Miscasts in Hollywood are not only surprising, but they have the potential to cause a film to fail at the box office and incite the ire of the fans. Below is a reverse countdown of ten instances where the castings were so wrong that we just couldn’t forget them.
10. Jonah Hauer-King in The Little Mermaid (2023)
Casting Jonah opposite Halle Bailey wasn’t a matter of lack of talent—it was the jarring mismatch of chemistry and age that made their scenes cringeworthy to watch. As one fan aptly put it, their love felt “cringe.” Evidence that even the best actor can falter if the match just isn’t meant to be.
9. Harry Styles in My Policeman (and beyond)
Pop stardom does not translate to acting talent—regardless of how many times Hollywood believes it does. Styles’ performance in My Policeman had viewers wondering: why continue casting the heartthrob instead of more veteran actors? At times, charisma just isn’t enough.
8. Saoirse Ronan as Jo March in Little Women
Ronan is undoubtedly talented, but for some die-hard fans of the classic novel, her compact, elegant presence didn’t match their pre-conceived image of the gangly, tomboyish Jo. It’s a reminder: staying true to a role isn’t solely about performing—it’s about inhabiting it, as well.
7. Tom Cruise’s Lestat (Interview with the Vampire) and Jack Reacher
Cruise is charisma incarnate—but both Reacher and Lestat point out where star power eclipses character integrity. His Lestat was too slick for its own good; Reacher lovers still contend that the genuine article needed to be larger, grittier. When casting veers too far from the original material, fans pay attention.
6. Keanu Reeves as John Constantine
Reeves is hip—and popular—but his stint as Constantine bypassed the character’s signature attributes: the snarky humor, the British accent, and that gritty, hard-boiled attitude. Occasionally, even iconic performers can’t cover up a divergence from the character you know and love.
5. Crowe, Bonham Carter, and Baron Cohen in Les Misérables
Musicals demand singing chops—and this trio didn’t always hit the right notes. Crowe’s pitchy crooning and the Thenardiers’ rocky accents and delivery (one fan claimed Crowe “managed to ruin an otherwise chef’s kiss movie”) remind us: casting a name doesn’t guarantee the performance.
4. Emma Watson in Beauty and the Beast
Watson added charm, but vocally? Far from Broadway caliber. Way too blatant auto-tune left theater enthusiasts rubbing their heads in puzzlement. Star casting should not take precedence over real singing talent—particularly in a musical.
3. Whitewashing Calamities
Consider Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell, Emma Stone in Aloha, Ben Affleck in Argo—all of them casting decisions made for star power over representation.
2. Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
Rooney’s caricature is, to the core, offensive: yellow-face, buck teeth, and mock accent that should never have been allowed to see the light of day. Declares it a black mark on cinema, one we’re still grappling with today. A painful reminder of how far we still have to go.
1. Laurence Olivier as Othello
In disgustingly bad taste, Olivier wore blackface to portray the Moor of Venice. This is not only miscasting—it represents Hollywood’s sordid past and its long, difficult journey toward actual representation. Declares it the worst example of whitewashing in history, and for good reason.
Why It Matters
These missteps are more than embarrassing—they’re often avoidable. According to UCLA’s Entertainment and Media Research Initiative, films with diverse and authentic casting consistently outperform those that don’t. Hits like Black Panther, Coco, and Crazy Rich Asians prove that representation isn’t just ethical—it’s smart business.
Hollywood is still playing catch-up, though. Example: Snow White remake, that problematic piece of work, is now criticized not only for casting, but for dismissing wider community issues. As Boston University’s Jonathan Foltz observes, studios sometimes attempt to please everyone—and end up pleasing no one. So here’s the lesson: decent casting isn’t all about talent—it’s about respect, honesty, and knowing when to pay attention to the audience. Because when you cast well, the outcome isn’t simply watchable—it’s unforgettable.