When it comes to movie casting, no category is more anticipated or more controversial than superhero casting. Sometimes, the most natural choice is the most perfect, such as David Corensway as Superman or Ron Perlman as Hellboy. But there are also times when fans initially respond enthusiastically to casting news… only to then change their tune and try to rewrite history and pretend they weren't even expecting it. Do you still remember that after Brie Larson, as an Oscar-winning actress, publicly criticized the obvious male bias in film critics, everyone's attitude towards her playing Captain Marvel completely changed?
There’s no shortage of unimaginative “ideal castings” online. The most typical example: Bryan Cranston complained that just because he played a bald villain in "Breaking Bad", everyone wanted him to play Lex Luthor.
But the most interesting thing is always those castings that fans were strongly opposed to at the beginning, but ended up loving them as soon as the movie was released. These decisions were controversial at the time, but are now widely accepted by audiences and even had a profound impact on the characters. Of course, not every bold attempt succeeds (such as Jesse Eisenberg's version of Lex Luthor, Miles Teller's version of Mr. Fantastic), but the history of superhero movies itself is full of bold breakthroughs. Many times, fans are not always right, and we need to be patient to read the director's complete expression.
Colin Farrell – "The New Batman" Penguin
When the news that Colin Farrell was confirmed to play the Penguin in "The New Batman" was revealed, many fans were confused. Director Matt Reeves originally preferred Jonah Hill, but he eventually dropped out and played the Riddler instead. Farrell is obviously not a regular choice for the Penguin, especially when comparing Paul Dano's version of the Riddler and Jeffrey Wright's version of Gordon, the contrast is particularly obvious. Some fans are even worried that a "handsome version of the Penguin" will appear in "The New Batman".
As a result, as soon as the first trailer of "The New Batman" was released, the audience did not recognize Farrell at all. The exquisite makeup perfectly blends the comic image with a more realistic style. Farrell shines in almost every scene in the film. Despite initial doubts about the character's ability to sustain a standalone series, HBO's "Penguin" is now one of DC's best adaptations. Ferrell was by no means an obvious choice for the Penguin, but he redefined the character and allowed a new generation of viewers to understand why the Penguin is one of Batman's most classic villains.
Joseph Queen – Human Torch in "Fantastic Four: The First Step"
Fans have been speculating for nearly a decade about who would star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of the Fantastic Four. On February 14, 2024, Marvel announced the complete cast. Unexpectedly, the one who caused the most controversy was "Stranger Things" actor Joseph Quinn playing Johnny Stone/Human Torch. Part of the opposition stemmed from the fact that Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan had already played two versions of the classic Human Torch, and the casting pressure for this role was extremely high.
In addition, fans have been thinking about candidates for many years including Zac Efron (now overage), as well as Quinn's colleagues in "Stranger Things" Joe Keery, Darcy Montgomery and others. But at the SDCC Marvel special in July 2024, when the audience saw Joseph Quinn appearing in the trailer of "Fantastic Four: The First Step", the whole audience burst into screams. Quinn's performance became a highlight of the film, showing a new side of Johnny Stone and firmly making him a popular character in the MCU in the future.
Anne Hathaway – Catwoman in "The Dark Knight Rises"
When Anne Hathaway was cast as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in 2011, fans had mixed reactions. Although she has shown solid and versatile acting skills in works such as "Brokeback Mountain", "The Devil Wears Prada", "Rachel's Wedding", "Love and the Elixir" and other works, most comic fans' impressions of her still remain as the Disney family heroine in the "Princess Diaries" series. Even though Hathaway was originally expected to play a heavily adapted Felicia Hardy/Black Cat in Sam Raimi's abandoned "Spider-Man 4", her performance as Catwoman was still poorly received when the news was first announced.
As of July 2012, Hathaway's version of Catwoman has become the most popular part of the third part of the "Dark Knight" trilogy – even if the sequel itself has more polarizing reviews than the previous one. 2012 was of great significance to Hathaway: not only did she play Catwoman, but she also won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the end of the year for her role as Fantine in "Les Misérables." Although she may not be able to surpass Michelle Pfeiffer's classic Catwoman, her performance is eye-catching enough to slap all the doubters in the face.
Mark Ruffalo – The Hulk in "Avengers"
In July 2010, Marvel unveiled the Avengers for the first time at the San Diego Comic Con. The overall response was enthusiastic, but when it was announced that Mark Ruffalo would replace Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, there were a lot of boos at the scene. Ruffalo's replacement as Nod was already a source of dissatisfaction, and his image did not fit the mild-mannered "nerd" Banner in the comics.
But it was this unconventional choice that was why Joss Whedon chose him. Ruffalo is not timid, he even seems to be able to fight, which makes Bruce Banner's low-key and restrained attitude even more suspenseful – what is he hiding? The Hulk has also become a popular character in "Avengers", which is equivalent to a soft reboot. Countless viewers praised Ruffalo: his Banner has the texture of an ordinary person like Bill Beckby's version, but also has a gentle personality, which forms an excellent comedic contrast with Robert Downey Jr.'s hot-tongued version of Tony Stark. Since then, Ruffalo has starred as Banner/Hulk in 10 MCU films and will return in "Spider-Man: A Brand New Day."
