10 Movie Characters Who Were Perfectly Cast (The Second Time)
Idris Elba as Deadshot is just too perfect!
Sometimes, even great actors and good performances aren't perfect and as long as there is room for improvement, you just know Hollywood will seek it.
Perhaps it's because the first actor cast to a role isn't quite the right fit or that the film they appear in lets them down badly, but there's a rich history of replacements who outshine their predecessors. Whether brought in for reboots or remakes or hired to fill a gap in a direct sequel, they're a special breed who do so well you wonder why they weren't just cast in the first place.
They say that third time's a charm, but why would you even go for the hat-trick when you nail it second time out...?
10. Deadshot - Idris Elba (Suicide Squad 2)
The Original
Will Smith wasn't exactly terrible as Deadshot in David Ayer's Suicide Squad, but he was let down by some pretty terrible material to work with. It says something that in a maelstrom of awfulness, one of the things cynics remember most is his "some kind of suicide squad" line as a low point.
He's on the wrong side of his stardom at the minute and even more fundamentally, he lacked the edge to really convince that he was a true villain. Never did he once seem to fit the "worst villains ever" vibe.
Second Time's The Charm...
It hasn't happened yet, but James Gunn's Suicide Squad sequel has already scored a positive victory by replacing Smith - who couldn't commit because of a scheduling conflict - with Idris Elba. He's now on a similar footing in terms of profile, he's eminently watchable with good material and most importantly, he's a legitimate bad-ass known for villainous roles.
If he can't capture the right balance of cool, charm and badness, nobody can.