Wasted Potential: Actors that Should Have Been Superheroes

[Frodo]

Henry Cavill would have made a great Superman… with JJ Abrams’ script. I still think that movie would have sucked but I think the character of Superman at least would have worked.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yep. Costume doesn’t look bad there either. Has the actual footage of this ever leaked? I’ve seen these pics before but I would love to see video.

 

[Frodo]

Yep. Costume doesn’t look bad there either. Has the actual footage of this ever leaked? I’ve seen these pics before but I would love to see video.

Only the pics have been out.
The actual video hasn't leaked as far as I know.
Routh also screen tested for the role the same time Cavill did.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Only the pics have been out.
The actual video hasn't leaked as far as I know.
Routh also screen tested for the role the same time Cavill did.

Ah yeah I’ve seen that Routh pic before too. That suit looks much better than what he wore in SR. JJ’s script might have gotten a better performance out of him as well, he been chosen then and the movie been made. Although I think Ratner was supposed to direct it so maybe not.

 

[Frodo]

Here's are some of the actors considered for what would eventually become Batman 1989 in the mid to late 1980s

Batman/ Bruce Wayne

Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan reveals why he turned down 'Batman' lead

Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta regrets turning down Tim Burton's Batman - but says most superhero movies are "horrendous"

Alec Baldwin
Actors Who Were Almost Cast As Batman

Steven Seagal
Warner Bros. Once Proposed the Idea of Steven Seagal as Batman

Willem Dafoe
EXCLUSIVE: Willem Dafoe As Batman? It Almost Happened!

Vicki Vale

Michelle Pfeiffer
Before Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer Nearly Played Another Iconic Batman Character

Sean Young, was actually cast before having to drop out of the role
How a Batman 1989 Deleted Scene Cost Sean Young the Co-Starring Role | Den of Geek

Robin

Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland 'refused Batman role'.

Ricky Addison Reed, actually cast as Robin before the role was cut
Ricky Addison Reed

Joker

John Litgow
John Lithgow Regrets Not Playing the Joker for Tim Burton's 'Batman'

Tim Curry
How Close Did Tim Curry Come To Playing The Joker?

Robin Williams
Batman: Robin Williams Almost Played Joker & Riddler (Why He Didn't)

 

[Deck Rickard]

I know Vicki Vale was written very poorly but I think Sean Young would have made her more interesting than Basinger did.

 

[Frodo]

Sean young would have been interesting, especially with Keaton.

 

[Frodo]

Here's some casting almosts for Batman Returns

Catwoman

Annette Bening
'Batman Returns' production was 'in a panic' when Michelle Pfeiffer had to step in as Catwoman at the last minute

Ellen Barkin

Sigourney Weaver

Susan Sarandon

Cher
TOP HOLLYWOOD KITTENS READY TO POUNCE ON `CATWOMAN' ROLE

Penguin

Dustin Hoffman

Marlon Brando
Batman Returns: The Actors Who Almost Played The Penguin.

Robin

Marlon Wayans
Why Marlon Wayans' Got Paid $100,000 For Batman Returns And Still Receives Royalty Checks

 

[Drizzle]

I know Vicki Vale was written very poorly but I think Sean Young would have made her more interesting than Basinger did.

I agree. I've got nothing against Basinger but at the very least we wouldn't have had to hear that grating scream that she has.

 

[Herofan]

To me Annette Bening is usually annoying and I suspect she would have at least somewhat looked down on the part of Catwoman (this is a cartoon or, at best, this is a blockbuster). Sigourney Weaver or Susan Sarandon as Catwoman would have been interesting but pretty bizarre and Cher would have been way too stunt-casting.

I think Willem Dafoe or Robin Williams (or Tim Curry or Bill Murray) would have been better than Nicholson as the Joker in part from being younger and not such huge stars.

 

[Frodo]

The Cher as Catwoman rumors went way back post the release of Batman 1989. It was an early casting suggestion back then, and it hung around a few years.

Devito for Penguin and Robin Williams as the Riddler were also long time casting suggestions thrown around in the media post 1989.

Weaver would have been a pretty imposing Catwoman at 5'11 to 6 feet tall, and that would have been without the heels in the suit.

I could see Sarandon as a Catwoman more akin to the 90s BTAS as opposed to Pfeiffer's. While I think she could pull off the "anger" vibe, Pfeiffer totally had that "barely keeping it together" aspect that the script was going for.

