We should admit: casting is basically the most significant element that can radically change a movie from a blockbuster to a failure. If you do it right, you can expect a masterpiece to be born. Conversely, the miscast in a single film that has a lot of potential can cause such a disaster that only the fans will talk about. There have been a huge number of casting choices that have caused the medical professionals to laugh due to the superhuman skills of the heroes being turned into ridiculous parodies, and singers who couldn’t have come from the shower. These are Hollywood casting decisions in the limelight that have provoked the spectators to ask the question “why?” over and over, and to make them laugh with their sarcastic remarks for most of their time.
Here is a list of ten casting decisions that fans believe led to the derailment of the storyline, and thus the plots of such films became great stories of cinema.
10. Tom Cruise – Interview with the Vampire
Instead of the mysterious Lestat, fans got a Tom Cruise character that was over the top and lacked the charm and subtlety that the Anne Rice version had. Most of the audience thought the vampire lost his emotional depth, making a Gothic antihero more like a caricature than an attractive one.
9. Vince Vaughn – Psycho
It was never going to be a good idea to remake Hitchcock’s Psycho, but the decision to have Vince Vaughn play Norman Bates was not liked by the fans. They were very critical of his work for not having the creepy, disturbing, and subtle tones that made the original villain a legend, thus making people wonder why anyone would choose to go against the classic way.
8. Cameron Diaz – Gangs of New York
In powerhouse performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz as Jenny was out of sync. Supporters had claimed that she was not intense enough and did not have the weight required to compete with her co-stars, so her presence seemed misplaced in an otherwise incendiary cast.
7. Tom Holland – Uncharted
Fans of the popular video game franchise were all set for a grizzled, middle-aged Nathan Drake. Casting the young Tom Holland as Drake derailed the dynamic, with many thinking he would have been ideal Victor instead. The outcome? A mismatch that left some watching feeling less than convinced.
6. Gerard Butler – The Phantom of the Opera
Butler added charisma to the role, but his fans quickly commented that a Phantom requires vocal power—and this was not his forté. The musical numbers, key to the drama of the story, lacked punch, leaving die-hard fans disappointed.
5. Pierce Brosnan – Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia! is stripped to its core by vibrant ABBA melodies; however, Brosnan’s voice was negatively received as off-key and uncoordinated. Even for those who liked the movie, his singing attempts were a major weak point in a film made up mainly of bright, feel-good moments.
4. Russell Crowe – Les Misérables
As Javert, Crowe is a widely celebrated performer, yet his vocals were the weakest part of the whole performance, as expressed by fans. The emotional depth of “Stars” was missing, and most viewers found him rather distracting to watch among the other characters with nice voices.
3. Kristen Stewart – Snow White and the Huntsman
As Snow White, Stewart hasn’t been praised for her charm or emotional resonance. Fans of the movie were unable to connect with her through the acting, and the magic of the film seemed to vanish under her.
2. Ezra Miller – The Flash
The way that Miller represented the Scarlet Speedster is the cause of a big divide among the fans. The casting was the main point of criticism as it was said to be the complete opposite of the character’s energetic vibe, both in The Flash and Fantastic Beasts, which made the fans confused because they got a version that didn’t seem familiar from the comics.
1. Sophia Coppola – The Godfather: Part III
Perhaps the most famous casting error, the decision by Francis Ford Coppola to showcase his daughter, Sofia, in a leading position, was met with severe criticism. Her acting was unable to match the legendary standard of the rest of the cast, and the film felt unbalanced and dull in comparison to the first two parts.
Sometimes, the actors with the most talent are unable to save a film from a poorly cast role. These ten picks show that even Hollywood stars aren’t immune to casting mistakes, and fans are always there to witness it.