10 Movie Casting Choices That Should've Worked (But Didn't)

After Jodie Foster redefined her career as Clarice Sterling in Silence of the Lambs, it was a big deal when the Oscar-winning actress chose not to reprise the role for sequel, Hannibal. Because of how towering Foster's performance was, it seemed like her replacement was doomed to fail.

But when Julianne Moore was cast, moviegoers weren't as cynical as they once were. Even though Moore wasn't yet considered a Hollywood A-Lister, she proved how versatile she was in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and The Big Lebowski. Also, she was the only decent actor in the woeful Psycho remake, so you have to commend her for that!

Sadly, Moore never really gets into the head of the character. Instead of a subtle, nuanced performance, Julianne Moore plays Starling like a tough cop, nothing more.

What makes her performance more underwhelming is how the rest of the movie's actors acting are pretty solid. Anthony Hopkins brings his A-game once again, and Gary Oldman is entertaining as always, despite having his face smothered with prosthetics.

Sadly, Moore's Starling is so far removed from what we saw in Silence of the Lambs, it doesn't feel like the same character.