Miscast Actors In Comic Book Movie Roles That You Recast?

[Peyton Westlake]

I always thought if our beloved superhero movies were popular years ago & caught on.....in his prime, Stallone would have been a good choice for the Punisher

 

[Frodo]

Interesting thread topic.

Its a bit tough to think of miscasts since a lot of times the problems have been the weak characterizations of the characters and the scripts themselves, as opposed to a flaw with the casting or the acting.

For Example, Topher Grace, Clooney's, and Eisenberg all played their respective roles well. They acted for what their versions of the character called for.

The problem was that their versions and characterizations were weak to muddled to begin with.

They weren't playing a sleezy -musclebound thuggish Brock, a brooding Dark Knight detective, nor a charismatic, genius, CEO version of Luthor.

Instead they played a skinny loser mirror to Maguire's Parker, A carefree playboy Bruce Wayne, and a scatterbrained Mark Zuckaberg type.

In that sense , Grace, Clooney, and Eisenberg did well with what their parts called for.

Perhaps a better example of 'miscast' would be Bosworth in Superman Returns, but even then, there was so little to Lois Lane in terms of characterization in SR, its hard for me to say another actress could have done that much better with what Bosworth had to work with.

On the other side of the coin, one of the reason's an outside the box casting can work, is because the filmmakers are attempting to go for something different from what fans assume the approach will be.

For example, Keaton wasn't supposed to be the 6'3 beast of a Batman from the comics who's also a dashing , handsome, playboy. In other words , he didn't "fit" the bill that fans were expecting.

Instead, he's almost an every man, who's clearly his alot going on beneath the surface and who you could believe would put on the suit and work out his own demon's through it.

That version of Bruce Wayne, Keaton knocked out of the park and set a high bench mark for how the role has been played 30 years later.

Maguire's Peter Parker, for example, is not the tall, good looking, and dashing Peter Parker of the Romita era who's got 3 women chasing him at once.

Instead, he is truly an average, nubbish , short guy who you really could believe is a science nerd who gets picked on, and wouldn't get the hot model like MJ. He is an underdog.

You can add Craig's Bond among several other outside the box choices which were considered "miscast" before they were later praised.

 

[Herofan]

Jim Carrey in Batman Forever

should’ve been Robin Williams

I don't see how Williams would have been better or even *that* different at all with the same script and director.

I would have preferred a lot, instead of Topher Grace, Edward Norton or Anthony Michael Hall as Eddie Brock in Spider-Man 3 they probably could have/would influenced the writing a bit for the character to be while still a counterpart to Peter just a little less cartoony-loser, instead darker and more bitter and more intense.

 

[Babillygunn]

I don't see how Williams would have been better or even *that* different at all with the same script and director.

I get your point about the script and director, I just have always thought Williams would’ve made a great Riddler or Penguin or even Falcons. Especially if done in the vein of One Hour Photo. Robin Williams was a great dramatic actor as Goodwill Hunting proved. But to your point he might not have been given that opportunity in that movie.

I just wish he’d have been given the opportunity to be in a Batman movie. Rumor has it he was desperate to be in one and was screwed out of playing the Joker and then later screwed out of Riddler.

 

[batdude]

Keri Russell should have played Lois Lane in Superman Returns.

She screentested with Brandon Routh and came very close to being cast.
Really? I heard it was Sophia Bush. though either would have been better than Bosworth.

 

[batdude]

Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever

should’ve kept Billy Dee Williams

also Jim Carrey in Batman Forever

should’ve been Robin Williams

I kind of wish Robin Williams would have replaced Tommy Lee. Jim Carrey saved Batman Forever.

 

[Wheels]

I like all these ideas but I’m leaning towards

Tom Hanks for an older Lex
Bradley Cooper for a younger Lex

Cooper still fits my vision of Luthor .

Hanks kind of does as well because at least he comes off as endearing which is important to me. I want a convincing public facade at least.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

I don't see how Williams would have been better or even *that* different at all with the same script and director.

I would have preferred a lot, instead of Topher Grace, Edward Norton or Anthony Michael Hall as Eddie Brock in Spider-Man 3 they probably could have/would influenced the writing a bit for the character to be while still a counterpart to Peter just a little less cartoony-loser, instead darker and more bitter and more intense.

Norton would’ve been a great Venom/Brock.

