10 Perfect Castings Comic Book Movies Got Right The Second Time 

As comic book movies have grown into one of the dominant forces in modern cinema, it’s unsurprising that comic adaptations have been able to attract a wealth of stars to their respective casts. For example, the movies of the MCU have amassed one of the biggest and most impressive casts of any franchise in cinema, with countless talented performers all working together to bring Marvel’s most iconic characters to life. As comic book characters are often considered some of the most well-known and well-loved in all of pop culture, bringing in the right actors to bring them to life is a crucial ingredient in the genre’s ongoing success.

Although perfectly cast actors make recasting characters seem impossible, there are times when the first actor brought in to play a role isn’t quite right. Sometimes, this leads to another actor taking over, and they occasionally make for a perfect fit. While it’s sometimes the product of a shift in writing or direction, or a willingness to lean into a whole new aspect of the character, the simple fact remains that sometimes, comic book movies nail their casting decisions on the second time of asking.

10) Don Cheadle as War Machine

There are some MCU characters who recast too soon, as was the case in the earliest days of the franchise. 2008’s Iron Man featured Terrence Howard as Tony Stark’s best friend, Colonel James Rhodes, but Howard was replaced ahead of the sequel due to behind-the-scenes issues. In his place, Don Cheadle was inducted into the MCU to play Rhodey, with Iron Man 2 seeing the character first wear the War Machine armor and embrace his role as one of the franchise’s heroes.

Cheadle proved to be a perfect casting choice. Since the release of Iron Man 2, he has reprised the role on numerous occasions, appearing alongside other members of the Avengers in the process. Considering Cheadle had an established track record as a great actor in ensemble projects, such as Ocean’s Eleven, as well as a lengthy catalog of impressive dramatic performances, bringing him in to play the second iteration of the MCU’s War Machine turned out to be a perfect choice.

9) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool

Although Ryan Reynolds has made many comic book movies, many of them are not considered particularly good. However, by far his best turn as a comic book character has come in the form of his Deadpool trilogy, which started with two movies set in the continuity of Fox’s X-Men franchise, and the third, Deadpool & Wolverine, which saw the Merc with a Mouth cross over into the MCU. However, Reynolds’ celebrated turn as Deadpool in the 2016 movie of the same name actually saw him replace a much worse version of the character.

Hilariously, the actor that Reynolds was replacing was actually himself. 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine featured the actor as Wade Wilson, who was eventually transformed into a character loosely inspired by Deadpool. The backlash to the poor representation of the character prompted Reynolds to push for a more accurate adaptation, resulting in the movie trilogy in which he proved himself to be absolutely perfect for the role. Reynolds’ own fast-talking charm and irreverent sense of humor lent themselves perfectly to a comic-accurate Deadpool, highlighting that the second movie version of the character was by far the best.

8) Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy

There were many great things about Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movie trilogy, but very few of them were part of Spider-Man 3. Among other elements, the third movie introduced Gwen Stacy, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. A relatively minor character in Raimi’s continuity, Gwen only appeared as a brief threat to Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s established relationship. For the 2012 reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy was written to be Peter Parker’s main love interest, in line with various comic book stories.

Emma Stone was cast to play Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man, and she was a huge improvement on Bryce Dallas Howard’s version of the character. While some of this was due to the character being written as a more integral part of the story, Stone’s performance deserves plenty of credit. Her version of Gwen was far more intelligent and charming, and her on-screen chemistry with Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker was exceptional. By contrast with the previous version, Emma Stone proved herself to be a perfect Gwen Stacy.

7) Channing Tatum as Gambit

X-Men Origins: Wolverine adapted several Marvel mutants to the big screen, with one of them being the iconic and beloved Gambit. Taylor Kitsch was cast to play the character for his live-action debut, but his performance, as well as the movie’s script, left much to be desired. Plans to have him return to the role fell through, eventually leading to a rumored Gambit solo movie starring Channing Tatum.

While Channing Tatum’s Gambit movie never happened, the actor did eventually play the character in a live-action movie. Tatum was cast as Gambit for a Multiversal cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, where his brief appearance proved to be something of a show-stealer. Channing Tatum proved perfect for a live-action Gambit, both looking and acting the part and establishing that the character can be done incredibly well in live-action if handled carefully.

6) Michael Keaton as Batman

The 1960s saw Batman adapted into live-action in a hugely successful movie and TV show, with Adam West starring as the Dark Knight. This wacky and campy version of the hero was one of the best-known iterations of Batman for more than two decades, until the release of Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989. For Burton’s movie, Michael Keaton was cast as the Caped Crusader, and while it initially seemed a controversial casting decision for the superhero movie, he immediately proved perfect in comparison to Adam West.

