10 Actors Who Proved Everyone Wrong After Releasing Backlash

There is always an element of blind luck when it comes to casting a film. Unfortunately for production, there is no foolproof method for ensuring perfect film casting. An actor may seem like the unquestionable choice for the role on paper, but things crash and burn once the film goes into production. This could be due to a multitude of factors; if the performer in question is difficult to work with, simply isn’t believable as the character, or has little to no chemistry with his or her co-stars.

The negative reaction from the cast can be extremely violent when an actor who doesn’t fit in is chosen. the public’s view of the character, to the point that a number of iconic film castings almost didn’t happen. Several accredited actors were subjected to passionate opposition from fans and critics before the film even began filming, judging the actors’ portrayal of their respective characters before they had even seen the final cut. Remarkably, these actors have produced several of the most celebrated and influential characters of all time, proving naysayers resoundingly wrong.

10

Ryan Reynolds

Dead Pool

Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, is an indispensable household name at this point in the process. The focal point of the highest-grossing film of all time, Ryan Reynolds’ lauded take on the foul-mouthed character produced a firestorm of critical and commercial successa state of affairs that continued with his recent return in the hugely successful 2024 Deadpool and Wolverine.

However, not everything was smooth sailing. Several fans argued that Reynolds was actually unsuitable for the role when he was first cast, highlighting the actor’s good looks as the main proof that he was a poor choice to play pop culture’s ugliest mercenary. There were also rumors of discontent due to Reynolds’ role as Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine; a take on the character that reduced one of Marvel’s most compelling characters to a mindless shell of himself.

9

Keira Knightley

Elizabeth Bennett

“Casting backlash” was evidently the theme surrounding the production of Pride and Prejudice, with Leading pair Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden subjected to negative feedback after they were cast as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel of the same name. MacFayden’s casting was criticized based on the actor’s appearance, with some questioning whether he was good-looking enough to convincingly portray Austen’s iconic character.

This was a status quo that extended to his co-star in equal measure, but for different reasons. Detractors argued that Knightley was too thin and pretty to play Bennet as Austen imagined her; a sentiment that was partially shared with the film’s director, Joe Wright. Knightley clearly disagreed, earning a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her evocative performance and proving the doubters emphatically wrong.

8

Renée Zellweger

Bridget Jones

Based on Helen Fielding’s novel of the same name, the 2001 wildfire hit Bridget Jones Diary it spawned three sequels and earned protagonist Renée Zellweger an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. It’s a role that Zellweger is practically synonymous with at this point in the process, having received rave reviews for her performance as Fielding’s titular character.

It’s notable that romance movie powerhouse Zellweger received considerable backlash when she was cast as the titular character in 2000. Despite Zellweger gaining twenty pounds and working full-time at a London book publisher to prepare her for the role, many critics argued that the Texas-born actress was a poor choice to play a character who was quintessentially British. Happily, Zellweger’s performance and accent were nothing short of perfecteffortlessly bringing to life a character who subsequently achieved pop culture icon status.

7

Nicole Kidman

Lucille Ball

A biography that chronicles a dramatized version of the real-life relationship between I love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Aaron Sorkin’s Desi Arnaz Being the Ricardos was met with backlash from the start, with most of that backlash being directed at Nicole Kidman. Initial fan response to the first trailers featuring Kidman as Ball was lukewarm, to say the least; many fans complained that the Moulin Rouge! Star didn’t resemble his pupil at all, from his appearance to his intonation.

Such concerns clearly fell on deaf ears, as Kidman received rave reviews for her performance as Ball when the film was released in 2021. In addition to winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama, the actress also received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her troubles, eliminating any controversy surrounding her casting in short order. .

6

Zendaya

Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson

Before her character was confirmed to be separate from Spider-Man’s traditional love interest Mary Jane Watson, Zendaya’s casting as “MJ” in Marvel’s reimagining of the character was met with a surprising level of opposition. Coming to the conclusion that the Euphoria star was playing a new version of the original character in 2017 Spider-Man: Homecomingthe fans shouted, highlighting Zendaya’s appearance was a far cry from the traditional perception of Mary Jane’s redhead appearance.

