A movie isn’t a product of one person. So, if some actors think that their television shows would be nothing without them, they should think again. One of the most important and contentious elements of any movie is the casting process. Oftentimes, the decision to go with a certain actor is torturous for everyone involved, but a decision is made.
Someone landing a role doesn’t mean they keep one in Hollywood. There are countless examples of actors who missed out on a role. Behind these cases are painful stories of actors who were replaced even during the actual making of the movie. While some cause waves of indignation, some seem to be no big deal.
Here are 12 actors whose TV roles were suddenly recast.
#1 Vivian Banks, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Source: Alamy, Shutterstock
Janet Hubert portrayed Vivian Banks on “The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air” for half the show’s run. It is said that she was feuding with others on set, most notably with star Will Smith, so the actress was fired. The role went to Daphne Maxwell Reid.
#2 Ann Veal, Arrested Development
Source: Shutterstock, Shutterstock
Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz had an idea that hired a different actress for each episode to emphasize the character Ann Veal, the far-too-forgettable girlfriend of George Michae Bluth. Hurwitz did this for a short period of time, but after using just two actresses, he decided to stick with the talented Mae Whitman for the remainder of the series. Alessandra Torresani took on the role in season one.
#3 Laurie Forman, That '70s Show
Source: Shutterstock, Shutterstock
Lisa Robin Kelly played Laurie Forman, the older sister of Eric Forman, on "That '70s Show". Due to her behind-the-scenes struggles, she was replaced by Christina Moore in the 6
th season. Kelly told ABC News, “With That '70s Show, I was guilty of a drinking problem. And I ran”.
#4 Reggie Mantle, Riverdale
Source: Shutterstock, Lionsgate Home Entertainment
In 2017, “Riverdale” was an instant hit. Fans adored the movie not only for its dramatic plot but for the compelling characters. Some characters round out the cast and Reggie Mantle was a typical example. Originally played by Ross Butler, Charles Melton took over the role from Season 2 on.
#5 Jesus Adams Foster, The Fosters
Source: Shutterstock, Shutterstock
After two seasons,
Jake T. Austin announced on Twitter that his role was being recast. Not long after, the actor told fans that he was "only asked to return for 3 episodes" and "wasn't going to be able to work on anything else, so I left." The role of Jesus was played by Noah Centineo.
#6 Capheus "Van Damn" Onyango, Sense8
Source: Shutterstock, Netflix
It was alleged creative differences that led to the recasting of Aml Ameen on Netflix's Sense8. While the British actor played the role of Capheus in the first season of the show, it was Toby Onwumere who brought the role to life for the Christmas special and the second and final season.
#7 Morty Seinfeld, Seinfeld
Source: Sony Pictures Television
Television veteran Philip Bruns appeared as Jerry's father, Morty Seinfeld in the second episode of Seinfeld. However, Bruns was considered to be too soft for the role, so in season 2, the character was played by Barney Martin.
#8 Bobby Draper, Mad Men
Source: IMDB, Lionsgate Home Entertainment
The constant recasting of Don Draper's middle son on Mad Men became such a joke. Recurring actors would use nicknames like "Pillow Face Bobby" or "Slurpee Bobby" just to remember which one was which.
#9 Greg Serrano, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Source: Shutterstock, Shutterstock
Santino Fontana took over one of the bigger roles on the CW musical comedy “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”. The character Greg Serrano was written off because the show didn’t work for Greg Serrano’s schedule. But, for the final season, the show brought him back—in the form of Pitch Perfect star Skylar Astin.
#10 Morgan Matthews, Boy Meets World
Source: Alamy, Buena Vista Television
Morgan, the hilarious loud-mouthed sister of protagonist Cory Matthews in “Boy Meets World” leaves a great impression on viewers’ minds. However, many might not notice that the character look different between seasons 2 and 3. While Lily Nicksay portrayed Morgan throughout those first two seasons, Lindsay Ridgeway took over the role from Season 3 onward.
#11 Daario Naharis, Game of Thrones
Source: IMDB, HBO
Through season 2, Daenerys Targaryen was portrayed by the English actor Ed Skrein, but “politics” led to a recasting that put the Dutch actor Michiel Huisman in the role for the remainder of the series. Ed Skrein told HuffPost, “It was a character that I would've loved to have continued to portray, and he's a wonderful character, but you know Michiel Huisman's done a great job taking over the mantle, and that's the way it goes”.
#12 Carol Willick, Friends
Source: Warner Bros.
Take a closer look, you will notice the change of character Carol’s appearance. In fact, Carol was initially played by Anita Barone but she decided to leave the show in search of a more permanent role. The role went to Jane Sibbett. Oddly enough, Sibbett had originally auditioned for one of the lead roles on the show - and was actually pregnant at the time.