10 Best Actor Replacements In Movies

These actors delivered the goods under trying circumstances.
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[@whatculture]

Enjoying this video? Check out our list of '10 Best Actor Replacements In TV Shows'... kzbin.info/www/bejne/emqWh4B6m8mpf8k

[@itsatrap1017]

I think Viggo Mortensen replacing Stuart Townsend as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy should be number 1.

[@jessicaseitelman5875]

That was my first thought when I saw the title of this video.

[@mickiuscapo9698]

i agree!

[@Noland55]

It really made the movie have the gravitas it deserved.

[@ImaginaryEnemies42]

I do agree Viggo Mortensen should be on the list, perhaps #2. Michael J Fox as Marty McFly is just too iconic, so I can't disagree with this part of the listing.

[@tjd9924]

I think the reason Viggo isn’t included is because they didn’t shoot any scenes with Townsend. He was fired the day before principal photography started.

[@roblatter3347]

Great shout out for Michael Biehn. In the pantheon of under appreciated and criminally under used actors he is near the top.

[@Chiller11]

Donald Pleasence was a bona fide war hero. He served in the RAF as a wireless operator in British bombers, flying nearly 60 missions. His Lancaster was shot down over France. He was able to get out and parachute to safety but he was captured and detained in a POW camp till war’s end.

[@danieljob3184]

Kinda put his role in The Great Escape into focus, dunnit!

[@vladtepes97]

​@@danieljob3184You said focus

[@TheTurkaderr]

He also took a throwaway part in an indie horror movie and made it an iconic role that went on for five other movies and that we couldn’t ever see anyone else playing but him. The man made stoic look easy to do onscreen, and as an actor I can tell you it ain’t.

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

That’s amazing-l had no idea that he had served in WW 2.

[@waynesmyth]

and fought michael myers...

[@gadflyeducator]

Michel Biehn was great in The Abyss. His decent into pure madness was palpable. I loved him in that movie, which also featured Ed Harris (who made this list). As for actor replacements, I can’t imagine Sylvester Stallone in Beverly Hills Cop. That movie only works because of Eddie Murphy’s lead.

[@facetiouslyinsolent8313]

Michael was incredible as Johnny Ringo in Tombstone.

[@Josmic_1]

Honorable mention to Tig Nataro replacing Chris Delia in Army of the Dead

[@IanSowers]

I was a few episodes into 'Usher' before I read that Bruce Greenwood was a recasting. It is truly impossible to imagine anyone else in that role. Emily Lloyd subsequently had a difficult couple of decades. She seems to be doing better now though.

[@peachysbaby3088]

Michael Biehn is highly overlooked and underrated.

[@Ceares]

wish he'd had a bigger career (of course I don't know the specifics as to why he didn't) but he's a joy to watch in everything he's in.

[@andywellsglobaldomination]

Fun Fact: None of the Peacemaker cast knew the replacement was British because he only ever spoke in an American accent.

[@kq3698]

Michael Biehn is the man in Aliens. The Abyss is pretty dope as well

[@danieljob3184]

Ahhh - THAT'S what's wrong with Avatar! It was the first J.Cameron film in 30 years to Not have MickeyB in the roster! I felt that Stephen Lang was a little odd-fit to that role!?

[@PaulVandersypen]

Kevin Peter Hall replacing Jean-Claude Van Damme as the Predator in "Predator" comes to mind.

[@ImaginaryEnemies42]

How about Martin Sheen replacing Harvey Keitel in Apocalypse Now, a classic. Couldn't imagine anyone else in the role.

[@ArcherSuh4721]

Then it happened to Harvey Keitel again when he walked off the production of Eyes Wide Shut and Stanley Kubrick recast Syndey Pollack. Keitel later explained in an interview that he had no problem doing multiple takes, but no matter who the director is, he deserves more as an actor and as a person than just being repeatedly told, "Do it again." I get that Kubrick's a big deal but Keitel has a point.

[@spartannole71]

Martin Sheen replacing Harvey Keitel was the first thing I thought of before I even started the video.

