10 Superhero Movie & TV Castings Nailed The Second Time

10 Superhero Movie & TV Castings Nailed The Second Time

by

In the MCU, the DCU, and other superhero movies and TV shows, there are sometimes perfect casting decisions that only come about the second time of asking. Long before the movies of the MCU helped cement the genre as box office gold, superhero movies enjoyed a mixed reputation. Adequately casting actors to bring the heroes and villains of the comic book source material to life wasn’t always a simple task, with many casting decisions considered unimpressive or inadequate.

Good essay

Sometimes, the first actor cast to play a comic book character is not the best. There have been many times, such as in Fox’s X-Men movie franchise, when the second actor cast in a role has actually been the perfect choice, notably overshadowing their predecessor. With so many different iterations of characters being brought to life on the big screen, it’s a more common phenomenon than one might expect, with many examples across the genre. With that in mind, here are 10 superhero movie and TV castings that were nailed the second time.

You are watching: 10 Superhero Movie & TV Castings Nailed The Second Time

10

Kelsey Grammer As Dr Hank McCoy

Previously played by: Steve Bacic

Close

When it comes to the X-Men character Beast, many believe that the first actor to bring him to life in live-action was Kelsey Grammer. However, Grammer was actually the second actor cast in the role, as, ahead of his debut in X-Men: The Last Stand, another actor featured as Beast in X2: X-Men United. Appearing in a small cameo role, Steve Bacic was the first actor cast as Hank McCoy in the X-Men movie franchise.

Grammer’s casting proved to be far more substantial and a perfect fit. Grammer’s characteristic eloquence paired perfectly with Beast, making the actor seem the best possible choice for the role. Grammer’s role was short-lived, initially appearing in just one movie before being recast for the prequels, but he has since gone on to reprise the role in The Marvels’ post-credits scene in the MCU.

9

Channing Tatum As Gambit

Previously played by: Taylor Kitsch

Close

Despite Gambit being one of the most consistently popular X-Men characters, his live-action debut took much longer to materialize than many of his teammates. When it finally came to fruition in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Taylor Kitsch was cast in the role. The results were disappointing, and Gambit was missing from subsequent adaptations for 15 years. He returned as part of the cast of Deadpool & Wolverine, with Channing Tatum cast in the role.

Not only did Tatum’s casting pay off years of anticipation regarding his unmade Gambit movie, but it proved just how perfect he was for the role. Tatum’s Gambit blended comic accuracy with a touch of humor, making for a brilliant representation of the character. After the underwhelming version played by Kitsch in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Tatum’s casting proved to be the far better choice.

8

Hugh Jackman As Wolverine

Previously played by: Dougray Scott

Close

The actors to appear in the cast of 2000’s X-Men were almost exclusively the first to be cast as their respective characters in live-action. All, that is, except Hugh Jackman, whose turn as Wolverine went on to become one of the most iconic in the entire superhero genre. Despite Hugh Jackman being the first actor to bring Wolverine to life on the big screen, he was not the first actor cast in the role.

During production, Dougray Scott was cast as Wolverine, only for him to be forced to drop out at the last minute. His replacement was Jackman, though the second actor cast turned out to be the perfect choice for the role. Jackman’s performance as Wolverine over several decades has become legendary, proving that, in Logan’s case, the second casting choice was the best one.

7

Ryan Reynolds As Deadpool

Previously played by: Ryan Reynolds

Close

In many cases, the issue with the first iteration of a comic book character doesn’t lie with the performance of the actor, but rather with the writers. Such was evidently the case with Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which saw Ryan Reynolds bring the character to life on the big screen for the first time. The results were notoriously poor, with the character handled so badly as to cause uproar among fans.

For Deadpool’s second cinematic outing, the casting decision was an interesting one. The second time around, Reynolds was cast as Deadpool once again. This second chance proved to be the perfect decision, as Reynolds was able to bring Deadpool to life in a way that he was unable to do the first time around. Reynolds proved that sometimes giving a second chance to a failed casting can be the right decision, should a new approach be taken to the character in question.

6

Wilson Bethel As Bullseye

Previously played by: Colin Farrell

Close

Many iconic Marvel villains have been brought to life in live-action, as well as some lesser-known characters. 2003’s Daredevil saw Bullseye adapted to the big screen, with Colin Farrell’s bizarre take on the character coming to define the villain for many in the years to come. However, for season 3 of the MCU’s Daredevil, Wilson Bethel was cast as the villain, giving Bullseye another chance to shine in a live-action adaptation of the comics.

Bethel’s Bullseye was significantly more comic-accurate than Farrell’s, moving away from the showiness of the earlier iteration and adopting a more nuanced approach. The second actor cast to play Bullseye turned in a far better performance than Farrell, who was undeniably let down by the 2003 movie’s poor script. Even so, Bullseye is another character that fared better the second time around.

