Superhero movies are under intense scrutiny from the very start, with millions of passionate
fans eager to dissect everything from the storyline to the costume. Casting is the most
vital part: the wrong actor can break a movie before it hits theatres, and fans may never
know how many close calls involved their favourite heroes. Here are Screen Rant�s 5 Awful Superhero
Castings That Almost Happened.
Superman
Nicolas Cage may have an Oscar to his name, but that doesn�t mean he was right for director
Tim Burton�s short-lived reboot Superman Lives. Better known for bringing hyper and
hysterical characters to life, those traits would have been a strange fit for the calm
and collected Kal-El. Clark Kent is supposed to be an unassuming everyman who can blend
in with the crowd � not a personality Cage is known for. The actor didn�t even look
the part in his costume test, coming off as more of a bad Halloween get-up than the Man
of Steel. We partly regret not getting to see a Nic Cage Superman in action, but that�s
a sacrifice worth making.
Iron Man
For years, it was Hollywood megastar Tom Cruise who was attached to star in an Iron Man film
before dropping out and giving way to Robert Downey, Jr. While Cruise has returned to top
blockbuster form in recent years, Downey�s casting as Tony Stark turned out to be a match
made in Heaven. It would have been nearly impossible for audiences to separate Tom Cruise
from his superhero character, and picturing Cruise spitting Stark�s banter still seems
wrong. The same challenges turned out to be a good thing for Downey, having conquered
demons of his own before landing in the Marvel spotlight. No offense to the actor, but it�s
for the best that Cruise lost interest.
Spider-Man
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of his generation�s most respected actors, but there are some
parts even he�s not cut out for. Sony originally wanted the Titanic star for the lead role
in Spider-Man before Sam Raimi cast Tobey Maguire. While almost anyone can be convincing
under the Spider-Man mask, it would have been hard to buy DiCaprio as Peter Parker, the
geeky science nerd who gets bullied at school, and tongue-tied when talking to Mary Jane
Watson. DiCaprio is the kind of celebrity most men aspire to be, and not someone they
see themselves in. That�s simply the wrong dynamic for Spider-Man, whose everyman struggles
are vital character traits.
Batman
Everyone loves Bill Murray, but would they feel the same way if he had donned the cape
and cowl? Warner Bros. had to scrap plans for a Murray-led Batman film in the vein of
the campy Adam West TV show when they decided to pursue Tim Burton�s movie, and fans can
once again breathe a sigh of relief. Even if the project was light-hearted and fun,
it�s hard to see Murray striking fear in the hearts of criminals, or playing a clean-cut
billionaire playboy. Murray�s deadpan wit and dramatic chops may have been worth seeing,
but Michael Keaton�s Batman helped build the mold that all other superheroes would
follow afterward.
Green Lantern
Fans didn�t really care for the Green Lantern film they eventually got, but at least it
wasn�t this. For years, Jack Black was attached to star in an adaptation as �Jud Plato,�
a slacker schmuck who is selected to become a member of the Green Lantern Corp. Black�s
casting completely misses the point of the character, typically defined by his strong
will and determination. Whether it�s Hal Jordan, John Stewart, or anyone in between,
a potential Lantern at least gives the impression they�re hero material, which the Black most
definitely does not. Admittedly, Black may have been right for Jud Plato, but Jud isn�t
right for the Lanterns. At least Ryan Reynolds had the right physique.
Those are our picks for superhero castings that luckily never made it to screen. Are
there any we missed? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to subscribe to our channel
for more videos like this one.