13 Times When the Actor Cast for a Movie Was a Disappointment, but They Gave the Performance of a Lifetime and Left Us Stunned
We usually find out in advance which actors are going to star in an upcoming film. In the case of a new original film, this is rarely controversial. However, if a film adaptation of an acclaimed book, a remake of a favorite, or its sequel is about to be released, it’s very likely that people are going to talk about it. And often, it’s the chosen actors who come under attack. Sometimes, the criticism is so harsh, that a lot of effort is required to play a particular role well to win over the fans. But the protagonists of this article rose to the challenge and ended up being very successful.
1. Zendaya — Mary Jane Watson
Although Zendaya is a very popular actress of our time, fans criticized her being cast for the role of Mary Jane in the new Spider-Man comic book adaptation. The complaint was simple: Zendaya doesn’t look like the Mary Jane of any previous versions, and viewers would have liked to see a more recognizable look.
The filmmakers listened to the fans and reworked Zendaya’s character. In the film, she played Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson. Although the character was based on Mary Jane, it ended up being an original character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Audiences commented that the new character looks much more mature and interesting, and praised Zendaya’s performance. The actress won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
2. Anne Hathaway — Catwoman
After Michelle Pfeiffer’s brilliant performance, and Halle Berry’s disappointing one, expectations were high for the future Catwoman. When it was revealed that director Christopher Nolan had chosen Anne Hathaway for The Dark Knight Rises, audiences were not thrilled. Fans were disappointed and doubted whether such a sweet and sophisticated actress could convincingly portray the scandalous thief. Contrary to expectations, she succeeded — Catwoman, played by Anne, looked charming and dangerous at the same time.
3. Alicia Vikander — Lara Croft
Playing Lara Croft after Angelina Jolie is not an easy task. But Alicia Vikander was not afraid of it and focused on the personality of the character, not on her appearance. As a result, fans came to the conclusion that the actress’ absolute dissimilarity to her predecessor is not so important. What matters is the confidence, determination, and steadfastness of the character, all of which Vikander demonstrated brilliantly.
4. Johnny Depp — Edward Scissorhands
The role of Edward Scissorhands was offered to already famous actors at the time: Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks, and Robert Downey Jr. However, Tim Burton saw potential in Johnny Depp and cast him for the role. The actor jumped at the opportunity and played the character exactly as the director saw it. The film was deemed a success, Johnny Depp began the road to resounding fame, and the director gained a friend and a loyal colleague. Moreover, they’ve still got many more movies to make together.
5. Matthew Macfadyen — Mr. Darcy
It’s hard to play Mr. Darcy when Colin Firth did it before you. Unsurprisingly, expectations for the lead actor in the new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice were extremely high. Predictably, the choice of Matthew Macfadyen was criticized. Fans agreed that he’s certainly a great guy but, unfortunately, he’s no Colin Firth. Contrary to the comments, the actor managed to embody the character in his own way. His Mr. Darcy turned out not so much arrogant as socially aloof and grimly handsome, which in the end pleased the critics and the fans alike.
6. Keira Knightley — Elizabeth Bennet
In the same film, audiences didn’t like the choice of the actress Keira Knightley for the role of Elizabeth Bennet either. The criticisms were similar to those aimed at Macfadyen — Keira is no Jennifer Ehle, and that is all. Fans also complained that Knightley was too pretty for the role. But in the end, Keira did the job with such skill, that she was praised by audiences and film industry professionals alike. The actress received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her role as Elizabeth Bennet.
7. Jennifer Lawrence — Tiffany Maxwell
Jennifer Lawrence was confirmed for the role in Silver Linings Playbook before her iconic work in The Hunger Games. Little was known about her acting potential, so the choice seemed questionable. Viewers wondered whether the inexperienced actress could convincingly portray the role of Tiffany — a widowed woman suffering from depression. Despite all the misgivings, Jennifer coped with the role perfectly. Critics praised her acting talent and the duo she created on-screen with Bradley Cooper. In addition, Lawrence won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in the film.
8. Robert Downey Jr. — Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is often associated with a serious character who can allow himself irony in the classic version and mild sarcasm in the modern one. It would seem that blatant fun and playfulness is inappropriate for this role, so Guy Ritchie’s choice of Robert Downey Jr. for the new film adaptation didn’t seem that great to fans. But, in fact, the actor coped very well with the serious role, breathing new life into the character. Critics loved the new Sherlock Holmes and Robert Downey Jr. won a Golden Globe Award.
9. Ryan Gosling — Sebastian Wilder
Although many people like Ryan Gosling as an actor, his musical and dance skills remained questionable. For this reason, audiences were skeptical about him being cast for the lead role in La La Land, thinking he isn’t suited for a musical. Ryan took it as a challenge and tried to give it his all. Admittedly, it was not the dancing and the music that saved him, but rather his acting talent and incredible chemistry with Emma Stone. As a result, the work received high praise from both the audience and critics.
10. John Krasinski — Lee Abbott
When you play the same role on the same show for many years, it’s understandable that people might end up associating you only with that character. And such was the case for John Krasinski, who, for many years, was known to the audiences as the charming joker, Jim, from The Office. It was hard for fans to imagine the actor in a horror film — not a comedy-horror, but a real one. However, John did a great job with his role in A Quiet Place.
Unlike his previous character, Krasinski’s new hero had to remain silent not to attract the attention of otherworldly forces. The actor’s charisma and great expression of emotions through only silent mimicry received great praise from the critics.
11. Chris Pratt — Owen Grady
John Krasinski was not the only one to become hostage to a TV show, another comedy series actor, Chris Pratt from Parks and Recreation, had a similar fate. Fans were used to Pratt playing a lovable and goofy character, so they believed the actor would look odd in Jurassic Park. Viewers thought that the role of the dinosaur tamer didn’t suit the actor. But Pratt impressed the audiences with his convincing performance and made his character, Owen, look nothing like Andy from the popular sitcom. This is exactly what earned him the MTV Movie Award for Best Actor in an Action Movie.
12. Jim Carrey — Joel Barish
For a long time, Jim Carrey was also one of those actors who were seen primarily as comedians. So, him being cast for the lead role in the drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind seemed strange. However, Jim exceeded all of the fans’ and critics’ expectations. After Carrey’s subtle emotional performance, no one could say that he is a performer of one genre. Although he returned to playing comedies more than once afterward, he most certainly established himself as an actor who can play a deep dramatic role.
13. Hugh Laurie — Gregory House
It would seem that British actor Hugh Laurie is not the best choice for the role of the American doctor, Gregory House. Especially as he has previously been known for playing fickle, slightly wacky, and fun characters. Hugh’s ability to play a sarcastic, moody doctor with a difficult character was heavily questioned. But Laurie did brilliantly, and now we find it hard to imagine anyone else as Dr. House. And as for the accent, Hugh just learned American.
What other actors do you know whose ability to play the part was doubted by everyone but turned out perfectly in the end?