10 Movies That Ruined Perfect Casts With One Bad Choice

1. Hannibal – Julianne Moore

Gangs Of New York
MGM

After the critical success of The Silence of the Lambs back in 1991, a return to everybody’s favourite erudite cannibal was long overdue and while a decade on Anthony Hopkins was happy to reprise his role as Hannibal Lecter, two components very central to the brilliance of the first film – director Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster, both of whom won Oscars for their efforts alongside Hopkins – wouldn’t be on board.

It was left up to Julianne Moore to take on the role of Clarice Starling and though she’s a brilliant actress and does the best she can in what is a far inferior film than its predecessor, it didn't work. She’s a pale imitation of the plucky FBI agent-to-be we saw in The Silence of the Lambs and lacked the crackling chemistry with her co-star that made the unlikely pairing of Lecter and Starling so watchable first time around.

To be fair, any actress would’ve suffered by comparison with Jodie Foster who made the role her own and unfortunately for Moore, it was she who proved just how irreplaceable Foster was.

Which other ruinous castings belong on this list? Share your picks below in the comments thread.

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