Sure, you can have an awesome script, an amazing director, and all the picture-perfect locations and sets in the world, but if you don’t have good casting, it’s all worthless. Finding the right actor for the right role takes a lot of skill. You really have to know what to look for.
Let’s just say that the people who were in charge of casting the roles on this list should probably get their eyes checked because these choices are the definition of “a swing and a miss.”
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But enough of my blabbering. Let’s start scrolling, and let the cringing begin!
1. George Clooney as Batman
The 1997 movie Batman & Robin was almost doomed from the start. The overly elaborate costumes and weak script left fans of the comic book hero bummed out.
But critics point to the odd casting of George Clooney as the main downfall. Many couldn’t envision the usually serious, charismatic actor from E.R. slinging goofy puns between punches.
2. Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One
Doctor Strange purists were very confused by the casting of Tilda as The Ancient One. This, of course, has nothing to do with her as an actress.
Fans of the comic merely saw this as the casting directors trying to stray from the source material, and that’s never going to sit right with them.
3. Rosie O’Donnell as Betty Rubble
Everyone grew up loving The Flintstones . We all remember Barney’s lovable, soft-spoken wife, Betty. She was quite mousy and wasn’t very boisterous.
So when the producers cast the lovably loud and always hilarious Rosie O’Donnell for such a meek role, it was a head-scratcher, to say the least.
I watched this movie as a kid, and I didn’t really notice how much this role does not suit Rosie O’Donnell.
That is until I watched this film again a couple of years ago. Can’t believe she even took this role. I can’t believe The Flintstones was even a movie, too.
4. John Wayne as Genghis Khan
“The Duke” and his portrayal of Genghis Khan in The Conqueror may be one of the most appalling casting choices we’ve ever seen.
Sure, it was a different time back then, but you really mean to tell me John Wayne was the first person the casting director thought of when they saw “Genghis Khan” in the script?! Give me a break. Not cool, old Hollywood.
5. Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern
Obviously, this poor casting choice had nothing to do with Ryan as an actor. He did the best he could with the role. Moviegoers were put off by the bland material and poor special effects.
Plus, we know Ryan can play the comic book role, as he expertly does it in Deadpool . We can’t blame him for this mess.
6. Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau
Sadly, as much as we want Steve Martin to star in every movie that comes out, this role proves why that can’t be a reality. Even though he delivers some hysterical lines, audiences were left wanting a more believable actor for the role.
Perhaps, if the makeup department tried to give him a more “Clouseau-esque” moustache, he wouldn’t be on this list.
And again, just like how I don’t understand how The Flintstones even became a movie, I’m just as shocked that The Pink Panther became a film.
2006 was a weird year.
7. Halle Berry as Catwoman
Now, on paper, you’d think that this Oscar-winning actress would absolutely crush it as the feline counterpart to Batman. Not the case, however.
While some say they should’ve hired a more physically nimble actress, many agree that it was the lame script that was truly to blame for the failure.
8. Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates
Vince is a fairly big dude with the ability to be creepy, but for some reason, his portrayal of Norman Bates in the remake of Psycho fell flat.
If we had to guess, we’d say it’s because everyone prefers Vince in a more humorous role. Wouldn’t you agree?
9. Gary Oldman as Rolfe
If Gary Oldman’s performance in Tiptoes doesn’t make you cringe, I’m not sure anything will. In this film, he plays a little person. That’s right. A legit, fully-grown man was cast to play a little person. Yeah. We’re just as confused as you are.
Ugh, I seriously dislike this a lot.
Why not hire an actor who is actually a little person? This casting literally has me so confused. I wonder how Gary Oldman even hid his height.
10. Ben Affleck as Daredevil
While it is an undeniable fact that Ben Affleck is an A-list leading man in Hollywood, it’s just as undeniable that he doesn’t exude that “superhero essence” on screen.
Again, this is in no way a reflection on him or his abilities. There’s just something about Ben throwing on a costume and saving the day that rubs audiences the wrong way.
11. Scarlett Johansson as Rebecca
Even before the movie came out, fans of the original Ghost in the Shell were beyond perplexed when they learned that the lead role was given to ScarJo.
The basic argument was that a lot of these roles are given to big names rather than actors that suit the role.
Just because a person isn’t a household name (yet!) doesn’t mean they can’t deliver an awesome performance. Give some of these lesser-knowns a chance for once, Hollywood!
12. Sean Penn as Sam
First off, this movie is seriously so amazing! Beautifully written and the acting was on point. The only thing that made me cringe is that Sean Penn is playing a character who is developmentally disabled, which is something that Sean Penn is not.
There’s something cringey about watching someone who doesn’t have a disability portray a person who has a disability.
That’s why one of my favorite things about Breaking Bad ‘scasting choices is that RJ Mitte, who plays Walter White Jr., portrays a character who has cerebral palsy. He does have cerebral palsy in real life so he can play that character and relate to it perfectly.
13. Seth MacFarlane as Ted
Ted was kind of an odd movie. It’s basically a movie about a teddy bear who has a very strong personality. It was a decent movie, and Ted was funny, but his voice made it hard to focus. Seth MacFarlane voices Ted, and what iconic role does Seth MacFarlane voice?
Well, Peter Griffin from Family Guy, of course!
And Peter Griffin’s voice is all I can think about when I watch Ted . Once you make the connection, you can’t un-hear it.
14. Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi
Now, this is not right. Mickey Rooney played Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. To “look Japanese,” he wore makeup and a prosthetic mouthpiece. That’s pretty messed up and extremely offensive.
If you really wanted a Japanese character to play Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, then you should hire a Japanese actor.
I’m glad that in 2017, casting like this gets major negative attention.
15. Kevin Costner as Robin Hood
Even though people loved Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, some people thought that it was as little odd that he didn’t even have an English accent in the film. I mean, Robin Hood is from England, so an accent is needed.
16. Sofia Coppola as Mary Corleone
Sofia Coppola’s father, Francis Ford Coppola, directed the classic film The Godfather: Part III , and he gave her a role to play in this iconic trilogy.
Sofia Coppola has directed amazing films like Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and Somewhere.
But her acting skills in The Godfather: Part III weren’t well received. Some people who reviewed it called it a disaster. That is harsh. Well, at least she’s an amazing director, and no one can take that from her.
Can you believe some of these?
Honestly, we’re still a bit blown away by some of these casting choices. Sometimes Hollywood gets it right. And other times… boy, oh, boy, do they get it wrong. We’re still cringing.
SHARE and tell us how you would recast these roles!
