In the ever-evolving world of popular franchises, we’re seeing a fascinating trend: actors taking on iconic roles that were once played by someone else. Sometimes, these franchises struggle to find their footing and end up going through multiple reboots. This can be a bummer for actors who delivered outstanding performances, as they might miss out on the chance to continue leading the franchise.
But here’s the thing: a film’s success is influenced by so many factors beyond just one actor’s performance. Let’s take a look at Birds of Prey, for example. Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was absolutely unforgettable, but unfortunately, the movie didn’t soar at the box office due to lackluster marketing. As a result, studios can be a bit hesitant to give the green light for a sequel to a movie that didn’t perform well. This often leads to either a reboot or a major shake-up in the cast for the next installment.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that the actors who originally brought these characters to life were truly exceptional and had a dedicated fan base. It’s a shame that circumstances beyond their control led to them losing their roles in the franchise and witnessing other actors step into their beloved shoes.
1. Ron Perlman, Hellboy Franchise
Ron Perlman was a solid choice for the role of Hellboy in Guillermo del Toro’s superhero movies, Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. He brought a lot of fun and energy to the character, perfectly capturing the cantankerous nature of the unlikely hero. Despite the success of both films, a long-awaited third installment never materialized. Instead, a reboot was released in 2019 with David Harbour taking on the lead role.
Unfortunately, the reboot failed to replicate the success of its predecessors. While Harbour received some praise for his performance, it simply didn’t live up to Perlman’s previous work. It’s hard not to wonder if the rights-owners would have been better off proceeding with Hellboy 3, especially since Perlman expressed his willingness to reprise the role around the time the reboot was being made.
2. Henry Cavill, Superman Franchise
Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman in the DCEU faced numerous challenges stemming from the way his character was written and directed. In comparison to the brooding and often angry Clark Kent, Superman didn’t possess enough distinctiveness from Batman, which could have added an intriguing contrast to the Batman v. Superman storyline. Although Cavill has demonstrated his ability to embody a more charming and classic hero, as seen in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., he was unable to bring that same energy to his Superman performance due to the overall tone established by Zack Snyder in films like Man of Steel.
Had Cavill been given the opportunity for a standalone sequel, as originally planned, instead of DC’s rushed attempt to catch up with Marvel’s connected universe, this version of Superman might have developed a stronger and more defined identity. Unfortunately, the DCEU ultimately proved to be an unsuccessful experiment, leading the company to initiate a reboot of its shared universe under the guidance of new CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. As part of this reboot, Gunn himself is reviving Kal-El on the big screen with Superman: Legacy, and the role will be taken on by rising star David Corenswet, who will lead DC’s new cinematic universe.
3. Morgan Freeman, Alex Cross Franchise
In the late ’90s and early ’00s, Morgan Freeman took on the lead roles in two movies based on James Patterson’s Alex Cross novels: Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. These films were successful at the box office, but unfortunately, the series came to a halt after only two books were adapted. The main reason for this may have been the negative reviews the second film received. However, it’s worth mentioning that critics did acknowledge Freeman’s portrayal of the widowed detective as the highlight of both movies.
In 2012, a reboot of the franchise titled Alex Cross was made, with Tyler Perry stepping into the role previously played by Freeman. Despite high hopes for the reboot, Perry’s performance was heavily criticized, and he even received a nomination for Worst Actor at the Razzies. As a result, none of the planned sequels for his version of Alex Cross were ever made. It’s clear that the recasting decision did not work out well for the franchise.
4. Michael Keaton, Batman Franchise
Back in the day, Batman Returns didn’t quite hit the mark with Warner Bros. Surprisingly enough, Tim Burton himself revealed that the studio wasn’t too thrilled about the film, finding it too peculiar and driving away family-friendly sponsors like McDonald’s. This unfortunate turn of events resulted in Burton being replaced by Joel Schumacher for the next Batman installment.
Michael Keaton, who had previously played the Dark Knight in Burton’s first two movies, made the choice to step away from the role once the franchise took a creative turn that didn’t align with his own vision. While it was ultimately Keaton’s decision to part ways, it’s unfair to solely put the blame on him. Let’s not forget that he had agreed to come back for a third film, with Burton still set to direct. It was Warner Bros.’ decision to shake things up that ultimately led to Keaton’s departure.
5. Rooney Mara, Dragon Tattoo Franchise
Rooney Mara had a tough act to follow after Noomi Rapace’s impressive portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the original Swedish adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series. However, Mara managed to make the character her own in David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She brought a quieter vulnerability to the role, a bold choice that worked out well. Mara was initially set to reprise the role for two more films, but unfortunately, the sequels faced numerous obstacles in development and had to undergo significant changes.
When the focus of the sequel shifted, the new director, Fede Álvarez, decided to revamp the entire cast to align with his own creative vision rather than creating a traditional follow-up to Fincher’s film. As a result, Mara was replaced, and Claire Foy took on the role of Lisbeth Salander. The sequel, which can also be seen as a soft reboot, placed a greater emphasis on the action elements of the original source material, leaving behind many of the intricate aspects that made the first movie so memorable.