[@VariablePenguin]

​@@ArcherSuh4721fucking a. If a director can't explain to his cast why he needs to see them do the scene again, he's a bad director. What Kubrick did to his actors (especially Shelly Duvall) was just abuse. They're actors. Tell them to act more afraid or more tired and they will do it. You don't have to break people for a movie.

[@mrcritical6751]

@@VariablePenguinkubrick’s obsession with realism and making the actors suffer for his art is truly devastating. Thank god he never did AI can you imagine the emotional wringer he would have put poor Hayley Joel Osmond through?

[@aaronhepler8070]

Dano, Harris, and Greenwood are all criminally underrated actors.

[@amandadaley4182]

I've only seen Michael Biehn in Terminator so that's my favourite movie with him in it. Before my mom found out that I was a girl she wanted to name me Kyle Reese after Michael's character so I have a reason why that particular character is one of my favourite.

[@JPIbanez84]

What your mom didn't realize is that both Kyle and Reese are unisex names. She could even have named you Kylee to make it sound girly.

[@v4v819]

Nah, they should have casted Billy Crystal as Kyle Reese for Terminator!

[@jeffthompson9622]

He is also memorable in "Aliens" and "Tombstone."

[@alexp601]

Whoa, then you definitely need to watch Aliens!

[@wyndblayde6103]

genevieve bujold was originally cast as Kathryn Janeway in Voyager, a few scenes have been released that she filmed before she pulled out and was replaced by Kate Mulgrew, hard to imagine Janeway not played by Mulgrew.

[@13thCharacter]

Great list, but there should have been room for R. Lee Ermey as Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. The full story of him replacing Tom Colceri is a great one. One detail is that Colceri was given the lesser role of the door gunner in the "get some" scene as compensation for being replaced; the scene would have been cut, but Colceri actually threatened to sue Kubrick, resulting in the scene being left in.

[@NomenLuni1975]

Since you included a few TV shows, Kate Mulgrew replacing Genevieve Bujold after a couple of days on Star Trek Voyager.

[@tonybne]

Favourite performance of Michael Biehn is in a deleted scene from Terminator. Where he breaks down about seeing things like trees. It’s a beautiful after scene and I’ll never understand how it got cut

[@gerardchartier9016]

Johnny Ringo in Tombstone. His role in Planet Terror is great too.

[@SinkFlaMain]

Bruce Greenwood absolutely killed it in FOTHOU.

[@angelapalmer3464]

I totally forgot about Biehn in Tombstone!! Excellent performance of Ringo!!! However, my favorite is Hicks!

[@SamuelMcAlpin-ft3uu]

Paul Dano, Ed Harris and Bruce Greenwood are all personal faves of mine.

[@prisonmike4971]

Scarlett Johansson in Her was absolutely perfect casting. The movie totally wouldn't have landed the same without her.

[@songindarkness]

Christopher Plummer reshooting the role in just 10 days… incredible. I’m not surprised he was Ridley Scott’s first choice. But why the studio thought he wasn’t a big enough name is nuts! He brings some real class to the role.

[@felixbelanger2659]

Yeah Spacey wasn't a bad actor, but Christopher Plummer is definitely a better actor IMO

[@Murder_Hornet]

Tombstone, is my favorite Biehn role. Also my favorite western.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Bruce Greenwood is one of those rare character actors with leading-man looks. While he still looks good now, Google some of his photos from back in the 80s and 90s. The man has worked non-stop for the past 45 years. Quite the career! I remember watching Emily Lloyd's fantastic performance in 'Wish You Were Here' back in the 80s. She was truly a gifted actress. I thought she'd have a stellar career, but sadly things didn't go well for her.

[@phillipmunoz7181]

When you said “The Rock too” I heard “The Rock two” and thought What? How did I miss that movie? Lol

[@alexduran2476]

The Paul Dano twin thing actually worked out in There Will Be Blood. It creates an err of confusion that keeps Daniel Day Lewis's character off balance throughout the film.

[@Levelistchampion]

Related to Back to the Future. There's also Melora Hardin, who was meant to play Marty's girlfriend. However, Hardin was considered too tall to play opposite Fox, who was markedly shorter than Stoltz, so the role was recast.