Ironically, Zendaya’s handler was soon revealed to be an entirely separate character from Peter Parker’s classmate Michelle Jones-Watson. Any controversy regarding her casting as Spidey’s potential love interest soon went up in smoke as the levels of chemistry between the actress and Tom Holland became apparent, with Zendaya unequivocally taking on the role in three lauded appearances as MJ.

5

Hugh Jackman

Wolverine

Wolverine remains the role that Hugh Jackman’s name is most associated with to this day. The actor played the X-Men character in 10 separate films, carrying the character’s success into 2024 with his highly celebrated return in Deadpool and Wolverine. It’s easily Jackman’s most memorable and influential performance, but the Les Misérables the star was subject to major backlash when he was originally cast as Logan.

The obvious problem with casting Jackman as Logan was his physique. The character portrayed in the comics is short and stocky, a far cry from the Australian’s imposing build; In fact, Jackman is eleven inches taller than his fictional counterpart. Fortunately, a number of production techniques, including unusual angles and platform soles for his co-stars, were implemented to “shorten” Jackman on screen, allowing the Australian to portray one of the most iconic live-action comic book characters of all time. times.

4

Gal Gadot

Wonder Woman

When Gal Gadot was announced as Zack Snyder’s choice to play the iconic comic book character Wonder Woman in 2013 Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Israeli actress was subjected to an alarming degree of backlash of fans. THE Fast and Furious The star’s selection was criticized by many, with fans arguing that Gadot was not busty enough to play the version of the character they were familiar with.

Gadot was unfazed, wryly pointing out the fact that real Amazonian women were reputed to have only one breast to allow them to draw their bows more quickly. The backlash against the actress’ allegedly inappropriate appearance was quickly forgotten when Gadot made her stunning debut; Her performance as Wonder Woman was praised as a rare bright spot in an otherwise unforgettable film and spawned two successful independent films centered on the character.

3

Daniel Craig

James Bond

Presenting to the public the bravest version of James Bond seen on cinema screens in 2006 Royal CasinoDaniel Craig has claimed the most celebrated version of the character since the days of Sean Connery in five hugely popular film appearances. Producing a hyper-realistic take on 007 as the franchise attempted to modernize the character, Craig’s performance as Bond was praised by fans and critics alike ahead of his farewell in 2021. There is no time to die.

Consequently, the amount of backlash Craig received upon initially being cast as Bond is simply staggering. The actor’s appearance was the focus of criticism this time around, with detractors arguing that a short, blond man with Craig’s rugged appearance was completely at odds with the face of a dark-haired, elegant secret agent cultivated by Bond’s source material. Not surprisingly, such criticism quickly dried up in the wake of Casino Royale brilliant critical response.

2

Jennifer Lawrence

Katniss Everdeen

Although Jennifer Lawrence has achieved great success outside The Hunger Games franchise, Katniss Everdeen remains the character to which the American actress is most closely linked. Lawrence received rave reviews for her portrayal of Suzanne Collins in four films between 2011 and 2015, producing a character who has achieved cult status as a feminist action heroine icon.

However, Lawrence didn’t always seem like the obvious choice to play Katniss to general audiences. The actress was considerably older than her fictional character when the first film was shot, with some fans also arguing that Lawrence’s hair color and physique did not match the book’s description Everdeen’s dark hair and slim frame. Fortunately, such pedantic concerns clearly did not disturb Lawrence; the X-Men Star started making the character his own from the beginning and never looked back.

1

Heath Ledger

The Joker

There’s not much to say about Heath Ledger’s masterful performance as the Joker in 2008. The Dark Knight that hasn’t been said yet. The late actor’s reverence as Batman’s archenemy is the stuff of legend, earning Ledger a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and forever writing his name in the annals of pop culture for his portrayal of one of cinema’s most iconic villains.

However, it wasn’t always like this. The Australian’s casting in Christopher Nolan’s superhero epic was initially derided by fans, with many pointing to the actor’s history of starring in teen-centric romantic comedies as proof that he was ridiculously unsuited to play such a marauding character. The negative reaction from the cast persisted until Ledger took his bow on screen, delivering a generational performance few can rival in terms of acclaim or lasting cultural impact.