Keaton’s Batman combined the comedic elements of West’s Batman with a much darker, brooding vibe. Burton’s gothic take on Gotham City and Batman as a character made Keaton a perfect fit, as he was able to portray the bizarre yet noble nature of the hero with exactly the right balance of gravitas and levity. Keaton’s take on the character helped Burton’s Batman movies achieve massive success, proving that the perfect casting decision can completely change how a character is perceived by their audience.

5) Mark Ruffalo as the MCU’s Hulk

There are many incredible actors that the MCU wasted, and some would consider Edward Norton one of them. 2008’s The Incredible Hulk introduced the titular Jade Giant into the MCU, with Norton cast to play Bruce Banner. While Norton’s acting ability is unquestionably strong, his performance in the movie left something to be desired. When a contract dispute led to the role being recast, hopes were not high for the second iteration of the MCU’s Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo.

Almost immediately upon making his debut, Ruffalo established that he was the perfect choice for the role. Ruffalo brought a slightly more robust, eccentric vibe to the character of Bruce Banner, fleshing out the character by both making him seem more complex and more tragic. Ruffalo has continued to demonstrate his effectiveness in the role ever since, and the recasting has since come to be considered one of the MCU’s best early decisions.

4) Tom Hardy as Venom

Much as Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, Venom is one of its most beloved anti-heroes. The sometimes villainous symbiote was first adapted into live-action in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, where the controversial decision was made for Topher Grace to play Venom’s human host, Eddie Brock. Grace was considered too small and too comedic for the role, and his Venom was not particularly well-received upon the film’s release.

However, when Venom was recast for his 2018 solo movie, Tom Hardy stepped in to play Eddie Brock. Tom Hardy’s Venom immediately proved to be a hit, with the actor’s performance perfectly capturing the deeply flawed yet still likable character and his complex relationship with his symbiotic partner. Hardy was able to bring the right physical presence, an appropriately edgy personality, and the all-important hint of humor needed to make Venom work on the screen, proving that the role was perfectly cast the second time around.

3) Karl Urban as Judge Dredd

Although Judge Dredd might not be as popular a comic book character as some Marvel and DC heroes, he is a character with a rich history dating back to his creation in 1977. The 2000 AD lawman has become a well-known part of pop culture, and his first big screen outing in 1995 saw him played by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone’s take on the character was not well-received, either by critics or by long-time fans of Judge Dredd.

2012 saw the character brought back to the big screen in Dredd, where Karl Urban was brought in to deliver a more comic-accurate depiction of the titular Judge. Urban was the perfect choice to play Dredd, as he seemed to completely understand the assignment: Dredd’s face shouldn’t be shown, and he shouldn’t display any strong emotion other than his affinity for following the letter of the law. Urban brought the exact right amount of cool composure and an intimidating presence to the role, making Judge Dredd another character that was perfectly cast the second time he appeared in a movie.

2) Paul Dano as The Riddler 

Only the very best Batman movie villains are able to earn a distinct place in the character’s mythos. While the Riddler has proven one of the Dark Knight’s most consistent adversaries in other media, live-action movies have struggled to adapt him properly. Tim Burton’s desire to adapt the Riddler never came to pass, and Joel Schumacher’s version of the character, played by Jim Carrey in 1995’s Batman Forever, was widely panned as lacking many of the villain’s best traits.

2022’s The Batman saw the second live-action movie Riddler cast just right, however. Paul Dano served as the villain in the movie, with his entire concept rewritten, inspired by the Zodiac Killer and elements of internet culture. Dano’s Riddler was the perfect balance of creepy and plain odd, proving that comic accuracy isn’t always necessary if the casting matches the desired version of the character.

1) Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

As he has now made many movie appearances as Wolverine, it’s easy to forget that Hugh Jackman wasn’t the first actor cast in the role. During the production of 2000’s X-Men, Dougray Scott was originally cast as the iconic Marvel mutant. Scheduling conflicts ultimately forced him to pull out, and the second-choice actor, Hugh Jackman, was brought in. While Scott didn’t ever appear in the role, he was the first person cast to play Wolverine.

It’s fair to say that the second actor cast in the role was the perfect choice. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has become one of the most iconic and well-loved movie superheroes in modern cinema, with the actor being considered the best possible person to bring Logan to life. While there’s no way of knowing how Dougray Scott’s Wolverine would have shaped up, it’s difficult to imagine a world in which Jackman didn’t embody the spirit of the animalistic mutant, even if he wasn’t the first choice for the role.

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