 

[Peyton Westlake]

I found this surfing around the good ol' web & was sure it woud definitely ruffle a lot of feathers here....but maybe be somewhat true. Thoughts?

 

[Awest66]

I found this surfing around the good ol' web & was sure it woud definitely ruffle a lot of feathers here....but maybe be somewhat true. Thoughts?

Forget "somewhat true", Its not true period

 

[Eddie Dean]

He's far better as Bruce Wayne than Batman.

 

[Herofan]

I found this surfing around the good ol' web & was sure it woud definitely ruffle a lot of feathers here....but maybe be somewhat true. Thoughts?

Bale as Bruce Wayne seemed laidback enough. Very-Laidback is one take on Wayne but a perfectly fine alternative is playing up the spoiled aspects to where he seems somewhat-intensely hedonistic. He also did well with his clueness moments while not going so far as to embarrass the family name, wanting to still be able to lead the business when he had to.

 

[Frodo]

I remember alot of the names that were tossed around, rumored, and considered/tested for various parts in Batman Forever , Batman Robin , and Superman Reborn / Lives.

Batman Forever circa 1993:

Batman : Michael Keaton who walked , Kurt Russell, William Baldwin,

Robin: Marlon Wayans who was still contracted going back to Batman Returns but never really considered by Schumacer. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Ewan Macgregor, Alan Cumming

Chase Meridian: Renee Russo, Penelope Ann Miller, Robin Wright

Riddler : Robin Williams

Jack Nicholson's Joker and Tom Cruise : Jack Nicholson was rumored to appear in the finale of the film in addition to a rumor that Tom Cruise would have a guest appearance since he was visiting his then wife Nicole Kidman on the set.


Batman and Robin circa 1995

Batman : David Duchovney rumored to be considered.

Mr Freeze: Fans wanted Patrick Stewart. Sly Stallone wanted the part

Poison Ivy: Julia Roberts and Demi Moore rumored to want the part and to be considered by WB.

Batgirl: It was rumored that Julia Roberts would also be considered also for Batgirl if Demi Moore got Poison Ivy. Alyssa Milano was rumored to be a back up replacement for Alicia Silverstone if Silverstone didn't "get in shape" in time.

Catwoman: Michelle Pfeiffer was rumored to appear at the end of the film for the longest time. It basically wasn't until some of the disastrous test screening reactions were leaked online that that rumor was put to rest.

Harvey Bullock: Ernest Borgnine was rumored to play Bullock in the film for the longest time . I don't know how or why that rumor came about , but it lasted a while.

Superman Lives/Reborn

Batman : Michael Keaton was rumored to appear as Batman giving a speech addressing Superman's death.

Lois Lane: Teri Hatcher, Courtney Cox and Sandra Bullock were rumored for Lois Lane.

Steel : Shaq was rumored to reprise his role as Steel.

 

[B]

I found this surfing around the good ol' web & was sure it woud definitely ruffle a lot of feathers here....but maybe be somewhat true. Thoughts?

I mean I liked Bale as the character & all but I don't actually think, other than the fact he was in significantly better films, he separates himself as head & shoulders above other actors that have portrayed the role.

I think he was better at playing Bruce Wayne than he was Batman.

 

[batdude]

I remember alot of the names that were tossed around, rumored, and considered/tested for various parts in Batman Forever , Batman Robin , and Superman Reborn / Lives.

Batman Forever circa 1993:

Batman : Michael Keaton who walked , Kurt Russell, William Baldwin,

Robin: Marlon Wayans who was still contracted going back to Batman Returns but never really considered by Schumacer. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Ewan Macgregor, Alan Cumming

Chase Meridian: Renee Russo, Penelope Ann Miller, Robin Wright

Riddler : Robin Williams

Jack Nicholson's Joker and Tom Cruise : Jack Nicholson was rumored to appear in the finale of the film in addition to a rumor that Tom Cruise would have a guest appearance since he was visiting his then wife Nicole Kidman on the set.


Batman and Robin circa 1995

Batman : David Duchovney rumored to be considered.

Mr Freeze: Fans wanted Patrick Stewart. Sly Stallone wanted the part

Poison Ivy: Julia Roberts and Demi Moore rumored to want the part and to be considered by WB.

Batgirl: It was rumored that Julia Roberts would also be considered also for Batgirl if Demi Moore got Poison Ivy. Alyssa Milano was rumored to be a back up replacement for Alicia Silverstone if Silverstone didn't "get in shape" in time.

