Best casting decisions

[Thorinfling]

Have been rewatching The Sandman on Netflix and am again blown away by Tom Sturridge as Dream/Morpheus. He's so incredibly otherworldly and compelling, such a great casting choice for that role.

Anyone fancy sharing their favourite casting decisions? (Or worst! 😁)

I can't agree on Slow Horses, I'm afraid. Shirley is my sticking point. In the books she is described totally differently.

I think the actor playing Shirley does a great job btw (Slow Horses), but she just doesn't fit the physical description in the books.

David Jason as del boy.

Yes! Reading the books, way before the film adaptation had been announced, I kept picturing Ray Winstone as Ron!

Mmm, @MalcolmTuckersSwearBox , I do see what you mean. I think she plays the part well, but is far too pretty. And would be even if she had the crew cut of the books. But she works well if you haven’t read the books.

I don't know her name but the actress that plays Darrell in Malory Towers is exactly as I imagined her when I read the books all those years ago. Mary Lou is a pretty good match also.

Ben Whishaw as Paddington. Perfectly sweet.
Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth in Schindler's List - terrifyingly magnetic.

Patrick Stewart as captain Jean luc Picard

Ian McKellen as gandalf

Zendaya as Chani in Dune

Anthony Hopkins too as Hannibal Lecter

I always struggled with Mark Darcy being played by Colin Firth when Bridgette Jones lusted after the actor Colin Firth in the Pride and Prejudice TV series. What was that all about?! Did I miss something??

I think Colin Firth was perfect as Mark Darcy, he was also perfect as Mr Darcy. I thought he was the obvious choice but it's a shame they had to cut out the part in the book where she interviewed him as that was brilliant, they did it on the dvd extras though.

Leo woodall in One day. Genius. I really struggled with the character Dexter in the book but Leo somehow was cocky, vulnerable, loveable and hateable all at the same time.

I have to say I thought Timothee Chalamet was perfect for the young Wonka. I was very cynical and didn't really get what the buzz was about him but he really captured Gene Wilders essence I thought.

Pretty much everyone in the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice 🥰

Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing

Hattie McDaniel was fantastic but we are going to have to agree to disagree re Judy Garland.
Over the Rainbow was perfect but I read all of the books as a child and Dorothy was a little girl- the illustrations in the early books and the descriptions of her are that of a young child.
I just think Judy Garland was too old.
And I say that loving the film!

Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver in Bridgette Jones.
Richard Ayoade in The IT Crowd
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Alec Guinness as George Smiley
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano
Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter
Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister.
Phillip Glenister as Gene Hunt.
Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton
Roger Lloyd Pack as Trigger
Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow
Rory McCann as Sandro Clegane

Oh god his Amon Goeth made me hate him as a person. Which, I suppose, is the sign of a job well done but I couldn't and still can't watch him in anything else.

The teacher and his son in Sex Education-can't remember their names, brilliant casting.

Can I say both Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix were brilliantly casted as Jokers but in different ways?

David Thewlis as Remus Lupin and Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid

IAN McKellon as Gandalf.

Clooney and JLo in Out of Sight and Brosnan and Renee Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair. Real chemistry in both cases.

Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, Brad Pitt in Fight Club, Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets.

He was offered four of the roles and responded 'Why four parts? Why not eight'.

@teatimefortiger oh yes...I thought they must really be father and son

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in LOTR. Perfect casting.