10 Characters Cruelly Recast Before They Made It Big

5. Rachel Dawes (The Dark Knight)

Originally Played By: Katie Holmes took the role of Bruce Wayne's childhood friend and adult love interest, Rachel Dawes, in Christopher Nolan's Batman reboot Batman Begins. Though audience reception to her character was decidedly mixed, Holmes did well in the role, even if ultimately she seemed a little too squeaky-voiced and harmless for the role of a determined Assistant District Attorney. Recast As: Maggie Gyllenhaal took over the part when Katie Holmes elected not to return due to her desire to star with Diane Keaton in the mega-flop comedy Mad Money (compared to The Dark Knight breaking the billion-dollar mark at the box office). In Nolan's Batman sequel, Rachel has a far more significant role, being caught between the affections of Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent, and ultimately falling victim to The Joker's scheme. In retrospect, the switch from Holmes to Gyllenhaal probably benefited the film in the end (she's a vastly superior actor), though one has to wonder how much Holmes regretted missing out on such an excellent part.