[@Ceares]

Honestly I'm just stuck on Christopher Plummer not being a big enough name for them for All the Money in the World.

[@ThawtsForFood]

I’m glad they brought up Bruce Greenwood. While he does a lot of copy and paste type roles here and there, he really was great in Fall of the House of Usher

[@Dopecheetah]

The Fall Of The House Of Usher is great. Bruce Greenwood killed that roll. Mary McDonnell killed it as well. Go watch it. The second episode and the last episode are hard to watch for different reasons.

[@kelst75]

I just recently the whole series over 2 days and man, did I enjoy it. He was great, she was great, most of the acting was great.

[@anthonyenglezos2003]

Michael Biehn is great in everything but i reckon his best performance was in The Abyss

[@koneko6989]

Thank you for singing "You Only Live Twice." Glad to know I'm not the only one!

[@christianmayoral3116]

Surprised James Earl Jones isn’t on here for Vader.

[@aluncurtis6124]

My favourite Michael Biehn role is literally anything he is in. Man's a legend.

[@PrimetimeD]

Bruce Greenwood was sooooo good in The Fall of the House of Usher. I didn't hear that he was a recast until after I'd watched it, and I was baffled. Like he was just so good I couldn't believe he wasn't the first choice. So effin' lemon.

[@shaneomacfan3]

How about Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen wasn't the original actor in the movies, Stuart Townsend was, but was fired and replaced by Viggo.

[@seanellio]

Michael Biehn was a Navy Seal in "The Abyss". Another rock solid Sci-Fi by James Cameron (With the exception of the yelling at someone after they've been declared dead, and them snapping awake.

[@carriesmigla-didier8900]

Tombstone for sure. Biehn vs Kilmer had the best lines. LOVED them both in Tombstone! It's crazy that movie never got the credit it deserves.

[@wereleopard58yepihavetwo2]

Hicks will always be my favourite. Michael Biehn is such a lovely guy to meet. His queues are long as he loves talking to fans. I met him the same weekend I met Cary Elwes.

[@martinwakefield8138]

Anything Michael Bien did with the late Bill Paxton is pure gold, even Navy Seals

[@DaLumpy1]

Don Cheadle as War Machine. One of the greatest living actors; dude’s a chameleon

[@vladtepes97]

Honestly, i prefer Howard for the role, not because he's arguably a better actor, but because he's physically bigger; it's always hard to accept the scrawny Cheadle as a high-ranking military officer.

[@92brunod]

Don Cheadle phoned in the work for all Marvel movies. He was the least believable character in every single movie he was in. I don't doubt he's a great actor, but he was clearly putting zero effort into these movies and it shows.

[@v4v819]

But can Don Cheadle calculate pie to the seventh degree meringue?

[@riveraharper8166]

too woke.

[@v4v819]

You can never go too Woke! @@riveraharper8166

[@o2bnparadise]

I fully expected to see Christopher Plummer on this list and was not disappointed, but what studio dingbats thought Spacey was a bigger name than Christopher Plummer?! Aside from that glaring studio faux pas, I'm surprised Tig Notaro replacing Chris D'Elia in Army of the Dead wasn't on the list.

[@Satsujinki1973]

Not one mention of Hugh Jackman replacing Dougray Scott as Wolverine.

[@92brunod]

Dougray Scott didn't do a single shoot as Wolverine so there was nothing for Jackman to reshoot. That's the reason it's not mentioned, because it doesn't fit the criteria to be included.

[@v4v819]

Russell Crowe and Keanu Reeves- respectively- turned down Wolverine before it fell on the lap of Hugh Jackman... But i think they should have given it to the natural choice: Peter MacNicol. Who would have killed it as the steel fang, knuckle sheathing anti-hero of the X-Men franchise! I knew my missed my calling as a casting director!

[@Satsujinki1973]

@@92brunod the video is titled "10 best actor replacements in films." Nothing about reshoots. Dougray was originally cast to play him, Hugh Jackman was the last minute replacement.

[@snowdenwyatt6276]

@@Satsujinki1973 And yet anyone who watches the first 15 seconds of the video understands the guidelines: actors who were replaced after shooting scenes for the film/show. Now Viggo not being on the list after replacing Stuart Townsend is an oversight.

[@92brunod]

@@Satsujinki1973Yet the video is not about that. It's explained in the first seconds. Did you already zoned out by then or did you comment before even starting the video? In both cases, your example does not apply. That's why there is not one mention of it which was explicitly explained by me. Are you seriously that dumb and/or stubborn that you want reality to adapt to what you want instead of accepting it as it is? Grow up, you spoiled lil brat.

[@harveydent84joker]

Michael J Fox in back to the future!

[@TheTurkaderr]

Speaking of Back to the Future, I hear they’re about to tear down the mall that stood in as the Twin Pines mall in the movie. So sad. For us 80s kids the loss of mall culture has just been bizarre. Times change of course but damn!

[@CuracaoChic]

How is Christopher Plummer not a big name?!! He's the frikkin cap'n!

[@jakes3059]

I liked Biehn in Tombstone best! I loved the character already, but when I found out it was "Kyle Resse", I loved it more.

[@themr_wilson]

While Alien is on topic, the gut-bursting scene was the writer's visual representation of the pain he felt from Crohn's Disease. A miserable affliction with no cure

[@LeonardTyson]

'scheduling issues' = Family Ties

[@esukyd2328]

I appreciate the Michael Biehn love!!! Aliens is my FAVORITE movie of all time!!!

[@jonhinson5701]

Donald Pleasance was THE Blofeld. Then they replaced him with Telly Savalas which was a huge mistake. Savalas could have been a thug who worked for Blofeld but Pleasance had the true menace to play Bond's no.1 nemesis.

[@dhenderson1810]

Hadn't Pleasance died by then, though?

[@PressXToLiam]

@@dhenderson1810no he died like 30 years later 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Satsujinki1973]

5:58 I never noticed the cat struggling to get free when I watched the film. Twice even.

[@grahamperry9270]

Michael Biehn in THE ABYSS…Fabulous work!!❤❤❤

[@keithyork8226]

Talk about iconic roles: John Hurt replaced Jon Finch in “Alien” when Finch fell ill early in the production.

[@dougim]

Love the shoutout to Peter Weir. Love his work.

[@kprettythejudy]

Bruce greenwood killed that part

[@djmattblack]

Mad to think Emily Lloyd turned down the lead role to Pretty Woman, she was great in Wish you were here but can you imagine her taking the role that Julia Roberts made famous?

[@Pecisk]

Considering how much energy and time is poured into movies, reshooting such parts require a lot from directors, editors and actors. It is just telling that all who stepped in are considered high professionals by others. Wouldn't work otherwise. Also I like how you pointed out that in majority of cases it is not really fault of replaced actor. Most of the time it just doesn't work. If movie can work with different actor, they will try to do it.

[@HighHeelKnight]

You Only Live Twice is my third favorite James Bond song. 🎶🎶🎶

[@aaronleverton4221]

It's hard to go past Johnny Ringo. Biehn wanted Doc Holliday, but Kilmer had already been cast, so he made sure Johnny stood out as much as possible in a film dominated by Val Kilmer.

[@TheWaynos73]

Christopher Plummer in All the Money in the World - replaces a fired Kevin Spacey, gets two days to get into the role and gets an oscar nom.

[@frankieseward8667]

Iconic.

[@dhenderson1810]

Instead of casting an actor and giving him extensive make-up to age, just cast an older actor to begin with.

[@frankieseward8667]

@@dhenderson1810 i can see why lots of people accuse hollywood of ageism

[@johnglielmi6428]

I am set on Sean Connery as being the best Bond ever! and my choice for Ernst Stavro Blofeld is Christoph Waltz

[@c0mpr3nd3]

Imaginarium or Dr Parnassus

[@erikthompson619]

Well, since voice actors apparently are not disqualified, Mike Myers taking over from the late Chris Farley i "Shrek" certainly would have been worthy of inclusion.

