10 Characters Cruelly Recast Before They Made It Big

6. El Mariachi (Desperado)

Originally Played By: Little-known Carlos Gallardo originally took the titular part in the no-budget movie that made Robert Rodriguez famous, though nobody could have expected that it would result in a successful movie trilogy. Gallardo may not be a might as memorable in the role as the superstar actor who replaced him, but it's still a tough break all the same: he did perfectly well under the constraints of the production, even if the 1000-fold budget increase no doubt allowed Rodriguez to seek out a more professional player for part two. Recast As: Antonio Banderas took on the part of the gun-slinging out-of-work musician for two popular sequels, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, helping cement him as a credible action star and sure-fire bada**. With his dashing good looks and immense charm, it's probably the least-surprising casting change on the list, if still a tough break for Gallardo.