10 Movie Re-Castings That Ruined Iconic Characters
How did they get Agent Smith so wrong?
There are actors who feel like they were destined to play certain characters. Harrison Ford IS Indiana Jones, for instance. It's jarring to picture any other performer filling Indy's boots, just like it's surreal to think someone could play Iron Man better than Robert Downey Jr. Hell, it's crazy to imagine anyone portraying Marty McFly apart from Michael J. Fox.
But when the original actor is unavailable, too old, or too dead to reprise their iconic role, a replacement can be required. Obviously, this isn't always a bad thing. Movie fans are ready to whip out the pitchforks and torches when a new Spider-Man or Batman is announced despite the fact that, usually, these recastings work out. (George Clooney's Batman is the obvious exception.)
But when recasting goes wrong, it feels like a beloved character has been massacred before our very eyes. The reasons why recastings can backfire can be myriad: maybe the replacement did't suit the role, perhaps they tried to put a different spin on the character which didn't pay off, or maybe it didn't work because the actor was just really, really bad.
10. Evie - The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor
Original - Rachel Weisz
Recast - Maria Bello
In The Mummy, Rachel Weisz plays a timid Egyptologist called Evie who's fascinated with ancient curses. After she reads from a forbidden book, she awakens a powerful mummy called Imhotep, forcing her to find some way to destroy him.
It would've been tempting for Evie to come across as a typical damsel-in-distress. Luckily, Weisz makes her feel more like a three-dimensional character since Evie's knowledgeable, bold, and independent.
Don't get me wrong. Evie is still a klutz since she bumps into her surroundings, trips over her feet, and knocks over 70 million books while at the library. But because she's determined, strong-willed, and doesn't back down from a fight, she comes across as endearing rather than annoying.
Sadly, Rachel Weisz opted out of the sequel, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, forcing Maria Bello to serve as her replacement. Bello is a fine actress but she plays Evie so differently, it feels like a different character. Her one-liners are flat and her badass moments feel forced. Although Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz's effortless chemistry was one of the strongest elements of the original, it was nowhere to be seen this time around.