Out-of-the-box actors being cast as heroes/villains

[Airwings]

Over the years, several actors that didn't seem to suit a certain popcultural character from the comic books, actually ended up in the role. And they suprised us all with their performance.
Michael Keaton and Heath Ledger are just two of them. In a few years, Ezra Miller could be aded to the same list.
But is there any example where an unexpected actor ended up being wrong for the character?

What about actors that has the right looks and personality for a certain role, what we refer to as "fanboy casting"?
Christian Bale and Chris Evans belong in this category, right? Jack Nicholson does too, I guess.
If a fanboy actor is being cast, how often is he good? And how often is he bad?

 

[CyclopsWasRight]

McKellan was thought too old to be Magneto and he killed it.

 

[Airwings]

McKellan was thought too old to be Magneto and he killed it.

Patrick Stewart, not any out-of-the-box casting at all.
Hugh Jackman, unexpected.

All three turned out great. They were right for their roles.

Any example of the opposite?

 

[StarLord]

I think Robert Downey Jr. was initially thought as an odd choice given his past (maybe not entirely ''out of the box'' per say), but he owns the role now.

 

[Batmannerism]

Personally, I think Bale got Batman because he's a great actor - nothing fanboy about it. Batman's all about obsession, which Bale does really, really well (in fact a bit too well).

Ledger was just inspired casting by Nolan. I was a doubter right up until the 3rd minute of TDK.

My three picks for upcoming films are....

1) Paul Rudd as Antman. That's a little out of the box, (a bit like Keaton as Batman).

2) I'm really not sure about Ezra Miller as the Flash (no matter which version of the character he plays). But, then .....Heath Ledger, so I'll wait and see.

3) The entire casting of the next FF movie. It will either be awesome, or WTF ? Like someone made a movie about some characters who have the same superpowers as the FF, and call themselves the FF, but otherwise bear no resemblance to the comic book - which would be rather disappointing for one of the most iconic super-teams of all time.

I suppose it would be akin to what Alan Moore fans felt when watching the league of extraordinary gentlemen film. ugh !

I guess we're not touching Batfleck in this thread with a ten-foot pole.

cheers !

 

[CyclopsWasRight]

Thing is with Bale is I never got his obsession to be batman, he seems like he couldn't wait to pass the torch and retire.

Aside from MBJ all Fantastic Four members can pass for adaptions of the ultimate fantastic four.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Heath Ledger owns this thread.

 

[Batmannerism]

Thing is with Bale is I never got his obsession to be batman, he seems like he couldn't wait to pass the torch and retire.

Aside from MBJ all Fantastic Four members can pass for adaptions of the ultimate fantastic four.

Here's my take on it.
Bale's Batman was a bit conflicted, but he was all about saving Gotham.
Being Batman is not what he's obsessed about, rather it's about saving the city - which was what got him through that time in the Pit in TDKR,

IMO, he clearly wanted to pass the torch to Harvey Dent - not from tiredness, but because he knew Harvey could legitimately clean up the town....which all went to hell anyway. But he took the fall for Dent's crimes because he knew that it would have the best outcome for Gotham - kind of a "greater good" approach. Yeah, it was a bit overcomplicated, but anyway, that's what he did.

As far as FF go, I'm not all that worried about the MBJ thing, or the recasting of Sue, but can you really see Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm, much less ultimate Ben Grimm ?

 

[Airwings]

Personally, I think Bale got Batman because he's a great actor - nothing fanboy about it.

Bale was not out-of-the-box casting

 

[The Joker]

Heath Ledger owns this thread.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I think Robert Downey Jr. was initially thought as an odd choice given his past (maybe not entirely ''out of the box'' per say), but he owns the role now.

I think the concept of bringing in an arrogant, self unaware, washed up, down on his luck actor with a previous issue with alcohol mis-use to play Tony Stark was a wise decision....

 

[horacethegrey]

Before Heahth, there was Michael. As in Michael Keaton.

Come on. We all remember the reactions. "He's too short! He's not handsome enough! He's a comic actor! I can't buy him as Bruce Wayne! etc etc." Though I will admit his Bruce Wayne is kinda bland, I think everyone here will agree what an intimidating Batman Keaton was. Now don't get me wrong, I thought Bale was a great Batman (aside from that growly voice. Ugh.). But there are moments when I think he tries too hard to be scary, whereas with Keaton it just seems natural and effortless.

 

[The Joker]

But Michael Keaton never reached the heights that Ledger's Joker did. Ledger blew the world away. People could not have been more wrong about him. There was more resistance to Michael Keaton's casting (something like 50'000 protest letters sent to WB, and headlines about it in the Wall Street Journal etc), but his performance did not wow the world like Ledger's Joker did.

That's why he owns the thread. The gay cowboy from Brokeback Mountain, the pretty boy from A Knight's Tale, and all the other stupid BS that was thrown at him when he was cast proved everyone so so SO wrong. Even haters of Nolan's movies acknowledge how awesome he was.

