10 Movies Almost Ruined By Bad Casting

This is why a film's or television program's casting is crucial

Maryjane

• Published in Film & TV
• February 15, 2023

A movie isn't perfect just because it's good. Even if 99% of anything is fantastic, that annoying 1% can still make the whole movie terrible, especially if the weakest link is poor performance.

And despite the fact that you might believe that successful, seasoned actors don't need to worry about falling short, they frequently make the most embarrassing mistakes of all! When a story is going well, all of a sudden, one botched delivery at the perfect time sends the whole thing spiraling out of control.

Seriously, you would think that someone would speak up before this information is spread, but evidently not. A film's or television program's casting is crucial.

It has the power to make or ruin the entire endeavor. Most of the time, choosing iconic actors is a very safe move, but every so often, choosing well-known celebrities to play protagonists or antagonists ends in tragedy.

The actors may not resemble the source material at all, or they may have incredibly unpleasant accents, or they may simply lack the chemistry the tale demands.

So let's find out which famous actors messed up their films. Some of them will really leave you in awe of how awful these choices are. 

1. Robert De Niro in The Irishman

No amount of high-tech CGI or elaborate makeup will be able to make Robert De Niro move and act like the youthful Frank Sheehan. And it was simply excessive to use the gimmick throughout the entire film.

There were other young performers with talent who could have nailed the part. The director may have chosen one of them as opposed to using cosmetics and CGI.

2. Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in the 50 Shades

The entire 50 Shades series is awful. They were difficult to watch in part due to the absence of chemistry between the two lead performers.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson didn't appear to be genuinely in love; rather, they appeared to be tolerating one another. Viewers anticipated passionate scenes, but all we got were chaotic, painful to watch moments.

3. Russell Crowe in Les Misérables

The musical Les Misérables was excellent and it was supported by eight Academy Award nominations. Russell Crowe was miscast as police inspector Javert, and this led to a significant backlash against the film.

Although Crowe is a fantastic actor, his voice is simply inappropriate for the part of Javert. To make matters worse, Hugh Jackman, who has had success as a musical actor on stage, played his opposite in the film.

Javert, played by Russell Crowe, simply had no chance.

4. Jared Leto in Suicide Squad

He utterly failed at playing The Joker, a challenging character. It has to be one of the worst casting choices ever to choose him to play the famous villain in Suicide Squad.

He did a lousy job, I tell you! It also didn't help that he overstepped his "method acting" boundaries by sending his co-stars dead rats and used condoms.

5. Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Both actors lacked chemistry in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. We didn't anticipate Dane DeHaan to play a charming, captivating rogue in this film, but he did.

Additionally, the actors appeared much too young for their roles.

6. Jesse Eisenberg in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Lex Luthor's role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is one that he just doesn't match. A portion of it was because the actor didn't look like an evil mastermind but rather like a 19-year-old college student.

Additionally, Eisenberg's interpretation of his character differed significantly from Lex Luthor's appearance in comic books.

7. Dick Van Dyke – Mary Poppins

One of the most recognizable musical films in Hollywood history is Mary Poppins. Dick Van Dyke's cockney accent, however, is awful.

But it's not his fault. His English co-stars were silent about how terrible his accent was, and his accent coach was even worse.

8. Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker’s Dracula

It's possible that Bram Stoker's Dracula is the best and most accurate Dracula adaption. The choice to cast Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker, however, rendered the entire film a ridiculous farce.

In this film, his English accent is atrocious. Between scenes, Keanu simply switches between his American and a terrible British accent.

There was no denying Keanu's talent as an actor, in addition to his attractiveness and charm. He had no chance, though, against great actors like Anthony Hopkins and Gary Oldman.

9. Cameron Diaz in Gangs of New York

Thanks to outstanding performances from recognizable performers like Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Liam Neeson, Gangs of New York is a fantastic movie. Although she wasn't as good as the other actresses in the film, Cameron Diaz did ok.

Her performance was what made the whole event lackluster. The job of Jenny Everdeane was far too intricate for her, and she had a terrible Irish accent.

10. Julia Roberts in Michael Collins

Speaking of poor Irish accents, Julia Roberts' performance in the film Michael Collins wasn't any better. She didn't appear to be someone who had been alive throughout the Irish Civil War either.

Without a question, Julia Roberts was a fantastic actress, but she was the wrong fit for the part. Instead, they ought to have chosen an Irish actress.

For many viewers, a little mistake can wreak havoc on the entire experience. It's terrible that these renowned actors may struggle so much in these parts.

In contrast, there are actors who, although not the original casting choice, nailed their roles. Drop your thoughts about this list in the comments below.

Maryjane