Worst Casting Ever...

Worst Casting Ever...

In this editorial I will discuss the usual hatred by “fans” when a new actor is playing there favorite comic book character.

Editorial Opinion
By Khan - Mar 11, 2013 11:03 PM EST
Filed Under: Other

In this editorial I will discuss the usual hatred by “fans” when a new actor is playing there favorite comic book character, time after time we as fans seem to forget the fact that these people actually exist, unlike the comic book counterpart. You will never find someone who looks identical to Peter Parker, and can act. Or same can be said for Lois Lane. In this article i will discuss the actors/actresses who have been hated on before we have seen them in the role they are playing. So lets get started with this article, hope you guys enjoy!


1. Heath Ledger as The Joker - The Dark Knight
When Aussie actor Heath Ledger was announced to play Batman’s greatest foe the Joker in The Dark Knight back in 2007 (Ledger was announced in February 2007), fans started one of the worst rages i’ve ever seen online. People calling Heath “gay” or a something like this “Is Joker a gay cowboy now?”. These sought of things make me very angry to be a part of this community. Now it’s not only CBM who does this, many other sites do the same. Not only did Heath change the film industry forever with his performance but he also won an Academy Award for his fantastic portrayal of the Joker. Sadly Heath died of a drug overdose before the film was released, so he never saw the wonderful things people have said. But i bet you, he saw the hate.


2. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man - Iron Man
In and out actor RDJ was announced to play Iron Man back in January of 2007, after falling out with a drug overdose and going to rehab on many occasions, fans started to doubt this casting. When i say doubt i mean, completely hate on the idea of RDJ playing Iron Man. Before fans even saw some set photos, they were turned off by this casting, which lead to the film not being as successful as the future films. Once we saw a trailer for the movie, all of a sudden fans said he was and i quote here “Perfect” these are the exact same fans who hated on him when he was announced!! Because of RDJ the Iron Man movies managed to spark the Marvel Universe and create a fantastic film called The Avengers


3. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine - X-Men
It seems people hate Aussie actors. I mean, when Hugh was announced to play Wolverine people jumped to criticism straight away, no one and i repeat no one stopped and thought “maybe he will do good” instead every single “fan” said “Is Wolverine hunting dingo’s now?”. After more than 10 years in the role Hugh Jackman has become one of the most iconic actors to play a superhero. Sadly the hatred for actors outside of the US didn’t stop the next actor is from England.


4. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman - Batman Begins
When English actor Christian Bale was announced to play The Dark Knight, fans did what they usually do. Jump to criticism. Not only did Christian wow us all in American Psycho but he did one of the greatest role changes ever for his film The Machinist, Christian was able to change his complete look for the role, and got him an Oscar Nomination in return. But awards mean nothing, apparently. When people started hating on Bale for getting the role of Batman it was Hugh Jackman all over again. It was a crap excuse, i recall people saying things like “Batman isn’t English” well he’s an actor so he can put on an American accent. Now as you may know, i am not American. I am Australian. So naturally i don’t care where the actor comes from, as long as they care about the role. Which clearly Bale did.


