10 Movies That Failed To Replace Legendary Actors

Some characters have so much longevity that they keep being brought back to screens, growing even more memorable when a legendary actor plays them. Many of them have had adventures in literature, on TV shows, and in movie theaters. Then there are the reboots, remakes and reimaginings. When a great actor brings to life a character in a way that’s quite simply perfect, it’s a hard act to follow, yet time and time again, filmmakers try and recreate the magic of what once was.

Certain roles have been taken on by multiple actors, to varying levels of success. The beauty of cinema is that there’s always something for somebody. So, while one person may prefer Anne Hathaway’s version of Catwoman, or debate Winona Ryder vs Saoirse Ronan as Little Women‘s Jo March, there’s not always a right or wrong answer. However, it’s fair to say that some legendary actors have staked a strong claim on certain characters, while some have failed to capture their essence in a recognizable way when attempting to recreate or reinvent an iconic character.

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James Bond

Sean Connery vs. George Lazenby

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Ian Fleming’s spy novels made it to the big screen for the first time in 1962 when Dr. No introduced the world to Bond, James Bond. Played by Sean Connery, the character had charm, charisma and a sensuality that dominated the screen. He seduced many women in the film, as well as the countless viewers watching his high-octane antics. His type of hypermasculinity is a representation of a specific moment in time, and for the purposes of a cunning MI6 spy, it works very well. There have been countless debates about who the best Bond actor is, and while there’s not much of a consensus on that, there most certainly is when it comes to who the worst one is.

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George Lazenby’s one-time foray into James Bond’s world of martinis and espionage was not well received, and continues to be one of audiences’ least favorite of the franchise. He lacked Connery’s grit or even Roger Moore’s suave sophistication, and Pierce Brosnan’s classy ruggedness. There were many contributing factors that led to Lazenby not returning to the role, but had he made a bigger impact, maybe it would have turned out differently. Sir Sean Connery was back just two years later.

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Samantha Stephens / Isabel Bigelow

Elizabeth Montgomery vs Nicole Kidman

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Bewitched was hugely popular during its 254-episode run, and had a very long afterlife in syndication worldwide. Putting a sitcom spin on witchcraft, the quirky comedy showcased Elizabeth Montgomery’s girl-next-door charisma in every episode as she navigated married life with a mortal. The jokes landed well in the clean-cut landscape of television at the time, and it’s still a pleasant watch with a twinge of nostalgia. The film remake that starred Nicole Kidman lacked any of the magic of the original, with no discernible chemistry between the leads and a serious shortage of jokes. It holds 23% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Kidman is, of course, an Oscar-winning actor, so her ability is not in question.

While the film tries to put a twist on the format by setting it in the current day and having a story within a story, the charm of the original is clearly lacking. Kidman is, of course, an Oscar-winning actor, so her ability is not in question. However, sometimes the casting is everything, and if someone doesn’t quite have the spark, it’s apparent to see.

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Superman

Christopher Reeve vs. Brandon Routh

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Clark Kent has been brought to life onscreen more times than most, but the seminal portrayal is Christopher Reeve’s version in the 1978 Superman film and its sequels. While Kirk Alyn and George Reeves had both played the Kryptonian in the ’40s and ’50s in America, Richard Donner’s Superman brought this more modern version to audiences all over the world. The film received three Oscar nominations and was a big box office hit, with Reeve’s Man of Steel becoming the poster boy for heroism. This remained so well into the 1990s and 2000s when two successful TV shows reimagined his story.

Then the “Superman curse” struck, where tragedy befell many of those involved in the franchise. Most notably, Christopher Reeve suffered a horrific accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. There had not been a cinematic version until 2006, when Superman Returns was released. Brandon Routh was brought in to play the lead. The film underperformed on many levels, with Routh’s performance not receiving the universal acclaim that Reeve had enjoyed. The fact that it was a standalone film, and the next one didn’t come out for another 10 years speaks for itself.

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Alfie

Michael Caine vs Jude Law

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In the early 2000s Jude Law was everywhere. He’d had a huge breakthrough with The Talented Mr. Ripley, and showcased his brand of English charm in many films at the time. In theory, his high profile and wide-ranging appeal should have served the role of man-about-time Alfie well, but this was not the case. In the hands of Sir Michael Caine, he was a witty and mischievous character, very cheeky but the audience sympathized with him.

The 1966 film was critically well-received and even received five Academy Award nominations.

Jude Law’s Alfie is largely unlikable, and the film lacked the charm of the original. Even though neither movie was a hugely high profile project, the original has a loyal fan base and a type of acclaim the remake failed to achieve. Jude Law, while a suave and seductive leading man, didn’t show enough of his softer side to pull off this particular role.

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The Genie

Robin Williams vs Will Smith

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Disney films in the 1990s reached another level of popularity, garnering Oscar nominations and beginning to dabble in casting big stars to voice their characters. Robin Williams defined the role of genie for many generations, so stepping into his curly-toed shoes was always going to be difficult. When the era of live-action remakes was in full swing, the Aladdin 2019 remake cast Will Smith in the new role. He did not do a bad job by any stretch, bringing some of his own flair to the role.