 

[Batmannerism]

Bale was not out-of-the-box casting

I didn't suggest that he was.

But on to Heath Ledger. I agree with the idea that he was doing more than playing against type (which is what Keaton was doing, moving from mostly comedy to action/comedy, as the superhero film genre was still in its formative stages). And Keaton was good as Batman ( i stlll prefer Bale) but nowhere near as mesmerising as Ledger.

Heath Ledger holds a mortgage over pretty much any threads involving Joker casting, until someone better comes along - which might happen one day.

However, credit where credit is due, while no one can deny Ledger's incredible performance, he had some very good material to work with. The character was well written, and his look very cleverly designed. Got to give the Nolans and Goyer some props for that.

On to other castings, what about Jacke Earle Haley as Rorschach. I think everyone had forgotten about the guy, and then he comes out and absolutely killed it as Rorschach ( maybe some suggestion of a fanboy casting, as he has the look - but he nailed Rorschach's bizarre mannerisms).

 

[Airwings]

What makes unexpected casting superior to fanboy casting? We need to analyze this

Heath Ledger, Michael Keaton, Hugh Jackman, Jamie Bell, Ezra Miller etc etc etc
vs
Christian Bale, Jack Nicholson, Patrick Stewart, Chris Evans etc etc etc

What do we get when we cast against character?
vs
What do we get when we cast actors that could have been taken directly from the pages of a comic book?

It isn't just an issue about looks, the personality need to be right as well.

 

[The Joker]

Can you say Ezra Miller when we haven't seen his performance yet?

 

[Lead Cenobite]

I didn't suggest that he was.

But on to Heath Ledger. I agree with the idea that he was doing more than playing against type (which is what Keaton was doing, moving from mostly comedy to action/comedy, as the superhero film genre was still in its formative stages). And Keaton was good as Batman ( i stlll prefer Bale) but nowhere near as mesmerising as Ledger.

I don't know if I'd call his Batman movies action/comedy. Ledger's Joker had a few funny moments, does that make the Dark Knight an action/comedy too?

 

[Batmannerism]

I don't know if I'd call his Batman movies action/comedy. Ledger's Joker had a few funny moments, does that make the Dark Knight an action/comedy too?

Yeah, fair comment.
But despite the dark themed art-design and look
of Batman '89, there was a lot of humour and OTT performances (plenty of corny lines). It worked, I mean it really worked, I loved that film - my favourite Bat-film until Batman Begins.

The humour in TDK was very much gallows humour, and very very downplayed (typical Nolan). It's not as dark or stylized in terms of its look (other than the Joker's appearance) but wow the themes are very dark.

So, short answer, not an action comedy at all.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Christian Bale was not an out-of-the-box casting choice. I am fairly sure he was a fan favorite.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Chris Evans wasn't a fanboys choice. There was an uproar about human torch being Cap when he was being cast.

But this is all miniscule. The biggest uproar against casting in Internet history was not a superhero, but James Bond.

That's right. The uproar against Ledger and Keaton paled in comparison to when Daniel Craig was cast. A blonde Bond? Oh no. They will ruin the franchise!

And then Craig swiftly shut the haters down with his performance in Casino Royale. Well....most of them.

There is still a site dedicated to hating Craig. Can Ledger or Keaton claim such sad opposition? Those anti-Craig fanboys are the scum of the worst kind.

 

[Steamteck]

. There was more resistance to Michael Keaton's casting (something like 50'000 protest letters sent to WB, and headlines about it in the Wall Street Journal etc), but his performance did not wow the world like Ledger's Joker did.

That's why he owns the thread. The gay cowboy from Brokeback Mountain, the pretty boy from A Knight's Tale, and all the other stupid BS that was thrown at him when he was cast proved everyone so so SO wrong. Even haters of Nolan's movies acknowledge how awesome he was.

Or not. I was quite eager for his Joker than was pretty disappointed. if he had blown it out of the park with like he did for most folks ( which means I must concede its my and my friends and family's short circuit because he did for most folks) it probably would have tipped TDK over to an enjoyable film for me.

 

[The Joker]

As usual, Steamteck, you're a rare exception to the general consensus. No offense but long may it stay that way.

 

[Steamteck]

As usual, Steamteck, you're a rare exception to the general consensus. No offense but long may it stay that way.

I understand completely. No offense taken. Although I am really looking forward to Batfleck and I hope you enjoy him also.

Next phase Marvel, Dc cinematic universe. BvS with Snyder directing the future for movies I like is looking good.

Speaking of casting MCU certainly has done a bang up ob.

 

[PunyGod]

...

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Most out-of-the-box I can think of is Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin. But I think we all understood what they were going for almost instantaneously and we all backed the idea with gusto.

[BLACKOUT]Too bad they didnt actually do it...[/BLACKOUT]

I'll report back after seeing Eisenberg Lex Luthor and MBJ Johnny Storm