10 Movie Character Recasts That Couldn’t Match The Original Actors

Summary

• Recasting in long-running film series can lead to disappointing performances, leaving audiences feeling like they’re watching a pale imitation.
• George Clooney’s portrayal of Batman lacked the charm and gravitas of his predecessors, failing to connect with the character.
• Emilia Clarke’s depiction of Sarah Connor couldn’t match Linda Hamilton’s iconic performance, contributing to the overall failure of
  Terminator Genisys
  .

Casting films is a tricky business, and sometimes it doesn’t quite go to plan. In long-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 TV can 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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10 George Clooney as Batman In Batman & Robin (1997)

Clooney Wasn’t As Solid As Michael Keaton Or Val Kilmer

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Tim Burton’s pair of Batman features, Batman (1989) and Batman 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’s Batman 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 in
The Flash
.

George Clooney’s Batman had neither the charm of 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.

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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. 

Director Joel Schumacher Release Date June 20, 1997 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers George Clooney , Akiva Goldsman Cast George Clooney , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Chris O’Donnell , Uma Thurman Runtime 2h 5m Expand

9 Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor In Terminator Genisys (2015)

Linda Hamilton Gave One Of The Best Female Action Performances Ever

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Terminator Genisys is 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 awards for her performance. Comparatively, Clarke – while a big name – could never match it.

Part of the problem is almost certainly down to the production of Genisys as 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.

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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.

Director Alan Taylor Release Date July 1, 2015 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Laeta Kalogridis , Patrick Lussier Cast Emilia Clarke , Jai Courtney , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Jason Clarke Runtime 2h 6m Expand

8 Maria 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 the first two Mummy films, 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 in Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the magic faded.

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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 (2008) PG-13ThrillerFantasyActionAdventureHorror

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. 

Director Rob Cohen Release Date August 1, 2008 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Alfred Gough , Miles Millar Runtime 112 minutes Expand

7 Dan Castellaneta as Genie In Aladdin: The Return of Jafar (1994)

It’s Impossible To Replace Robin Williams

Robin Williams made Aladdin. 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 to The Simpsons’s own Dan Castellaneta.

Robin Williams returned to play Genie in the third
Aladdin
film,
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, but it’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.

6 Stuart 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’s Interview with the Vampire was released. Townsend’s Lestat is completely different to 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 like Queen of the Damned where the idea of doing a sequel without the original cast gets brought into question, because even if Townsend had been fantastic, he still wouldn’t have been Tom Cruise. The relative failure of Queen of the Damned can’t be pinned wholly on Townsend, but it would at least have been nice if his accent was a little better.

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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.

Director Michael Rymer Release Date February 22, 2002 Writers Anne Rice , Scott Abbott , Michael Petroni Cast Stuart Townsend , Marguerite Moreau , Aaliyah , Vincent Perez , Paul McGann , Lena Olin , Christian Manon , Claudia Black Runtime 101 Minutes Main Genre Horror Expand

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5 Nick Palatas as Shaggy In Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins

Matthew Lillard Embodies The Role Of Shaggy

In the first two live-action Scooby-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 sequel Curse of the Lake Monster live 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 help either, but the result is something that feels so far detached from its source material as to be a complete waste of time.

4 Robert 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 him and 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 watching RoboCop 3.

3 Mike Weinberg as Kevin McCallister In Home Alone 4

Weinberg Couldn’t Replace Culkin’s Most Famous Role

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After McCauley Culkin’s Kevin McCallister had already had two outings in the first pair of movies from the Home Alone series, 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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2 Jonathan Groff as Agent Smith In The Matrix Resurrections

Hugo Weaving Gave An All-Time Villain Performance

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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 in Hamilton), and going from films like Frozen to Knock at the Cabin without much difficulty. However, when taking over a role from another actor, things are different. Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith from the first three Matrix films 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 rActionSci-Fi Where to Watch

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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.

Director Lana Wachowski Release Date December 22, 2021 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Lana Wachowski , David Mitchell , Aleksandar Hemon , Lilly Wachowski Cast Keanu Reeves , Carrie-Anne Moss , Yahya Abdul-Mateen II , Jonathan Groff , Jessica Henwick , Neil Patrick Harris , Christina Ricci , Priyanka Chopra Jonas Runtime 148 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand

1 Jared Leto as the Joker In Suicide Squad

Fans Expected An Oscar-Worth Performance… Until They Saw Early Images

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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 of Justice League, this iteration of the character was never to be seen again – even when he shows up for a second or two in spin-off Birds 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.

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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’s Suicide Squad, as does Cara Delevingne’s Enchantress.

Director David Ayer Release Date August 5, 2016 Studio(s) DC Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers David Ayer Cast Joel Kinnaman , Will Smith , Cara Delevingne , Jai Courtney , Jared Leto , Viola Davis , Margot Robbie , Jay Hernandez , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje , Scott Eastwood Runtime 123 minutes Expand

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