At the same time, I could see Sarandon pull off the mousey secretary role.

While Barkin could also play the bad girl, but , to me, she would have been better suited for a role like Sarah Essen than Catwoman, or a damsel in distress role.

 

[Frodo]

Actors considered for Spiderman 2002

Spiderman /Peter Parker

Wes Bentley

Heath Ledger
Spider-Man: The Actors Who Almost Played Peter Parker In Sam Raimi's Movies.

Freddie Prinze Jr.
How Freddie Prinze Jr. Blew His Audition for Tobey Macguire's Spider-Man

Mary Jane Watson

Mena Suvari
Casting news: Kirsten Dunst beats American Beauty to Spider-Man

Kate Hudson
Spider-Man: 10 Actors Who Were Almost Cast In The Webslinger's Movies

Alicia Witt
''Spider-Man'''s director has a few tricks up his sleeve

Green Goblin / Norman Osborn

Nicholas Cage
'Spider-Man' Casting Nic Cage?

It's Official: Malkovich Passes on Green Goblin - IGN

 

[Herofan]

Weaver would have been a pretty imposing Catwoman at 5'11 to 6 feet tall, and that would have been without the heels in the suit.

It would be hard to, in another action film a few years later, not see her as still Ripley or at least pretty related to the previous performance.

I could see Sarandon as a Catwoman more akin to the 90s BTAS as opposed to Pfeiffer's. While I think she could pull off the "anger" vibe, Pfeiffer totally had that "barely keeping it together" aspect that the script was going for.

At the same time, I could see Sarandon pull off the mousey secretary role.

Maybe.

 

[MilkmanDan]

Rebecca De Mornay as Emma Frost

 

[Frodo]

For a 1960s X Men film

Professor X : Yul Brynner

Magneto : Christopher Plummer

Mystique : Honor Blackman

Emma Frost : Barbara Bain

Sebastian Shaw : Robert Shaw

Wolverine : Clint Eastwood

For the 80s

Storm : Grace Jones

Sabretooth : Clancy Brown

Colossus : Dolph Lundgren

 

[Enriquespy]

For a 1960s X Men film

Professor X : Yul Brynner

Also a spot on Lex Luthor.

 

[Frodo]

Also a spot on Lex Luthor.

Totally, and if not Lex, Brainiac to George Reeves Superman would have been awesome imo.

Another potential 1960s Lex would have been Telly Savalas.
I think he would very much be in the vain of STAS lex.

 

[Enriquespy]

I heard somewhere that Savalas was the inspiration for DCAU Lex. Which explains the nose and skin tone.

 

[Frodo]

I heard somewhere that Savalas was the inspiration for DCAU Lex. Which explains the nose and skin tone.

You're right

Superman: The Animated Series - 10 Things Fans Never Knew About The Cartoon

 

[Frodo]

My choices for 70s and 80s era Tony Starks would have been

Timothy Dalton

Tom Selleck

Burt Reynolds

While it's hard to see them as an RDJ type Tony Stark, I think they could have made good Tony Starks in the 1970s and 1980s, though Reynolds would have been getting up their age wise in the 80s if he were starting out playing Iron man then.

They each have different vibes to them, but I any one of them would have been good back then.

 

[Iceman]

Charlize Theron - White Queen

 

[Kevin Roegele]

My choices for 70s and 80s era Tony Starks would have been

Timothy Dalton

Tom Selleck

Burt Reynolds

While it's hard to see them as an RDJ type Tony Stark, I think they could have made good Tony Starks in the 1970s and 1980s, though Reynolds would have been getting up their age wise in the 80s if he were starting out playing Iron man then.

They each have different vibes to them, but I any one of them would have been good back then.

Other actors could grow moustaches as well, you know...

 

[BarryAllen]

Yaya Dacosta would've been the perfect Misty Knight.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Other actors could grow moustaches as well, you know...

This is true but… mustaches one one of those weird stylistic choices that can look horrifying on the wrong person.

It’s a combination of the actor’s ability to grow substantial facial hair, their hair color and even things like face structure. Most guys look okay with a beard but a mustache is a little tougher to pull off. Aside from Selleck, Reynolds and Sam Elliott, mustaches make a lot of guys just look creepy.

 

[Frodo]

I can't pull off a mustache , so you've got a point. Lol.
I've tried in the past, but with my 40 something baby face , it ends up looking weird .
Some guys can pull it off, some can't , so that's true.