9 Times Producers Chose The Wrong Actors For The Role

Casting, a part of the pre-production process, is one of the most critical factors of filmmaking. It affects how audiences and critical view a movie, which is a way of saying that it influences the success of a movie. Actors had to go through a strict selection process by casting directors with a wealth of experience to convincingly step into the role. After all, actors are the ones that bring characters to life, but choosing the wrong actor might render some parts untrustworthy, negatively affecting movies.
Indeed, a movie or TV show may have a great storyline but if an actor isn’t right for the part, producers can kiss success goodbye. We’ve rounded up some bad casting choices that completely ruined a whole movie. These are the times when the producer chose the wrong actor. 

#1 Jessica Simpson in The Dukes of Hazzard

Source: Village Roadshow Pictures

It is a risky decision to cast a pop star in a lead role. Jessica Simpson was chosen to play Daisy Duke because of her appearance. However, her acting skill left a lot to be desired.

#2 Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Source: Morgan Creek

In the 1990s, Kevin Costner was so popular that he could get away with just about anything, including skipping out on an English accent for his role as Robin Hood. The actor hadn’t much time to practice with his vocal coach.

#3 Russell Crowe in Les Misérables

Source: Universal Pictures

Les Misérables is a successful movie. While Anne Hathaway picked up Best Supporting Actress for her role as Fantine, and Hugh Jackman made a fantastic Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe had a bad performance. Some said that his performance is the most unbearable, distracting part of the movie.

#4 Cameron Diaz as Jenny Everdeane in Gangs of New York

Source: Miramax

“Gangs of New York” included some incredible performances from talented actors but Cameron Diaz wasn’t one of them. The actress played a daring pickpocket but she attempted at laughing with her Irish accent, which made her distract from any scene she was in.

#5 Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Source: Walt Disney Pictures

Jake Gyllenhaal played Dastan in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” well. Despite his performance, no amount of muscle could convince us that Donnie Darko became the Prince of Persia.

#6 Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell

Source: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images, Production I.G

Hollywood seems to have no interest in making manga adaptations. The popular Japanese manga series “Ghost in the Shell” received negative reviews from movie buffs when the director chose Scarlett Johannson to portray the Asian role of Motoko Kusanagi.

#7 Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Source: American Zoetrope

Despite his effort, Keanu Reeves failed to speak English accent. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a dark and spooky movie, seemingly turned into a comedy when Keanu Reeves slipped in and out of his accent and tried desperately to deliver his line in times with his co-stars.

#8 Denise Richards in The World Is Not Enough

Source: Eon Pictures

Denise Richards has the stunning looks of a Bond girl but she looks terrible as Dr. Christmas Jones a nuclear physicist in “The World Is Not Enough”. No one could believe that Richards was a weapons expert, and her cheesy one-liners and lack of chemistry with Pierce Bronson made matters worse.

#9 Mike Myers in Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat

Source: Imagine Entertainment

No matter how effort comedian Mike Myers tried to play Dr. Seuss, his character was a failure. What starts as goofy and rambunctious becomes overwhelmingly annoying.