6. Thomas Jane, The Punisher Franchise
The Punisher is an intriguing case because all the actors who have portrayed Frank Castle in recent times have done a pretty commendable job. In the year 1989, Dolph Lundgren played the role in a film that is mostly forgotten today, back when superhero movies weren’t quite as popular. Then, in 2004, Thomas Jane became the first to take on the character in The Punisher. Not only did he have the right appearance for Castle, but he also effectively conveyed the deep pain that drives his violent actions.
There were plans for Jane to reprise his role in a Punisher sequel, but unfortunately, disagreements arose between the actor and the new screenwriter of the film. This ultimately led to Jane stepping away from the project. The sequel was eventually reimagined and became Punisher: War Zone, with Ray Stevenson replacing Jane in the titular role. However, even Stevenson would later be replaced, as Jon Bernthal took over the mantle of The Punisher in the TV shows and other Marvel series associated with the character.
7. Timothy Olyphant, Hitman Franchise
Timothy Olyphant, known for his versatile acting skills, has taken on various roles throughout his career. However, even the most talented actors can find themselves involved in a project that fails to impress. Hitman, for instance, received widespread criticism and even those who defend it, like Slavoj Žižek, consider it to be nothing more than a guilty pleasure.
Despite its poor reception, a sequel was initially planned for Hitman due to its commercial success. However, the decision was ultimately made to reboot the franchise instead. As a result, Olyphant was replaced by Rupert Friend in the new film. This change probably didn’t have a significant impact on Olyphant, as he openly admitted that he only took on the first film to financially support himself after Deadwood was cancelled.
8. Andrew Garfield, Spider-Man Franchise
Andrew Garfield undoubtedly brought a fun and entertaining portrayal of Spider-Man in the two Amazing Spider-Man films he starred in. Many fans consider him to be the best live-action actor in capturing the hero’s sense of humor while battling crime. However, it’s important to remember that amidst the excitement generated by Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was, unfortunately, quite a mess.
The second installment of Garfield’s Spider-Man series became overly preoccupied with Sony’s grand ambitions of creating a vast movie universe centered around Spider-Man and his adversaries. As a result, the film felt rushed and lacked cohesiveness. However, when Sony reached an agreement with Marvel to incorporate Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they abandoned their initial plans and ultimately canceled The Amazing Spider-Man 3. This led to the recasting of Spider-Man, with Tom Holland taking on the role for Spider-Man: Homecoming.
9. Alicia Vikander, Tomb Raider Franchise
Alicia Vikander took on the role of Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider movie series, following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie. In the 2018 film, Vikander portrayed a more down-to-earth version of the character, aligning with the recent reboot of the video game franchise.
However, this newer iteration of the franchise received some criticism for being a bit lackluster and for sidelining Lara Croft in favor of the film’s male supporting cast. Despite the mixed response, Vikander’s performance as Croft received appreciation from critics, with one even stating that she was the only reason the movie was worth watching.
Unfortunately, due to the underwhelming reception, plans for a sequel to the Tomb Raider movie were scrapped. Instead, the franchise is being reworked into an original series for Amazon. The casting for the new series, including who will play Lara Croft, has yet to be announced, but it has been confirmed that Vikander will not reprise her role.
10. Chris Pine, Jack Ryan Franchise
There have been just a few Jack Ryan movies made, with almost as many actors taking on the title role as there have been actors playing James Bond over the years. In 2014, Chris Pine became the fourth actor to portray Jack Ryan, following the likes of Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck, and Harrison Ford, who is the only one to have played Ryan in multiple films.
Although Pine’s performance in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit received positive reviews, the movie itself failed to attract a large enough audience, which unfortunately meant that a sequel was not greenlit. Pine discussed this in an interview with Moviefone, where he mentioned that the low box office numbers were likely the reason behind the lack of a follow-up film. However, the franchise would later be given a fresh start through an Amazon Prime original series, with John Krasinski taking on the role of the new Jack Ryan.
11. Timothy Dalton, Bond Franchise
Timothy Dalton stepped into the iconic role of James Bond following Roger Moore’s departure. Dalton’s portrayal aimed to bring a grittier and more grounded tone to the films, much like what Daniel Craig later did in the 2000s. Despite being a good Bond and a refreshing change after Moore’s era, Dalton only had the opportunity to play the role in two movies.
Unfortunately, the production of Dalton’s third Bond film faced a setback due to a legal dispute between Eon Productions and MGM. This resulted in a delay for the movie. By the time the issues were resolved, Dalton’s contract had expired. While he expressed his willingness to return, he only wanted to do one more Bond movie. The producers, however, insisted on him committing to four or five films if he wished to make a comeback. Consequently, Dalton made the difficult decision not to reprise his role.