5. Shailene Woodley as Mary Jane Watson - The Amazing Spider-Man 2
One of the most recent of fan spasms is the casting of young and beautiful actress Shailene Woodley. Shailene is a beautiful girl, i mean for god sake if you think she is ugly something is wrong with your eyes. You want someone ugly? go google Charlize Theron in Monsters, that my friends is ugly. One thing Shailene is well known for is her role in Secret Life Of The American Teenager, one thing that Shailene did well in that show, is make the pathetic writing, a good show. Every scene Shailene was in it looked like the show was actually taking itself seriously. I have seen article after article about why Shailene is a good casting, but when i saw RorMachine’s article i knew instantly he was joking. I mean how could you not know he was joking? One of the major (Stupid) complaints i have heard is this one “She doesn’t look like Mary Jane” Well no shit she doesn't look like MJ, Mary Jane doesn’t [frick]ing exist!! Andrew Garfield doesn’t look like Peter Parker, but he proved you critics wrong and was fantastic in the role. If the past has shown one thing, it is that don’t judge a book by it’s cover, in that case don’t judge a actor by looks. I am fully confident that Shailene will nail MJ, and will finally shut you critics up.
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YipCha
YipCha - 3/11/2013, 11:31 PM
Alright, I agree with the premise of your article... however, I could give you many more examples of terrible castings that fans spotted very early and didn't hold up at all. Also I never heard anyone talk badly about RDJ's casting as Tony Stark or Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne before the fact. Also I highly doubt that I'll be proven wrong with my opinion of the new Mary Jane. The actress just doesn't fit the character. Some fans just are quick to accept mediocrity, even when many better casting options exist.
brazilianbatman
brazilianbatman - 3/11/2013, 11:36 PM
who says MJ hotnes doesn't exist? Megan Fox and Olivia Wilde are just as hot as the Marvel character.

SHAILANE IS PRETTY but in the set photos she looks guly as hell. she like the opposite of Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy who looks even prettier. Like i said if she looks like that in the actual movie Marvel will have to up the budget and spend some money to cgi her face a little.
YipCha
YipCha - 3/11/2013, 11:39 PM
It's not just about "hotness" either. It's the good girl vibe that the actress gives off. That and the fact that she'll be starring opposite of Emma Stone and should be the sassier, more daring, of the two girls. I don't see this girl being able to pull that off.
YipCha
YipCha - 3/11/2013, 11:44 PM
@Rob2814 I'll answer that one for you...no. But there are other actresses who can and would be far better in this particular role than Shailane.
brazilianbatman
brazilianbatman - 3/11/2013, 11:47 PM
no i was just trying to prove that there's super hot girls.
i hope Woodley gets MJ right but they way she looks in the sets is depressing. she not only looks like a downgrade from Gwen Stacy for Peter Parker but she also looks shy and sad. I belive MJ is suppost to be everything but boring.
YipCha
YipCha - 3/11/2013, 11:51 PM
@brazilianbatman I completely agree with your statement there. MJ is not plain, boring, or cute. She is the spicy party girl who always keeps Pete on his toes. She is supposed to be able to challenge him not just be the loving one he rescues. She is one of the best females in the Marvel Universe IMO because despite having no powers she has strength of conviction and a fire in her I just don't see in Shailane.
Happy11
Happy11 - 3/11/2013, 11:53 PM
@yipcha yeah I agree I can't remember anyone really hating Christian Bale or RDJ. But I remember the hate for Heath Ledger. I myself didn't react to well to him being cast but as a friend said I would've found faults with any actor cast until I had seen him play the role. We CB and CBM fans are a fickle lot but it's because I grew up collecting Batman comics and like many others feel a connection to my favourite characters that I spent many hours reading or watching on film.
brazilianbatman
brazilianbatman - 3/11/2013, 11:54 PM
Gwen Stacy just lost her father, why the [frick] would she be happy? lol ;p
YipCha
YipCha - 3/11/2013, 11:56 PM
@Rob it has nothing to do with being "Happy" I'm saying she has a strong personality and puts up a carefree front to hide her pain. She isn't at all the weak and timid flower I see in the young girl they cast for her in this new film.
brazilianbatman
brazilianbatman - 3/11/2013, 11:59 PM
yipcha@ i remember my father hating on RDJ because he was a drug addict, a criminal or something. he said he was not going to watch Iron Man and he would have preferred Tom Cruise(who was suppost to play the character many years before). he eventually watched the movie and really liked, then Avengers came and now i think he loves him lol
brazilianbatman
brazilianbatman - 3/12/2013, 12:01 AM
i mean happy11@ not yipcha@ sorry!
YipCha
YipCha - 3/12/2013, 12:07 AM
@brazilianbatman Hmm...interesting. I actually had people I knew react the opposite, feeling that RDJ's struggle with addiction made him the perfect casting for Tony as he struggled with fame and alcoholism.