Chris Evans – "Captain America: The First Avenger" Captain America
In the first phase of the MCU, the competition for the casting of Steve Rogers/Captain America was the most intense. John Krasinski, Garrett Hedlund, Glen Powell, and even Wyatt Russell, who later played the American spy, were all candidates. In the end, Chris Evans won Captain America. Today, few can imagine anyone else playing the Star-Spangled Hero. But in 2010, many fans were very dissatisfied with him.
One reason: He already played Johnny Stone/Human Torch in the old version of "Fantastic Four" and its sequels. Coupled with his early comedy works such as "Not Suitable for Young Children" and "The Voice", as well as his comedic supporting role in "The Losers" (the film was released one month after the casting of Captain America was announced), many people have formed a stereotype about him. As a result, Evans quickly slapped everyone in the face and became the spiritual core of the MCU. Nowadays, when many people mention Evans, they think of the decent Captain America, but after "Avengers 4", he successively appeared in villain roles such as "Knives Out" and "The Gray Shadow Man". Evans' relationship with the character isn't over yet: he will return to play Steve Rogers in "Avengers: Endgame."
Robert Pattinson – "The New Batman" Batman
Most DC fans probably remember where they were on May 16, 2019, when Robert Pattinson was confirmed to star in Matt Reeves' "The New Batman" as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Although he has long been famous for "The Twilight Saga" and has starred in acclaimed works such as "The Lost City of Z" and "Good Times", and has also accepted blockbuster works such as Robert Eggers' "The Lighthouse" and Christopher Nolan's "Tenet", some people just hold on to Edward Cullen.
In fact, some people have never forgiven him for starring in a popular series that they didn't like. After "The New Batman" was released in March 2022, Pattinson conquered almost all audiences. The film is considered by many to be one of the best live-action adaptations of Batman, thanks in large part to Pattinson's dark, tension-filled performance. For a whole group of viewers born after the Twilight craze, Pattinson is their Batman, and he is also the best Batman actor in many people's minds.
Hugh Jackman – Wolverine in "X-Men"
In 2000, "X-Men" kicked off the superhero movie craze in the 21st century, and also started a classic tradition: before fans watched the show, they criticized the casting online, and they were all in awe after watching it. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine's final replacement, replacing Dougray Scott who was unable to star due to scheduling conflicts in "Mission: Impossible 2". Jackman, who is 188cm tall, is far from the 160cm-ish Wolverine in the comics.
Coupled with the fact that he was known as a musical actor at the time, not an action star, many fans were sure that he would ruin the role… Just because an actor who has acted in stage plays can sing in movies? I wonder if they also think that Christian Bale will bring the singing style of "The Newsboy" into "Batman Begins"?
Jackman may not fit the appearance of Wolverine in the comics, but once he appeared, he perfectly captured the character's personality and aura. "X-Men" and the character of Wolverine directly promoted Jackman to an international superstar, and now the person and the character are firmly bound. "The Wolverine: The Last Stand" in 2017 was his emotional curtain call, and his return in "Deadpool and Wolverine" in 2024 will be a box office feast. The problem facing the MCU now is how to recast Wolverine after him. Jackman's version of Wolverine perfectly proves that the key to casting is whether the actor can capture the soul of the character, not the appearance of the comic book portrait.
Heath Ledger – The Joker in "The Dark Knight"
Heath Ledger's Joker is one of the greatest performances in comic book film history. From the moment the first trailer for "The Dark Knight" was released, Ledger's Joker became a cultural symbol, and his unfortunate death made the character a legend. He won a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, becoming the first actor to win for a comic book villain. Even if a few people don't like the "Dark Knight" trilogy, it's hard to deny how stunning Ledger's performance was.
Michael Keaton – "Batman" Batman
In the case of "comic fans backlash over casting, and then get slapped in the face," there are few more classic than Michael Keaton's turn in "The Batman." The controversy that arose when he was announced to play Batman could even be said to be "a reenactment of the online scolding war before the advent of the Internet." At that time, Keaton was best known for his comedy films such as "Daddy" and "The Master of Hell". Therefore, after he was selected as Batman, fans immediately went crazy and wrote a large number of letters to protest against Warner Bros. The controversy surrounding the casting even made the front pages of the news.
But these letters of protest ultimately changed nothing. "Batman" was released as planned and became the highest-grossing film of 1989, sparking a cultural phenomenon known as "Batmania." Many of those who initially doubted Keaton quickly changed their minds – he used his performances to prove that he was more than just a comedian. For an entire generation of viewers, Keaton was their version of Batman, setting the template for later actors like Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson to portray the character.
