While some characters may have the same actors play them for sequels or entire franchises, there are some characters who have seen many actors take on the role. For many reasons, including scheduling conflicts or contract negotiations, characters sometimes have to be recast with different actors. While sometimes recasting may end up for the better, other times it may be for the worse, if an actor is unable to live up to their predecessor. Fans have often responded negatively to recasting, especially for well-loved characters. Here’s a look at some actors who received undeserved hate for their roles as recast characters.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Sara Paxton as Marnie Piper

     Walt Disney Television

The Halloweentown movies are a series of fan-favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. For the first three, the main character of Marnie is played by Kimberly J. Brown. But in 2006, for the final film, David Jackson’s Return to Halloweentown, she was replaced by Sara Paxton. Reasons for the recast varied: some thought Brown had scheduling conflicts, but Brown herself said the studio wanted to go in a different direction. Many fans were upset, especially because Brown was the central character of the franchise. Paxton does a good job in the movie, and presents an older version of Marnie studying magic at college. While it doesn’t have the same spark as the others in the series, she does stand out and makes it a memorable finale.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Maggie Gyllenhaal became Rachel Dawes in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, after original actress Katie Holmes left for other opportunities. Gyllenhaal debuted in The Dark Knight in 2008, with many fans skeptical or not expecting much from the performance. She takes Rachel, who is Bruce’s childhood friend and love interest, and makes her stand out among a strong cast and a heavy plot. She has strong chemistry with Christian Bale’s Bruce, yet still brings the character to life with more complexity than just a typical love interest role.

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6 Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

For Solo, Ron Howard’s 2018 film about young Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich takes on the iconic character originated by Harrison Ford. He beat out 3,000 actors for the role, yet because the character is so loved, he received tons of hate for his casting. Ehrenreich doesn’t reach the bar that Ford set, but in fairness, no one but Ford can. Rather than copying Ford exactly, he brings his own nuanced take that’s still full of charm and humor, capturing Han’s spirit. He lets us see how Han became who he is, offering a new look at a classic character.

5 Roger Moore as James Bond

     United Artists

Roger Moore faced the challenge of becoming James Bond after Sean Connery, who is considered one of the best Bond actors. He made his debut in Live and Let Die in 1973, and played the character for 12 years. His performances are heavy on the ridiculous villains and campy elements of the character. They’re a sharp departure from the more serious Connery films, which was a factor in the hate Moore received. Moore brings both a witty sense of humor and great charm to the role. He became a defining interpretation of the character, and many strong films came from his Bond era.

4 Val Kilmer as Batman

     Warner Bros.

Val Kilmer took the Batsuit from Michael Keaton for 1995’s Batman Forever, directed by Joel Schumacher. Kilmer received a lot of hate for his casting, likely due to people who disliked the film’s different tone, and didn’t want Keaton to leave the franchise – though, ironically enough, Keaton also received hate before his portrayal. Kilmer was a fan of Batman, and had previously visited the studio where the 1960s TV series was filmed. He does a good job as the Caped Crusader, with a lot of time spent as Bruce Wayne. He exaggerates the difference between the two, showing both the trauma Bruce has been through, and the untouchability of Batman. It was a unique take on a character that is now considered underappreciated.

3 Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore

Michael Gambon became Albus Dumbledore when the original actor, Richard Harris, died after the second film. Gambon debuted in 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. As the kind Headmaster of Hogwarts, many fans found him lacking the softness Harris had in the role, and criticized the harsher take on the character – though Dumbledore does have darker elements that are revealed later, which Gambon shows effectively. He also brings great strength to his fight with Voldemort in the fifth film, and deep emotion to his death arc in the sixth.

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2 Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk

Edward Norton and Eric Bana played the Hulk on the big screen before Mark Ruffalo joined Joss Whedon’s The Avengers in 2012. At the time, Ruffalo was more of an indie actor, and admitted to having doubts about playing the character himself. Many fans slammed him for being wrong for the part, and even threatened not to see the movie. However, Ruffalo stole the show from his established superhero co-stars, bringing a dark humor and serious depth to Bruce Banner and the Hulk. He shows the horrors that Bruce faces in his transformations, and the toll it takes on him, making the character sympathetic. He became a beloved original Avenger, and a constant presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

1 Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man

     Sony Pictures Releasing

Marc Webb’s 2012 reboot The Amazing Spider-Man saw Andrew Garfield assume the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Coming after Tobey Maguire, who introduced the character for the big screen, many believed Garfield wouldn’t fill his shoes. Garfield makes the role his own, adding charm and humor while still showing some of the darker, emotional aspects of the character. Even when held back by weak plot lines, he carries the movies with an easy likability, and has great chemistry with co-star Emma Stone. Despite the hate, and the negative reviews of the films, his performance is now becoming beloved, especially after his appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home.