Probably the least accepted actor for a role on this list, no one thought Keaton was a good choice for Tim Burton’s BATMAN. In 1989, Keaton was known primarily for comedic roles like MR. MOM and BEETLEJUICE with the occassional dramatic turn like CLEAN AND SOBER. Once fans saw Keaton in the dual role of Batman and Bruce Wayne, everyone shut their mouths. Once Keaton dropped from the franchise (a decision fictionalized in the acclaimed BIRDMAN), it would be thirteen years before Christian Bale would reinvigorate the franchise after Val Kilmer and George Clooney failed to reach the bar Keaton set so high.
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When Heath Ledger was cast as The Joker, fans called bullshit on the choice. How could Ledger even compete with Jack Nicholson’s portrayal? The vitriol was overflowing and the rest is history. It is a shame that Ledger passed away so young and didn’t get to enjoy his Academy Award for the performance few thought he could pull off.
It is well established that Craig was not viewed by fans as an acceptable choice to play James Bond. The blonde actor did not meet the physical requirements of any actor who played Bond before him which led to fans feeling that CASINO ROYALE would be a disaster. Martin Campbell’s film set itself apart as more in line with the Bourne franchise and has spawned three very successful sequels and cemented Craig as a fan favorite 007.
Before IRON MAN, Robert Downey Jr had entered into a difficult phase of his career thanks to his drug addiction. From 2000-2008, Downey appeared in very few films, but his performances were lauded. After resurging with KISS KISS BANG BANG, ZODIAC, and TROPIC THUNDER, Downey still struggled to find leading roles. It was because of Jon Favreau’s urging that Paramount and Marvel took a chance and the rest is history. Downey has always had a dedicated core fan-base, but it was not until his take on Tony Stark that he became the superstar he is today.
After Michelle Pfieffer’s sexually charged turn as Catwoman in Tim Burton’s BATMAN RETURNS, many didn’t see Anne Hathaway as a fit for the character. There has long been an overwhelming hate for Hathaway (something I don’t understand, but that is just me) and fans did not like the selection. While I don’t think Hathaway played “Catwoman” but rather Selina Kyle which allowed her the freedom of playing a cat burglar rather than a take on the comic book villain.
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When the 27-year-old Maguire was announced as the teen Peter Parker, the studio and fans could not see the actor known for his dramatic turns in films like THE CIDER HOUSE RULES as Spider-man. Maguire doesn’t exactly fit the physical profile for a superhero, but after undergoing extensive physical training, Maguire won over fans with his approachable take as the webslinger.
Chris Evans was one of the highlights of the first two FANTASTIC FOUR films for his smarmy portrayal of Johnny Storm but when he was selected to play Captain America, many didn’t see him as the right choice for the first Avenger. After seeing him knock it out of the park in Joe Johnston’s first movie, fans have instantly been won over by his leadership role in the two AVENGERS films and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER. There is no doubt fans will be sad when Evans stops playing Steve Rogers but that goes to show how jumping to conclusions can sometimes backfire on you.
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE has been a very divisive film for audiences, but the majority have been overwhelming supportive of Ben Affleck’s portrayal of The Dark Knight. Sure, his motivations may be unlike the traditional Batman, but Affleck’s gravitas and intensity have won over fans who just a couple of years ago were decrying this casting decision as one of the worst of all time.
Imagine what the X-MEN franchise would be if Russell Crowe had accepted the part and not suggested his friend Hugh Jackman. Jackman was an unknown at the time outside of Australia and fans could not picture the actor who bore no physical similarity to the comic book Canadian. But, when Dougray Scott dropped out of the role of Logan, Jackman would go on to become the fan favorite and longest running actor to play the same comic book character on the big screen.
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When Anne Rice’s popular novel INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE was announced to become a film, the author wanted Julian Sands to play the role of Lestat. When the studio chose Tom Cruise, the novelist was vocally opposed to the choice which she deemed to be bizarre. Fans of the novel sided with Rice, but once the film was released everyone was onboard with Cruise’s portrayal of the undead aristocrat.