5

Danny DeVito As The Penguin

Previously played by: Burgess Meredith

Close

Numerous Batman villains have been adapted into live-action over the character’s cinematic history, often with mixed results. The 1960s saw many Batman characters appear for the first time in live-action, with the Penguin among them. Burgess Meredith’s take on the character was appropriate for the show and movie in which he appeared, leaning into the wackier and more cartoonish aspects of its characters. However, his successor brought the Penguin to life in a far more memorable fashion.

For Tim Burton’s Batman sequel, Batman Returns, Danny DeVito was cast as the Penguin. DeVito proved perfect for the role, as his performance was able to capture the animalistic and brutally violent nature of the villain as written by Burton. Burton’s Gotham was a dark and fantastic place, and DeVito’s performance as the Penguin worked perfectly within it, meaning that the second casting choice for the Penguin absolutely nailed his version of the character.

4

Steven Amell As Green Arrow

Previously played by: Justin Hartley

Close

Green Arrow may not be the most high-profile member of the Justice League, but he has been a consistent presence in DC Comics since his introduction. The character was first adapted into live-action and put into the limelight of the superhero genre with his appearance in Smallville, where Justin Hartley was cast to play the Emerald Archer. Green Arrow’s status as a non-powered vigilante and his rapier wit helped to make him more popular than ever.

2012 saw Green Arrow reimagined for his own show, Arrow, with Stephen Amell brought in to bring the character to life. The second actor cast to play Green Arrow delivered an incredible performance, injecting a little extra grittiness into his portrayal than his predecessor. The result helped cement Green Arrow as a fan-favorite DC character, boosting his popularity to unprecedented heights thanks in part to the excellent casting.

3

Michael Keaton As Batman

Previously played by: Adam West

Close

In the character’s long history, many actors have played Batman in live-action. The first to do so in the modern era was Adam West, whose light-hearted portrayal in the 1960s helped to elevate the Caped Crusader’s pop culture status. The second actor to be cast as Batman in modern movies was Michael Keaton, the announcement of which was met with considerable backlash ahead of the release of Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman.

Those concerns proved to be unfounded, however, as Keaton’s casting turned out to have been a stroke of genius. The actor’s ability to project depth into his turn as the hero was truly groundbreaking, with light comedic touches complementing his darker moments. Keaton’s portrayal of Batman remains highly regarded even decades later, proving that the casting of an actor to bring the hero to life absolutely nailed it the second time around.

2

Vincent D’Onofrio As Wilson Fisk

Previously played by: Michael Clarke Duncan

Close

In the comics, Kingpin is a major Marvel villain who serves as a key antagonist for both Spider-Man and Daredevil. His role as a nemesis to two iconic Marvel heroes makes Kingpin an especially noteworthy and formidable character, and Kingpin’s live-action debut was therefore an important occasion. Michael Clarke Duncan was brought in to play the imposing New York crime boss in 2003’s Daredevil, and despite his performance earning some praise, it was far from perfect.

For 2015’s Daredevil, Vincent D’Onofrio was cast to play the villain. D’Onofrio’s take on Wilson Fisk blended comic accuracy with realism, and despite boasting a similarly imposing frame as his predecessor, D’Onofrio was able to bring an added edge to his performance that made his Kingpin seem especially brutal. D’Onofrio’s casting saw Kingpin become a fan-favorite MCU villain, proving that the second casting choice was utterly perfect.

1

See more : Who are Dermott Brereton Parents? Meet Dermott Joseph Brereton and Jean Nancy Austin

Charlie Cox as Daredevil

Previously played by: Ben Affleck

Close

2003’s Daredevil struggled considerably, and criticism was leveled at the movie on many fronts. Its writing was an especially glaring issue, with multiple characters, including the titular hero, suffering as a result. Ben Affleck’s leather-clad Daredevil was widely dismissed as a poor representation of the character, particularly when it came to his version of Matt Murdock. Naturally, the role was recast for the 2015 series in the MCU, with Charlie Cox taking over as the Man Without Fear.

Cox’s Daredevil was an instant hit, with the actor’s emotional range and intensity noted as particularly strong elements of his performance. Cox brought an excellent physicality to the role as well as dramatic flair, helping to make the show a resounding success. As such, Charlie Cox stands out as perhaps the most obvious example as an occasion where a casting decision in the movies and TV shows of the MCU, the DCU, and beyond turned out to be far better the second time.

MCU Franchise Poster

Marvel Cinematic Universe

$29 $35 Save
$6

Created by

Kevin Feige

First Film

Iron Man

Upcoming Films

Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars

First TV Show

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

$29 at Amazon

See at Target

See at Walmart

MCU Franchise Poster

Marvel Cinematic Universe

$29 $35 Save
$6

Created by

Kevin Feige

First Film

Iron Man

Upcoming Films

Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars

First TV Show

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

$29 at Amazon

See at Target

See at Walmart

Upcoming MCU Movies

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment