Casting can both create and destroy a movie. A single inspired casting choice can propel a story to legendary heights, while one misstep can make all else suffer. Some casting choices over the years have left audiences baffled, disillusioned, or downright enraged—either because of a lack of chemistry, a mismatch with the source material, or simply a tone mismatch. Here are 15 casting decisions that created controversy and debate, showing that even productions as big as these can get it wrong.
1. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
Lee Child’s Jack Reacher was portrayed as a hulking, menacing giant—so when 5’7″ Tom Cruise was cast, fans were confused. Though Cruise provided intensity and star power, many felt he did not possess the commanding physical presence and tough, uncompromising spirit that defined the character in the books.
2. Keanu Reeves as John Constantine
Hellblazer comics fans were jolted when the West Coast, clean-cut version of the chain-smoking, blond British antihero was cast as John Constantine in the movie. Although the movie gained its cult following, comic purists have always hoped for a casting that more accurately reflected the character’s signature edge and cynicism.
3. Russell Crowe in Les Misérables
Javert is a multi-layered, uncompromising character, and as much as Russell Crowe is suited to playing these sorts of roles, many were disappointed by his performance. Although his acting abilities weren’t at issue, his voice struggled to match the demands of the musical elements of the film, making what could’ve been an imposing presence a liability in an otherwise solid cast.
4. Sofia Coppola in The Godfather: Part III
When Winona Ryder withdrew at the eleventh hour, director Francis Ford Coppola hired his daughter Sofia to play a critical role. Her lack of experience in acting pitted her against veteran actors, and critics cited her performance as the movie’s most egregious failure.
5. Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Though Reeves is a favorite among fans in several different genres, his turn as Jonathan Harker for Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula was marred by a rigid performance and a much-mocked British accent. Among acting giants such as Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins, Reeves seemed misplaced.
6. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thénardiers in Les Misérables
Renowned for their offbeat on-screen presences, Cohen and Bonham Carter were ideal choices for the Thénardiers on paper. On screen, their comedic wiring conflicted with the film’s earthier tone, and audiences remained unsold on the otherwise scene-stealing duo.
7. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Though a visual spectacle, Valerian was marred by a deficiency of chemistry between the leads. DeHaan and Delevingne could not make their romantic relationship believable, diluting the emotional center of an otherwise creative sci-fi tale.
8. Elijah Wood as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings
While most fans accept his acting, others contend that Wood’s performance of Frodo was too passive and too sincere. His never-ending wide-eyed vulnerability did not adequately convey the toughness and complexity of Tolkien’s main hero, according to critics.
9. Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger
Casting Johnny Depp as Tonto elicited instant outrage, with critics criticizing the lost chance to hire a Native American actor in a part that already had decades of questionable baggage. The performance—and the movie—suffered at the expense of that controversy.
10. Cameron Diaz in Gangs of New York
In a movie that was otherwise dominated by monolithic performances from Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz’s Jenny character was underwhelming and out of step. While talented, Diaz just couldn’t keep up with the grit or heaviness needed for Scorsese’s dirty period drama.
11. Michael Cera in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Michael Cera applied his awkward charm to the title role of Scott Pilgrim, but not everybody was convinced it was the best choice. Some devoted fans of the original graphic novels believed that the character required greater arrogance and charisma to carry off the sloppy relationships and frenetic energy of the narrative.
12. Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (2023)
Though not a bad performance, Hauer-King’s casting as Prince Eric came under fire for the apparent height and age disparity between him and Halle Bailey. To some viewers, this seemed to make their on-screen romance feel a little off, though the movie in general was acclaimed for bringing a modern spin.
13. Harry Styles in My Policeman
Harry Styles has been pushing boundaries in acting, but his work in My Policeman was generally considered one of the weaker efforts. Supported by more experienced co-stars, Styles was unable to inject emotional depth into his performance, with parts of the film coming across as dull or unbelievable.
Casting is arguably the most difficult aspect of making a movie. It’s a precarious balancing act involving talent, chemistry, and vision—and even the greatest directors get it wrong sometimes. These decisions, well-meaning or made on an activating impulse, are a reminder that the wrong actor in the right part can have an unpredictable impact on the legacy of a film.