10 TV Shows That Recast Major Characters (For The Better)
8. Jimmy Olsen - Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman
One of the strongest aspects of The New Adventures of Superman was its casting, particularly that of Dean Cain as Superman and Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane.
But by the end of the first season, the showrunners grew concerned that Michael Landes, the actor who played Jimmy Olsen, too closely resembled Cain and strayed too far from the typical goofball depiction of Jimmy from the comics.
And so, Landes was replaced for the show's three remaining seasons by the decidedly more baby-faced Justin Whalin.
But more than that, Whalin's rendition of Jimmy was also significantly different, giving a more aloof performance that felt more in step with what comic book fans expected from the character.
That's not to say that Landes' performance was bad, but simply that he didn't really fit in with the show's tone as well as Whalin, who just totally nailed the part.