Part of what makes movies special and interesting is their ability to be remade in as many versions imaginable, and each one comes with different actors. Though the characters are so iconic that we simply can’t imagine any other actor attempting and indeed non have yet to try. However, when directors and producers see its potential, having so much depth and variation, more than one actor has been able to embody them across the film.
For example, all of us know that Margot Robbie nailed the role of
Harley Quinn across three separate films. So, it shocks a lot of viewers that the actress is passing the
DC character on to none other than Lady Gaga.
We've made a list of 15
side-by-side comparisons of movie characters played by different actors and choose who did a better job.
#1 Willy Wonka
Source: Courtesy Everett Collection/East News, Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection/East News
For his perfect performance as Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder was nominated a Golden Globe award. In 2005, the movie was remade as s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp playing Willy Wonka. In 2023, we will see the comeback of the character - Timothée Chalamet took on the part.
#2 Wonder Woman
Source: © Wonder Woman / Warner Bros. and co-producers, © Wonder Woman / Warner Bros. and co-producers
The feminist hero, Wonder Woman was first embodied by Lynda Carter in the popular TV series that lasted 4 seasons and now, the character went to
Gal Gadot.
#3 Catwoman
Source: © Catwoman / Village Roadshow and co-producers, © Batman / DC Movies and co-producers
Catwoman has changed throughout time. Many writers’ interpretations and costume designs have shaped the character's personality over the ages. Multiple actresses, including Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, Camren Bicondova, Lili Simmons played the part and the last Catwoman is portrayed by Zoë Kravitz.
#4 Sherlock Holmes
Source: EAST NEWS, Allpix Press / East News, CBS TELEVISION / Album/EAST NEWS, Image supplied by Capital Pictures/EAST NEWS
The famous character Sherlock Holmes is played by over 75 actors, holding the Guinness World Record. And 4 of them are really outstanding. Robert Downey Jr. Won a Golden Globe for his great performance as Sherlock Holmes. Actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller both played Sherlock on TV shows: BBC’s Sherlock and Elementary respectively. in 2015, Sir Ian McKellen appears as Sherlock in the film “Mr. Holmes”.
#5 Hannibal Lecter
Source: © Hannibal / Universal Pictures and co-producers, © Hannibal / NBC and co-producers
Anthony Hopkins won acclaim among critics and audiences as the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs”. In 2007, the movie “Hannibal Rising” starred Gaspard Ulliel as Hannibal and in 2007, the character was portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen.
#6 Zorro
Source: WALT Disney TELEVISION ANIMATION / Album / EAST NEWS, NEW WORLD TELEVISION / Album / EAST NEWS, AMBLIN Entertainment / O'NEILL, MICHAEL / Album / EAST NEWS
The hero without superpowers Zorro has been portrayed by multiple actors. Starting from 1920 to 2015. Although many actors took over the role, the character’s appearance hasn’t changed a lot – he was always in a black hat with a mask and a sword.
#7 Snow White
Source: Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection/East News, Image supplied by Capital Pictures/EAST NEWS
The live-action version of Snow White has been embodied by two pretty actresses, Kristen Stewart, and Lily Collins. The former starred in the fantasy film “Snow White and the Huntsman” while the latter filmed in “Mirror Mirror”. However, two films were released in the same year (2012).
#8 Batman
Source: Everett Collection/ East News, Allpix Press/ East News, Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection/ East News
Over the years, viewers not only see the evolutionary change in Batman’s costume, but the actors who portrayed him. The first version was made by Adam West and the last one was played by Robert Pattinson.
#9 Spock
Source: Mary Evans/AF Archive/Cinetext Bildarchiv/East News, Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection/East News
Spock was initially played by Leonard Nimoy in “Star Trek: The Original Series” and for the 2009 movie “Star Trek”, the character’s young version was given to Zachary Quinto.
#10 Spider-Man
Source: EAST NEWS, COLUMBIA PICTURES / Album/EAST NEWS, CAP/RFS/Capital Pictures/East News
Spider-Man has a great large of fans over the world, so who would portray the role always quickly becomes the topic of discussion. From 2002 to 2007, Tobey Maguire took on the role in 3 movies. In 2012, the role went to Andrew Garfield with 2 movies. In 2017, Tom Holland is a part of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe, becoming Spider-Man in the movie “Spider-Man: Homecoming”.
#11 Grand High Witch
Source: Mary Evans Picture Library / East News, © The Witches / Warner Bros. Pictures
Many might not notice that “The Witches” has an older adaptation made in 1990 with Anjelica Huston portraying the Grand High Witch. And in the new version, Anne Hathaway fulfilled the role perfectly.
#12 Carrie
Source: Courtesy Everett Collection / East News, NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection / East News, Image supplied by Capital Pictures/EAST NEWS
On the screen, the character Carrie was played by at least actresses: Sissy Spacek in 1976, Angela Bettis in 2002, and Chloë Grace Moretz in 2013.
#13 Joker
Source: Warner Bros/Collection Christophel/East News, EAST NEWS, CAP/RFS/Capital Pictures/East News
Heath Ledger won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Joker in “The Dark Knight”. Joker returned to the big screen in 2016 when Jared Leto played him in “Suicide Squad”. In 2019, the movie “Joker” with Joaquin Phoenix portraying the main role came out and the role helped him earn an Oscar for Leading Role.
#14 Sabrina Spellman
Source: Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection/Everett Collection/East News, © Chilling Adventures of Sabrina / Warner Bros. Television
The teenage witch, Sabrina Spellman, is loved by a large number of fans. The character was originally portrayed by Melissa Joan Hart but the more feminist version was taken over by Kiernan Shipka.
#15 Lara Croft
Source: © Lara Croft: Tomb Raider / Paramount and co-producers, © Tomb Raider / MGM and co-producers
Lara Croft debuted on the big screen with Angelina Jolie playing her in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001, and its sequel came out 2 years later. In 2018, the franchise was rebooted and a new Lara Croft movie came out, Tomb Raider, with Alicia Vikander playing the main role.
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