest part of the film.” Even though
at the end of the 90s, the actor wasn’t known only as a comedy actor, he still
looked very strange in this film. Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates was beefy and
mechanical, whereas the character is supposed to give the viewers the chills.
14.
Joker — Jared Leto
Joker — Jared Leto
Complex says, “Jared Leto made
the Joker the absolute worst thing the Joker can be—boring.” It wasn’t only the
acting that the viewers didn’t like, but also the appearance of the character.
The acid-green hair, countless tattoos on the face and body — Joker’s image
from Suicide Squad looked like total overkill. Jared Leto and the creators
obviously wanted to do something different and tried to present the villain in
a more modern way.
the Joker the absolute worst thing the Joker can be—boring.” It wasn’t only the
acting that the viewers didn’t like, but also the appearance of the character.
The acid-green hair, countless tattoos on the face and body — Joker’s image
from Suicide Squad looked like total overkill. Jared Leto and the creators
obviously wanted to do something different and tried to present the villain in
a more modern way.
15.
Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey — Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan
Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey — Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan
Critics are convinced, “Dornan
and Johnson have terrible chemistry, and their sex scenes are awkward and
clinical, lacking both the supposed passion the characters feel for each other
and the alleged deviance that Christian practices.” And while Dakota Johnson is
trying to make her character more alive and interesting, Jamie Dornan gives a
flat, and disengaged performance, according to different experts.
and Johnson have terrible chemistry, and their sex scenes are awkward and
clinical, lacking both the supposed passion the characters feel for each other
and the alleged deviance that Christian practices.” And while Dakota Johnson is
trying to make her character more alive and interesting, Jamie Dornan gives a
flat, and disengaged performance, according to different experts.
Do you agree that these
characters should have been portrayed by different actors? Who should have
played them? And what other films with bad casting do you know of?
characters should have been portrayed by different actors? Who should have
played them? And what other films with bad casting do you know of?
BRIGHTSIDE
Kayode Emmanuel Ojo is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at SHEFFA Limited. He is presently studying Computer Science at the National Open University, Victoria Island, Lagos.