Catwoman: Michelle Pfeiffer was rumored to appear at the end of the film for the longest time. It basically wasn't until some of the disastrous test screening reactions were leaked online that that rumor was put to rest.

Harvey Bullock: Ernest Borgnine was rumored to play Bullock in the film for the longest time . I don't know how or why that rumor came about , but it lasted a while.

Superman Lives/Reborn

Batman : Michael Keaton was rumored to appear as Batman giving a speech addressing Superman's death.

Lois Lane: Teri Hatcher, Courtney Cox and Sandra Bullock were rumored for Lois Lane.

Steel : Shaq was rumored to reprise his role as Steel.

Alyssa Milano as Batgirl would have been interesting. As would Teri Hatcher being Lois to another Superman.

 

[Frodo]

Alyssa Milano as Batgirl would have been interesting. As would Teri Hatcher being Lois to another Superman.

Milano would have been interesting though with that script , it may have hurt her career, and she wouldn't have gone on to Charmed a few years later.

Who's The Boss had been off the air a while by the mid 90s and I can't recall her really being on any show or anything. Her career was at a bit of a lull at that point .

Silverstone was the it girl of the mid 90s between The Crush, Aerosmith videos, and Clueless, so she was the one they really wanted of the two of them.

They were sort of using Milano as leverage and a means of pressuring Silverstone about her weight , so the rumor goes anyway.

If I remember correctly , Hatcher was rumored for Lois prior to Cage and Burton coming on the project.

This was around 1996 when the project was Superman Reborn and there really wasn't even an actor rumored or lined up to play the man of steel himself. Jack Nicholson was also rumored to play Lex Luthor around the same time .

Hatcher was popular as Lois Lane and as a sexy symbol in general , so her name was being tossed around to play Lois Lane in the new film.

It was a bit similar to how Welling's name was tossed around and rumored to play Superman in the McG and Ratner Superman films in the early 00s.

After she was clearly ruled out Courtney Cox of Friends and Sandra Bullock of Speed names starting popping up. Both were very popular in the mid 90s and both fit the Lois Lane bill.

 

[Herofan]

With Batman & Robin, though he couldn't improve the script much, I think David Duchovny might have been more interesting/entertaining than George Clooney as a lighter Batman.

 

[Frodo]

Yeah. Duchovny had that kinda quirky off beat quality akin to Keaton yet was also a big guy.

He joked at the time that he didn't get the role because his nose was too big.Lol.

Still though , I'd love to visit an earth two in which Batman and Robin starred David Duchovny as Batman, Patrick Stewart as Mr Freeze, Julia Roberts as Poison Ivy, and Alysa Malino as Batgirl.

May have still stunk ,but it would have been a bit interesting.

 

[Eddie Dean]

I still think the natural choice to take over from Keaton in Forever would have been Jim Carrey.

 

[Frodo]

I was very disappointed when I found out Keaton wasn't returning . It was my first casting heartbreak.

Even though I was iffy on BR, I still wanted Keaton to come back and act with Chris O'Donnell as Robin.

As a kid, I looked forward to Keaton's Batman eventually taking on a Robin so to come so close then to read in the paper that he was walking away was a let down.

This was also around the time of Knightfall when Bruce was replaced by Azreal, which I didn't like, so to see my first Batman replaced with another actor too was sort of a double blow for me.

Then I was pissed when they cast Kilmer because to me he looked like Azreal , a character I hated ,even though he was playing Bruce Wayne.

I thought he was great in The Doors and Tombstone, but I just didn't see him as Batman when he was cast. I eventually warmed up to him, but alot of people really didn't ultimately.

BF was a big hit , but there still a sense that " Keaton was better".

Then when Clooney came in . I was like , " What are you guys thinking?!" The last film was popular and people still missed Keaton and now you're going to someone else?

As it turned out, it was one change too many.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I found this surfing around the good ol' web & was sure it woud definitely ruffle a lot of feathers here....but maybe be somewhat true. Thoughts?

Forget "somewhat true", Its not true period

He's far better as Bruce Wayne than Batman.

I think he was better at playing Bruce Wayne than he was Batman.

Either the one who wrote that was focusing too much on Bruce's moments with Ra's AlGhul, or this coming from Cracked should mean it's a joke.
I hope it's the latter.