27 Risky Casting Decisions That Ended Up Being Worth the Director’s Heart Palpitations

Like these actors, we’re betting it all on these facts
27 Risky Casting Decisions That Ended Up Being Worth the Director’s Heart Palpitations

We have to hand it to these filmmakers, they really stuck to their guns. We don’t have the gall to fight for one single random fact. If the bosses want a fact about sharks instead of a fact about Volkswagens, then sharks it is! 

We really lucked out today, since they actually wanted this list of filmmakers who stuck with an actor when no one else did. Here, check them out while we go try to grow a backbone. Because Volkswagen facts are awesome. They’ll see. They’ll all see!!!

Chris Hemsworth As Thor

27 Risky Casting Decisions That Ended Up Being Worth the Director’s Heart Palpitations

Ben Affleck in Mallrats

BEN AFFLECK CURSED WAY TOO MUCH. MALLRATS Kevin Smith revealed that a producer told him not to cast Affleck in his movie because he had a reputation for his out-of-control potty mouth- which was a problem for a movie that was already filled with an obscene amount of profanities. However, Affleck impressed Smith at his audition and got the part anyway. CRACKED.COM

Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde

REESE WITHERSPOON WAS LABELED AS A SHREW. LEGALLY BLONDE According to Witherspoon, she almost didn't get to play Elle Woods because studio executives thought she was a shrew due to her role in Election. In order to change their mind, she was told to dress sexy for a meeting about the film by her managers. CRACKED.COM

Marlon Brando in The Godfather

BRANDO & PACINO IN THE GODFATHER CRACKED.COM Paramount execs recoiled at the idea of casting Marlon Brando, since it was 1972 and he hadn't had a hit since the 50s. About Pacino, they stated, a runt will not play Michael. Luckily for them (and us) Francis Ford Coppola ignored their complaints, and created the highest grossing movie of all time (at the time) and a cinematic masterpiece.

Bruce Willis in Die Hard

BRUCE WILLIS AS JOHN McCLANE CRACKED.COM In 1988, Schwarzenegger and Stallone were the action heroes, so audiences laughed and booed when Bruce Willis (known for the comedy series Moonlighting) appeared in the Die Hard trailer. They soon realized the less muscular, more comedic Willis made Die Hard one of the most successful and influential action movies of all time.

Tom Cruise in Interview with the Vampire

TOM CRUISE AS LESTAT CRACKED.COM Casting All-American golden boy Tom Cruise as decadent aristocratic French vampire Lestat in 'Interview With a Vampire' was seen a massive casting mistake. The book's author, Anne Rice, told the LA times she didn't approve, but Cruise won her over, later stating, Не did a magnificent job.

Keanu Reeves in Speed

KEANU REEVES IN SPEED Phone CRACKED.COM Long before The Matrix and John Wick, critics said he couldn't lead a big-budget blockbuster like Speed. Не shaved off his long hair, bulked up, and his performance as Jack Travern made him an unexpected action star who would soon become the highest-paid of all time.

Gal Gadot As Wonder Woman

GAL GADOT AS WONDER WOMAN CRACKED.COM Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman had worldwide backlash for, her look, her accent and lack of experience, but Gadot responded, If you want accuracy, the Amazons should all remove a breast to better shoot their bow and arrows. Her powerful and immensely likable performance spawned a sequel and even a 3rd in the works.

Heath Ledger As the Joker

HEATH LEDGER AS THE JOKER CRACKED.COM Fans were outraged that Ledger was cast as the Joker. Known for A Knight's tale and Brokeback Mountain, critics cried too young, too pretty, and not good enough, but his performance is considered among the all-time best, and he became the first actor in a superhero movie to be nominated for (and win) an Oscar.

Daniel Craig As James Bond

DANIEL CRAIG AS JAMES BOND CRACKED.COM In 2005, the Blonde Bond controversy had fans boycott the film. They saw James Bond as sleek, elegant, and debonair whereas mostly-unknown Craig seemed like a meathead. His 5 installments as Bond from 2006 to 2021 have grossed nearly $4 billion.

Charlize Theron in Monster

CHARLIZE THERON IN MONSTER CRACKED.COM In 2003, it was hard for critics and audiences to imagine Charlize Theron as gritty, crazed killer, Aileen Wuornos. She received an Oscar and Robert Ebert praised it as, One of the greatest performances in the history of cinema.

Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AS TONY STARK CRACKED COM Marvel Studios fought against the casting, and Director Jon Favreau stated, Robert was a tough sell. They wanted a lesser-known actor with no baggage who was 10 years younger. RDJ has since become synonymous with Iron Man, and kicked off the trend of superhero obsession we're currently living in.

Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games

JENNIFER LAWRENCE AS KATNISS EVERDEEN CRACKED.COM Because Katniss Everdeen is a beloved book character, fans questioned Lawrence's look and experience. Her ability to lead the franchise was immediately cemented, and lead to the next four Hunger Games installments.

Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones’s Diary

RENEE ZELLWEGER AS BRIDGET JONES CRACKED.COM Bridget Jones was British literature's most iconic female character of the 90s, so casting a petite Texan like Zellweger saw the headline, 'Crap American Comedian Playing English Icon'. The career-defining role won over fans everywhere and earned an Oscar nom.

Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips

BARKHAD ABDI IN CAPTAIN PHILLIPS CRACKED.COM Determined to find Somali actors, Paul Greengrass looked in the Somali-American community of Minneapolis, and discovered completely unknown limo driver, Barkhad Abdi. Abdi won everyone over with, I'm the captain now, won a BAFTA and was nominated for an Oscar.

Michael Keaton in Batman

MICHAEL KEATON AS BATMAN CRACKED.COM Warner Bros received 50,000 protest letters from angry fans after Keaton was cast in 1989, but both Keaton Batmans are considered the gold standard of superhero films, and the best Batman debate usually comes down to Bale or Keaton.

Jonah Hill in Moneyball

JOHAN HILL IN MONEYBALL CRACKED.COM In 2011, Hill was known for teen comedies, but his dramatic abilities were put to the test when Bennett Miller cast him as Peter Brand. While maintaining his comedic touch, he showcased his dramatic skills, earning an Oscar nomination.

Adam Driver in The Force Awakens

ADAM DRIVER AS KYLO REN CRACKED.COM Adam Driver as Kylo Ren was controversial because of his look, age, and he was mostly known for HBO's 'Girls' at the time. Critics and skeptics were convinced by his ferocity and vulnerability, and he's since cemented his place in the Star Wars franchise.

Ian McShane in Deadwood

CRACKED.COM Al swearengen was written for Ed O'Neill. Deadwood creator David Milch intended loser Al Bundy to play scary pimp Swearengen. But HBO said no because, well, he was loser Al Bundy. Then lan McShane made Swearengen his own and no one looked back.

Michael Biehn in Aliens

CRACKED.COM corporal Hicks was replaced because of drugs. Hicks is the only Marine left alive when Aliens ends, but his original actor didn't make it to the end of shooting. James Remar was fired over a drug arrest. Michael Biehn was flown in overnight, and was the only actor who didn't get to customize his military gear.

Lou Ferrigno in The Incredible Hulk

CRACKED.COM Jaws from James Bond was almost the Hulk. Richard Kiel was the first actor to be painted green for the pilot of The Incredible Hulk. Не was replaced by bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno after a few days, as Kiel, big as he was, wasn't bulky enough to make a good Hulk.

John Hurt in Alien

CRACKED.COM John Hurt was a late addition to the crew of the Nostromo. British thespian Jon Finch played Kane for a short time while shooting Alien. Then he got suddenly ill (due to his diabetes, not to any chestburster), and Hurt was brought onboard to birth the creature.

Dirk Benedict in The A-Team

27 Risky Casting Decisions That Ended Up Being Worth the Director’s Heart Palpitations

Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future

CRACKED.COM Marty MCFly just wasn't funny. Back to the Future started production with Eric Stoltz as Marty. But Stoltz' comedic energy was just not there. Michael Fox replaced him after five weeks, and the whole movie was shot again from scratch.

Mark Hamill in Batman: The Animated Series

CRACKED.COM Tim curry would have made a sick Joker. Mark Hamill's Joker is one of the best things about Batman: The Animated Series. But Hamill was brought in as a replacement for Tim Curry. The producers weren't happy with Curry's take on the character (while Curry himself says he just had bronchitis.)

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