@Happy11 I know what you mean about holding the characters in high regard, and being very nit picky. I know I hold comicbook movies to a different standard than other films because I expect the characters I love to be done justice on film and I have found that many directors have taken far too much "creative license" bringing bastardized incarnations of my icons to the screen. To this day I have a love/hate relationship with the Nolan Batman films. Loving certain aspects of them, but feeling frustrated by some of the changes that were made because the director didn't have faith in the character he was trying to adapt. And no one in their right mind would argue any of them were truly bad films. A couple of them were amazing. However my enjoyment of them is hampered due to knowing what might have been if different choices had been made. (Arkham Asylum for example)
YipCha
YipCha - 3/12/2013, 12:10 AM
What I'm saying is sometimes we get a Nolan version which is a good alternate version of the character, that many including myself are able to enjoy...however far too often we get a "Tim Story" adaptation where our favorite characters are using powers they never had, acting like idiots we know they're not, and participating in a story that doesn't fit with the universe they should be living in.
SomTingWong
SomTingWong - 3/12/2013, 5:38 AM
I agree
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 3/12/2013, 6:06 AM
I think critics set a bad example. Readers think that their cynicism sets a precedent for their own judgement to follow - they can be as nasty and uncompromising as ______ was. And they think because they consider themselves "fans", they are all the more entitled to pick an actor or actress apart.

It's ok, those readers will grow up someday. They'll face review boards of their own.
marvel72
marvel72 - 3/12/2013, 6:47 AM
none of them are as bad as anna paquin as rogue.
Opt1mu5Pr1m4l
Opt1mu5Pr1m4l - 3/12/2013, 6:52 AM
I agree with everything that you just said rob2814. But there's one small problem. Christian Bale isn't bloody english he's from a small town in west wales called haverfordwest. Oh and just for you americans on here who don't know this. Wales isn't in bloody England as you keep asking, it's part of the fricking UK. It's a dam country.
Super12
Super12 - 3/12/2013, 6:56 AM
Go away yossarian.

Good article man, this needed to be said.
Bocephus247
Bocephus247 - 3/12/2013, 7:00 AM
Good article. It's the typical "Fan Boy" way of thinking. "If it's not exactly how I imagine it, it's going to be terrible." At least wait until you see the movie before you start to hate on it. It made me sick to hear people talk about how terrible Tom Hardy was going to be as Bane, or how bad Heath Ledger would be as the Joker... and then after the movies came out, they acted like it was perfect casting the whole time.

People need to realize that we are living in the best possible time for comic book fans. Enjoy seeing these characters on screen, and stop whining.
xstryker
xstryker - 3/12/2013, 7:06 AM
Everyone needs to dial back the venom. Skepticism is appropriate, but rather than say "I don't see how that's going to work" people just act like a bunch of grade school bullies slinging insults. I barely even read the comments here anymore, they're so idiotic.
SCOURGE
SCOURGE - 3/12/2013, 7:16 AM
Heath as The Joker was terrible.while Jack's version is seen by many as to campy, Heath's version was to dark. Heah won the Oscar as a make up for losing for Brokeback Mountain a nd because he died.

Christian Bale is terrible as Batman.

Hugh Jackman and RDJ was inspired casting

I know nothing about the new MJ
ToTheManInTheColdSweat
ToTheManInTheColdSweat - 3/12/2013, 9:01 AM
I love you yossarian ^_^

i don't rememmber any clown hating on sexy ass rdj, where u fanboys even alive back then, mother[frick]ers dint even care about iron man movie, the only lil hate he got was for his drug past not because he wasn't "perfect for da role". stop making shit up.

and stop with the bullshit idiotic extremity u fanboys go for, ur blind undying loyalty to woodley casting is [frick]ing pathetic.

u morons keep saying "it's either woodley or pornstar"?? dafuq!!!

u tryna tell me woodley is the hottest and best red head actress in hollywood? that it was impossible for tasm casting director to find a gorgeous [frick]ing brilliant 20something redhead actress?

