Recasts happen all the time in Hollywood, perhaps more in the case of TV shows but still a considerable amount in movies as well. Often times it is due to a falling out between a particular actor and the film studio, there have been many characters that were recast after the actor was fired. The recent fiasco that led to Mads Mikkelsen replacing Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is just one of the many examples.
Although it is unlikely that a recast will go unnoticed by the audience, rarely is it something that ruins the viewing experience. Below, a selection of films have been discussed that recast actors between movies, for better worse.
The Mummy: From Rachel Weisz To Maria Bello
The Mummy trilogy is an all-time classic of the 2000s era, and even though Brendan Fraser's Rick O'Connell remains the face of the franchise, Rachel Weisz's Evelyn Carnahan played no small part either and is one of the greatest movie archeologists.
She plays a key role in triggering the events of the first film and eventually becomes the romantic partner of protagonist Rick and a mother in the sequels. Rachel Weisz brought Evelyn to life with her portrayal, but for the third film, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, she decided not to return and was replaced by Maria Bello.
Dark Knight Trilogy: From Katie Holmes To Maggie Gyllenhaal
The character of Rachel Dawes was created specifically for Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy to be Bruce Wayne's romantic interest and add another layer of complexity to Bruce Wayne's double life as the caped crusader.
Batman Begins finds Katie Holmes in the role, and she was replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal in the sequel The Dark Knight where the character plays a much more significant role. In the finale, in one of the most intense scenes from the whole trilogy, Batman ultimately decides to save Harvey Dent instead, resulting in Rachel's death.
The Twilight Saga: From Rachelle Lefevre To Bryce Dallas Howard
The Twilight Saga is a long-winded story of the relationship between a vampire Edward Cullen and a human Bella Swan told across five films, and the character of Victoria is just one of the many obstacles in the path of their romance.
A vampire herself, Victoria is played by Rachelle Lefevre in the first two films where she spends much of her time trying to take Bella's life as revenge for her mate's death. For the third film, Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard was instead cast in the role due to a scheduling conflict with the original actress.
MCU: From Edward Norton To Mark Ruffalo
The success of the first Iron Man often leaves one other film out of the conversation that was also there at the inception of the MCU - The Incredible Hulk. What is also easily forgotten is that before Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton portrayed the character of the gamma-irradiated monster.
In terms of ratings, The Incredible Hulk is one of the lowest-rated live-action movies featuring the Hulk. Even though Ruffalo's chemistry with the rest of the Avengers is a treat to watch, it's unfortunate that the character has not had a solo movie or series in over a decade.
Harry Potter: From Richard Harris To Michael Gambon
The headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore is one of the most important figures in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, almost as important as Harry himself. The first two Harry Potter films, Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, featured actor Richard Harris in the role of the wise wizard.
After his death in 2002, Michael Gambon was recast in the role, and he played the part for the rest of the series. Jude Law now portrays a young Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts films.
MCU: From Terrence Howard To Don Cheadle
Tony Stark's friendship with James Rhodes has been a defining element of his character over the years, and Rhodes has gone from being just a military man to being an important Avenger. Interestingly, Terrence Howard was the highest-paid actor in the first Iron Man film, and it was a dispute over money that eventually lead to him being recast.
Cheadle will be reprising his role as War Machine in the upcoming Armor Wars show, which will hopefully explore some of the War Machine stories that we'd like to see in the MCU.
Hannibal Lecter: From Jodie Foster To Julianne Moore
While it is true that the main character of the Hannibal Lecter films is Hannibal himself, what is also true is that The Silence of the Lambs wouldn't be half as interesting as it is without Jodie Foster's Oscar-winning performance as Clarice Starling.
The sequel, titled just Hannibal and written and directed by a completely different team than the original, found Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as the titular villain with Julianne Moore replacing Jodie Foster. Two prequels were also released after this, but the character of Clarice Starling did not appear in those films.
Back To The Future: From Claudia Wells To Elisabeth Shue
The Back To The Future films are a cornerstone of American pop culture, and there is no better movie to watch if you love the '80s. Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd's Doc are the obvious stars of the series, but among other important side characters there was Marty's girlfriend Jennifer Parker.
Claudia Wells can be found in the role in the first movie, where her character's involvement in the plot is limited. For the second and third films, Jennifer Parker is played by Elisabeth Shue and she even travels to the future with Marty where she meets her future self.
Fantastic Beasts: From Johnny Depp To Mads Mikkelsen
Johnny Depp is undeniably one of the most admired actors of his generation, but all the controversy with his wife Amber Heard has done no favors to either of their acting careers. The Fantastic Beasts franchise had its overarching villain in the form of the evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald, played in the first two films by Johnny Depp.
But for the third film, he was replaced by Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen. This recasting drama is one of the many reasons why the Fantastic Beasts series should end, but judging by the sheer popularity of Harry Potter worldwide, it is doubtful that it will anytime soon.