While Smith is funny and charismatic, does a great job with the songs and has a great rapport with his Aladdin, his predecessor was too hard an act to follow. The original animated feature remains superior on many levels. It could be argued that the CGI wasn’t quite as satisfying as the original animation, and that hearing Friend Like Me in any voice that wasn’t Williams’ might be too painful even to this day.

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Bodhi and Johnny Utah/Utah

Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves vs Edgar Ramírez and Luke Bracey

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Universally regarded as one of the worst remakes of recent memory, this retelling of 1991’s Point Break was quite simply unnecessary. While there are many movie remakes that don’t bring too much nuance to the story, they might at least offer a fresh take or a different angle. 21 Jump Street became a comedy, Jumanji introduced more action and plenty of gags related to new technology, and It was able to offer more character depth and better visual effects.

The Point Break remake offers none of that, and its stars lack the leading man energy offered by Swayze and Reeves respectively. What was once a gritty thriller, with unique shots, and a complicated dynamic between the two stars, becomes a run-of-the-mill popcorn flick with no substance. Edgar Ramírez and Luke Bracey, though both competent and full of energy, fail to recapture the magic of the cult classic on many levels.

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Joker

Heath Ledger vs Jared Leto

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The Joker has had many faces over the years, each aiming to put their own twist on this rich character. Cesar Romero’s campy version was a hit in the 1960s, and Jack Nicholson injected an extra layer of evil into his uneasy portrayal. But it was Heath Ledger’s version of Joker in The Dark Knight that was the first to make this clownish villain seem more human and more terrifying than ever. He gave so much to this twisted role that he even admitted that it had impacted him mentally. Sadly, in a way that ended in tragedy.

Other than appearances in animated shows, the DC villain wasn’t seen on the big screen until Jared Leto’s portrayal in Suicide Squad.

His Joker earned Ledger a posthumous Oscar, and remains one of the most memorable and beloved iterations of the character. Other than appearances in animated shows, the DC villain wasn’t seen on the big screen until Jared Leto’s portrayal in Suicide Squad. Understandably, he didn’t want to step directly into his predecessor’s shoes, but the lackluster two-dimensional interpretation was a universal disappointment. He has not reprised this role since, and with DC shifting gears, not to mention Joaquin Phoenix, it’s unlikely he ever will.

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Chief Inspector Clouseau

Peter Sellers vs Steve Martin

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Despite the character’s bumbling demeanor, Peter Sellers brought a touch of class and sophistication to his version of the French sleuth. Though constantly finding himself in outlandish situations, he still seems capable at his job. The Pink Panther movies of the 1960s and 1970s mixed comedy with a genuinely interesting mystery, making each of the six official outings both funny and engaging.

Steve Martin, on the other hand, chose to fully embrace the clumsy ineptitude which resulted in over-the-top gags and lack of any sort of intrigue. It had taken a while to bring the story back to the screen, and perhaps it should have taken even more. The film didn’t live up to its expectations and failed to revive this beloved character. There wasn’t enough nostalgia for the older viewers, and even the inclusion of Beyoncè couldn’t get the younger generation onboard.

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Catwoman

Michelle Pfeiffer vs Halle Berry

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Both Tim Burton’s versions of Batman utilized his dark vision to perfection, creating a whimsical world of caped crusaders and masked vigilantes. It never felt completely realistic, instead having that comic book and slight fairy tale twinge to it. Michelle Pfeiffer’s version of Selena Kyle, aka Catwoman, fit into this vision of Gotham perfectly. The rules of this world were totally arbitrary, and she was able to bring this latex-loving cat lady to life. She was sexy and seductive and played every scene like she was performing for the audience. Her catsuit remains one of the best of all the iterations.

As with many interesting characters, especially ones that have had as much of an impact on pop culture as Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, the time came for a reboot. Halle Berry is a fine actor, and on paper, she ticked every box that the part required. She mostly suffered from a shallow script, and a general lack of conviction from most of the people involved. The early 2000s weren’t kind to female-led superhero films, and the 2004 version of Catwoman was a prime example of that.

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Norman Bates

Anthony Perkins vs Vince Vaughan

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Alfred Hitchcock was a visionary of his time, and has directed some of the most compelling pieces of cinema in history. The Birds, Rear Window, and, of course, Psycho, completely changed the way horror and thrillers were shot. Audiences of the time never knew what to expect, and the level of fear and unease he was able to create was second to none. Having the “main protagonist” die in the first act of the film was unheard of, so after Janet Leigh’s infamous shower scene, viewers were left speechless. The shocking twist at the end was delivered brilliantly by Anthony Perkins, who made the audience feel uneasy throughout the entire film.

It was Perkins who commanded the screen in every act, creating one of the most disturbing on-screen characters. The 1998 Gus Van Sant remake attempts to recreate Psycho, shot by shot, allegedly as an homage to the original. Vince Vaughan lacks any of Perkins’ foreboding intensity and gets lost in the cast and the story. The film was largely panned, with the consensus being that it probably should not have been remade.

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