the worst of all is u fanboys that say shit like "she didn't have makeup, here is a pic of her in makeup and push up bra" "look at that ass" "told ya she was perfect, HATERS!!!!"

so a bitch can't be hot without makeup and some pushup bra, then you post a pic and objectify her and we (fanboys unsatisfied with woodley casting) are the misogynistic assholes. ok, got it!!!

i think woodley is a cutie pie but not "how the [frick] did peter land a gal so outta his league" hot. if she is ultimate mary jane then marc webb is an idiot:

ultimate mary jane = 616 gwen stacy.

emma stone's gwen stacy is literally ultimate mary jane. so we gonna have two ultimate mary jane bitches in the same movie?

ugh, whatever!!
Stumblin
Stumblin - 3/12/2013, 9:01 AM
For the record, I hated Renyolds in Green Lantern. The movie as a whole sucked but so did his acting, and I like Renyolds, he was awesome in Amityville Horror but his acting in GL was piss poor.

I don't care about an actor's past as much as I care about their ability. Did I want Jessica Alba to be Su Storm? No. Why? Because she sucks at acting. Did I like Christian Bale's Batman? Yes and no, the growling voice got too extreme and just plain silly to the point it just sounded like he was a chain smoker with a speech impediment.

Like Yoss said, it's the actor's ability more so than their physical looks. Does that have a place in casting? Sure, but certain things are trial compared to the bigger picture.
Stumblin
Stumblin - 3/12/2013, 9:02 AM
*trivial not trail
SageMode
SageMode - 3/12/2013, 9:46 AM
Number 4 is still not impressive. But I dont blame Bale, I blame the direction of his portrayal on the creative team of the trilogy.

And Jackman never struck me as Wolverine, even as far back in the first X-Men movie.
fortycals
fortycals - 3/12/2013, 9:55 AM
I look at these movie castings in a different way. They are not just casting an actor/actress for the role of the comic character. They are casting for the character in the movie they are trying to make. Its like movies based on a true story, its just "based" on the true story. Did people complain about Julia Roberts being cast as Erin Brockivich, because julia is way hotter than the real Erin. Nobody said a peep when they cast Chloe M. as hitgirl, cause hit girl is far from pretty in the kickass comic. If you hate the Mj casting and not the Hitgirl casting you are a hypocrite.

These movies are casted for the movie they are trying to make, not what fans think they should be. People complained about rouge in x1, because she wasnt the comic version(looks wise). Anybody could see they were making rouge, fill the spot of wolvies pedo sidekick ala kitty or jubilee. So casting a grown, super thick rogue wouldnt have work in the movie they were making. So if you like rouge just because she is a stacked southern belle in the books, you probably hated this version. None of these movies are even trying to be the comic you read growing up, they are just based on them.

The Godfather movie took plenty of liberties, from the Mario Puzo book. Its still a great movie. First blood is way different from the Puzo book, but still a good movie.
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 3/12/2013, 10:06 AM
The Shailee hate already started to turn back. Recent set pics seems to have more positive comments than negative. Fanboys are waking up. Stupid little fanboys.

"But she had no makeup on the first set pics, I HAD to hate her ! You don't understand my life !"
AgentZero
AgentZero - 3/12/2013, 11:29 AM
Number should have been Mark Ruffalo

Fanboys were REALLY hating on this one
Odin
Odin - 3/12/2013, 1:44 PM
Very good article, I salute you and doff my fictional hat.
bbiz20
bbiz20 - 3/12/2013, 1:59 PM
Chris Bale and RDJ had shown they had the ability to pull of their characters before taking on the role. Heath and Hugh were more of a risk but they pulled off very well. With Shailene she is a risk, but lets hope she was a risk worth taking.
MrCameron
MrCameron - 3/12/2013, 4:29 PM
I remember when my mom took me to see TDK when I was 11. She didn't like it (too dark for her) but I remember her telling her friend via cell phone "Heath Ledger was just, AMAZING". Just goes to show ya doesn't it?
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