Casting movies and running auditions is an incredibly responsible job. You essentially have to find talented individuals whom you can see bringing the characters and the script to life in the best way possible. Not only that but casting the lead means picking someone who can be the face of the entire franchise. That can mean going through countless rounds of auditions and interviews while you evaluate hundreds, if not thousands, of potential actors.
And even then, after so much trouble, the audience doesn’t always think the actors embody the characters well enough. There’s a disconnect somewhere. The r/AskReddit community was candid about what iconic film roles they personally thought were miscast. Scroll down to see their opinions, and let us know in the comments whether or not you agree with them.
We got in touch with the author of the viral thread, u/LuckyLaceyKS, for a chat about miscast roles. Meanwhile, Bored Panda also reached out to entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle expert Mike Sington for his thoughts about the challenges that casting directors run into. Read on for both of our interviews!
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We got in touch with the author of the viral thread, u/LuckyLaceyKS, for a chat about miscast roles. Meanwhile, Bored Panda also reached out to entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle expert Mike Sington for his thoughts about the challenges that casting directors run into. Read on for both of our interviews!
Redditor u/LuckyLaceyKS, who sparked the entire online discussion, told Bored Panda that they're a huge fan of the popular 'Uncharted' video game series. The franchise even spawned a movie in 2022. However, u/LuckyLaceyKS thought that Mark Wahlberg was miscast as Sully in it. That was the initial inspiration for the thread.
"It's hard when you have a connection to a franchise before the movie comes out. People can be very passionate about their favorite franchises and their fancast preferences, which is why I think the post got as much attention as it did. I didn't expect so many comments!" they said.
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Someone else that the OP thought was definitely miscast was legendary actor Tom Hanks in 'Elvis.' According to the redditor, it's a "hard pill to swallow" because Hanks is such a powerful and capable actor. "This role and accent were just not a great fit for him," they said.
On the flip side, the author (just like us!) was a big fan of Meryl Streep's iconic portrayal of Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada.' Streep is, without a doubt, a force to be reckoned with on the screen, but u/LuckyLaceyKS said that "she owned this role and exceeded the expectations of the character's portrayal in the book." They added: "Absolutely iconic."
Another favorite of the author’s is Christoph Waltz’s acting in ‘Inglourious Basterds.’ "He was a scene stealer in an incredible film with a wildly talented cast. That's a hard feat to accomplish."
For u/LuckyLaceyKS, actors who take their time to do their research are a big favorite. "From studying mannerisms of subjects for biopics to doing hard work like working in kitchens for chef roles, I think it's more believable when you immerse yourself in the subject before filming. I love that Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri spent so much time in kitchens before filming ‘The Bear.‘”
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Meanwhile, Bored Panda spoke to entertainment expert Mike Sington, aka Hollywood's Ultimate Insider, about casting challenges and how actors can connect with the audience more. He told us that casting the perfect actor can make or break a production. First, you need an actor with the right skills and experience for the role. "They should be able to embody the character's emotions, motivations, and even physicality," he told us.
However, one issue is that actors who look exactly like the characters might not have the strongest acting skills. Moreover, actors with the most talent may look nothing like the characters they need to depict. So, casting directors are on the lookout for a balance between the two: they look for the sweet spot between appearance and talent.
"Sifting through mountains of auditions can be overwhelming, but having a limited pool of actors can also restrict the creative vision," Sington said. "So, how do casting directors make the tough call?"
According to the entertainment expert, multiple rounds of auditions with different scenes and scenarios can really help assess actors’ range and how able they are to adapt to different situations. It's also vital to see how the actor interacts with the rest of the cast. "The right actors will bounce off each other naturally," Sington said that they'll create on-screen relationships that the audience will think are believable.
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At the end of the day, casting directors develop an intuition for who to hire to bring characters to life after years of experience. But, Sington warned, even if you take all of these steps, there’s still no guarantee that you’ll make the right choice.
"Sometimes, the magic only happens once the filming starts. But by carefully considering these challenges, casting directors can significantly increase their chances of finding that perfect match."
There's a lot of responsibility resting on the actors' shoulders to connect with the audience, too! Luckily, there are various ways that they can make their performances resonate on a deeper level. For one, authenticity is absolutely essential when it comes to making characters relatable.
"The audience can spot a phony performance a mile away," Sington said, urging actors to embrace vulnerability and draw on real human emotions.
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Meanwhile, the actors should genuinely listen to their co-stars, observe their body language, and react to their performances as naturally as possible. Pre-rehearsing reactions can do more harm than good in some cases. Instead, the very best actors allow themselves to be vulnerable in order to connect with their colleagues on screen. This helps draw the audience in, as the viewers empathize with the characters more.
The entertainment expert told Bored Panda that it's key for actors to step into their characters' shoes. "Actors can build a strong backstory, delve into the character's psychology, and use techniques like method acting to truly inhabit the role," he said. Moreover, actors can train their voices and practice their physical and facial expressions to craft a more believable performance.
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There’s enough pressure to cast roles correctly as it is. But when you think about the possibility that the movie might turn into a multi-sequel-and-decade-spanning franchise, it can paralyze you. Luckily, movie industry professionals have a lot of experience and know how to handle this type of pressure well.
While it’s useful to think about the future, you need to focus on the present. If you only ever worry about potential problems that might pop up in the future, you might miss the issues and opportunities that are happening right under your nose. Unless you’ve signed a contract to make a bunch of sequels already, simply focus on the project and story you have in front of you right now.
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The simple fact is that good actors are great for the movie business. The more skilled an actor is, the more they can make their character believable. They draw the audience in. They get them to suspend their disbelief. They get them fully immersed in the story. Though a great actor probably cannot salvage a bad script and cheesy dialogue, they can still give a memorable performance and help elevate the overall quality of the project.
Meanwhile, an actor who’s a team player and has a likable personality can add a lot to the team beyond their performance on the set. They can share their experience and give some friendly advice to newcomers in the movie industry. Meanwhile, they can use their authority to motivate their fellow cast members as well!
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In terms of (nearly) perfect casting decisions, we have to go with Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, as well as Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada.'
But what roles do you think were extremely well cast, dear Pandas? On the flip side, what roles do you personally believe completely missed the mark for you and why?
Tell us all about it in the comments.
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