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Original poster

Mis-casting: Which actor did you feel did NOT best represent the book character?

229 replies

chipmonkey · 25/08/2008 23:19

Mine are:

Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart
Winona Ryder as Jo from Little Women ( she did a nice job but I wouldn't have cast her!)

OP posts:
AnnVan · 26/08/2008 13:29

PMSL at Luscious Malfoy!

DG - I heard a rumour that they tried to get Ian Mckellen for Dumbledore. I've heard two reasons for his refusal of the part. - One was that he didn't want to get typecast, and I can see the point. That would mean he's played to iconic wizards.
The other is that he was friends with Richard harris, and he was really offended that they asked him quite soon after his death to take over his part.

Ooh, anyone seen they're making a movie of The HObbit, and rumour has it that Ian McKellen will be coming back as Gandalf, and Andy Serkis will be reprising his Gollum role. Peter Jackson is producing, but not directing it. This is rumnour at this stage thouhg in terms o actor involvemnet. Movie scheduled for 2010 I think?

missingtheaction · 26/08/2008 13:29

keira knightly as Elizabeth Bennett - no tits apart from all the other problems everyone in mama mia. it's a musical ffs, get people who can sing and dance!!!

DumbledoresGirl · 26/08/2008 13:26

NO no no! He is far too agressive, no sense of humour, shows no affection for Harry, so wrong on so many levels I can't believe you think he is right!

DisenchantedPlusBump · 26/08/2008 13:24

Oh no, see I think he IS Dumbledore!

DumbledoresGirl · 26/08/2008 13:22

Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. Completely and totally wrong. I cannot imagine who ever thought he was right for the part.

It should have been Ian McKellen or Derek Jacobi IMO.

DisenchantedPlusBump · 26/08/2008 13:20

lol @ luscious Malfoy!

I prefer Snape.

saltire · 26/08/2008 13:19

Ooh yes, Luscious Malfoy

AnnVan · 26/08/2008 13:18

Now lUcius Malfoy - jason Isaacs is an inspired choice. Apparently the producers etc were going to make him look like a businessman in a suit with short hair, but Jason Isaacs insisted on the long white hair and robes etc. Good man! Malfoy is supposed to be an uber-wizard, not a muggle banker!

AnnVan · 26/08/2008 13:16

Rik Mayall was cast as Peeves (perfect) but they cust out all his scenes, he was understandably pissed off, and refused to take part in any more o the movies

Agree that CLive Owen would havebeen great as sirius

DisenchantedPlusBump · 26/08/2008 12:43

Robert Pattison as 'Edward' in Stephanie Meyers 'Twilight'

He is just so NOT my Edward

bratnav · 26/08/2008 12:41

Pagwatch, disagree about P&P casting, as pretty as Jennifer Ehle is in the BBC version, I thought the actress who played Jane was much more attractive in a conventional sense

ByTheSea · 26/08/2008 12:40

Tom Hanks in the Bonfire of the Vanities -- not at all how I pictured that character in the book.

SorenLorensen · 26/08/2008 12:36

I've never liked Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter - he's too solid-looking and looks like he possesses no imagination whatsoever. And as he's got older he's become positively muscle-bound. My Harry Potter is far skinnier and more sensitive-looking.

saltire · 26/08/2008 12:31

Regarding Rik Mayall.
I read somewhere ( I can't remember where) that one of the Harry potter films actually had Peeves the Poltergeist in it, and Rik Mayall did the voice, but it never made it into the final version.

msdemeanor · 26/08/2008 12:22

I was so sure he'd get the part. Kept imagining it when reading the book to dd. Was stunned when it was Branagh.
Yes, the makers of Devil Wears Prada were apparently terrified of being sued by Anna Wintour.
Great anecdote (not sure if true or not) - junior staffer in office when anna wintour crashes flat on her face in front of her when her heel catches in carpet. MOre senior staffer hisses, 'for gods sake, just step over her!' so junior staffer steps over Anna's supine body as if she isn't there. Anna gets up, nobody says a thing.

MrsTittleMouse · 26/08/2008 12:18

Agree about every Elizabeth Bennet being too pretty, and about Rik Mayall as Lockhart.

And who on Earth thought that Keanu Reeves would fit into Bram Stoker's Dracula?

TarkaLiotta · 26/08/2008 12:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anna8888 · 26/08/2008 12:15

I think it was disturbing that Meryl Streep look so unlike Anna Wintour - but then I suppose that they had to keep as far away from an Anna Wintour lookalike as possible.

msdemeanor · 26/08/2008 12:11

I wasn't sure about Meryl Streep as the editor in Devil Wears Prada. Good actress but didn't look right and not really scary enough.

msdemeanor · 26/08/2008 12:10

This thread makes me realise how rarely I see a movie these days.

Anna8888 · 26/08/2008 12:06

Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn. Scarlett Johannssen as her sister Mary. FGS.

Anna8888 · 26/08/2008 12:04

Bill Nighy as James Mortmain (the father) in I Capture the Castle. Just all wrong.

msdemeanor · 26/08/2008 12:02

Yes, Ken Branagh miscast as Lockhart, should OBVIOUSLY have been Rik Mayall.
www.theambassadors.com/common_graphics/productions/p3422_m1.jpg

pagwatch · 26/08/2008 11:57

agree tom cruise was fab in Interview with a vampire - and i had graoned when he was cast.

pagwatch · 26/08/2008 11:57

every version of pride and prejudice has been miscast because they always refuse to make Elizabeth less pretty than Jane so the story never really works