Norton SMASH! and Other Re-Casting Disasters

By Chris Kavan - 07/14/10 at 11:02 AM CT

Edward Norton is a great actor - I've liked him ever since Primal Fear. Was he the best choice for Hulk? Maybe not, but does he deserve to be replaced? I don't rightfully think so. But Norton isn't the only one to feel the sharp sting of being replaced. Of course Norton was recast as Hulk when Eric Bana played the main character in Ang Lee's poorly-received film. Maybe the Hulk is just a cursed role. Anyway here are my picks for if not bad recasts, the ones that caused the biggest headaches.

5) Don Cheadle vs. Terrence Howard: Not a horrible casting choice, but I found nothing wrong with Howard. But money is the root of all evil, and Howard was just getting too much of it. He wouldn't agree to a pay cut and Cheadle was hired instead. Why Howard was offered so much in the first place still seems to be a bit of a mystery - but there you go.

4) Jodie Foster vs. Julianne Moore: Silence of the Lambs was released in 1991, Hannibal 2001. Ten years is a long time and, depending on the source, Foster didn't return to her role as Clarice Starling. Regardless, Moore stepped in, but she couldn't compare to the original, and neither could the film - stepping close to torture porn category. Granted, Anthony Hopkins originally replaced Brian Cox as Lecter, but he made it such an iconic role that I think the decision was sound.

3) George Lazenby vs. Sean Connery vs. Roger Moore: Granted, James Bond is an iconic character that spans multiple generations. Even if you think On Her Majesty's Secret Service is a good Bond film, you have to admit Lazenby is the odd duck out for Bond. One could argue that Timothy Dalton is also a questionable choice. I will stick with Connery as the best Bond.

2) George Clooney vs. Michael Keaton: Superhero movies always shake things up (see above examples) but as nice a guy as he is, George Clooney is not dark enough for Batman. Also, the nipple thing was just disturbing. Maybe if the scripts had been a bit better, I mean Batman and Robin? Unforgivable.

1) Michelle Pfeiffer vs. Halle Berry: I know Batman Returns and Catwoman were made over a decade apart, but due to the unrelenting disaster of Catwoman, I think if they went with Pfeiffer, even after all that time, it might have been better. It seems superhero films of all ilk are just bent on causing uproar and heartache.

There you have - any roles you think were unfairly recast? Sound off people!