9 Strangest Film Casting Choices (That Actually Worked)

Mos Def has made a name for himself as a rapper and political activist, but his career as a musician started in 1994. Before that, he was an actor on a number of kids shows. After launching his rap career, he continued to do sporadic performances for television movies and shows but, despite garnering critical acclaim, always made sure his work as a musician was more prevalent than his acting.

But in 2005, he decided to take on a comedic role, something he'd never outright done before. He was cast as Ford Prefect in the film adaptation of the classic science-fiction novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a role which had previously been offered to comedy giants Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. It required an actor with convincing comedic timing and an affable, laid-back attitude.

In none of his previous roles had Mos Def ever indicated that these were his strong suites and the legions of the books fans were terrified that the integral straight man and foil to most of the novel's dry, witty humor would be bungled by a man who proclaimed himself a rapper before an actor. However, it turned out they never needed to worry. Mos Def let his cool and collected performance mellow out the tensions of the film and elevated its comedy with his measured screen presence.