[@LastNameTom]

All I have to say is, them killing Hicks, Bishop, and Newt in Alien 3 was absolute perfection and needed to happen. Xenomorphs are the perfect killers, no one can escape them and the only outcome is death. If they survived, it means you can escape them and have a happy ending. Killing them, and eventually Ripley, highlights you will NOT survive an encounter with the xenomorphs. Everyone will die.

[@user-yf5ed8fj2r]

Hugh Jackman replacing Dougary Scott as Wolverine in X-Men is a bit surprising to not see on this list

[@hazy33]

Her was superb. It's a shame it's been kinda forgotten

[@georgeharris6851]

While my favorite role by Michael Bien is Kyle Reese, I really like him as a villain in The Abyss, playing a crazed Seal suffering from nitrogen narcossis.

[@cypher515]

I just have to say this: I saw number 2 and I went, "THAT'S number TWO?" Then number 1 hit and I went, "Oh, yeah, how did I forget that?" There's even a trope named for that movie: The Other Marty. And as a die-hard troper I have no excuse.

[@XeresKyle]

I think Andrew Lincoln, strictly in his role as Rick Grimes, is up there as one of the best actors; at least in television.

[@johncassidy3071]

Like the emphasis put on Michael Biehn. An under-featured actor who deserved more screen time.

[@adrianbarrientos4828]

Hugh Jack an wasn't the choice to play Wolverine. It was some other guy who even got interviewed about playing the character.

[@keithyork8226]

Dougray Scott, who had to drop out in order to finish his work on “Mission Impossible II”.

[@dougim]

Personally I’m a fan of “Live and Let Die”. Also kinda like A-ha’s “The Living Daylights”. An under appreciated Bond film IMO.

[@Jherick5954]

I got to admit I was sad to hear the actor who played Dumbledore passed away. I was still young by then, I didn't quite grasp how death worked in the film industry, specifically the naive belief the actor is still alive because, well, you're watching them right now acting on the TV. But once it sunk it, it was sad, especially when I learned that meant Chris Farley was really gone. But the actor who replaced Dumbledore crushed it, I think.

[@thejaysusnetwork6102]

Lol at you including TV shows rather than just movies. Bruce Greenwood was brilliant, though.

[@spartannole71]

Mike Myers replacing Chris Farley as Shrek. Some of the preproduction clips of Farley voicing Shrek is unbareable, now that we have Mike' version.

[@matthewusedom3605]

Shrek was nearly complete when its star Chris Farley died. Mike Myers was brought in to replace his friend

[@lavondabland3179]

Mermaids is one of my top ten movies and I just cannot picture anyone else pulling off Charlotte without seeming actually crazy. And you should always listen to Cher 😉

[@michaelcread]

#1 should have been Tig Notaro for replacing Chris D’elia in Army of the Dead. Done entirely in reshoots without any of the cast present and edited in seemlessly

[@gaylehaeffner9595]

Michael Biehn was excellent in Tombstone!

[@BuddhangGala]

Tig Notaro Army ot the dead

[@pawibus]

I fully expected Tig Notaro in Army of the Dead to be number one.

[@92brunod]

The video is about the BEST replacements. Sorry but that shitty movie and her attempt at a character do not deserve to be in the list. Not her fault, but still.

[@SonGoku-tp8gb]

That doesn't fit, right? Wasn't she just written into the script last minute without replacing anyone?

[@DavidGowers]

Suggestions for part 2: Hugh Jackman replacing Dougray Scott as Wolverine Clint replacing Sinatra as Dirty Harry Jodie Foster replacing Nicole Kidman in Panic Room Jamie Dornan saving Charlie Hunnam from being in 50 Shades Harrison Ford replacing Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones Michelle Pfeiffer replacing Annette Bening as Catwoman Kevin Peter Hall replacing JCVD as The Predator Sandra Bullock replacing Lori Petty in Demolition Man Hugo Weaving replacing James Purefoy in V For Vendetta Arnie replacing OJ Simpson in The Terminator And if an actor dying mid-shoot counts, you GOTTA give a nod to Jude Law, Christian Bale, and Johnny Depp who all stepped in to 'replace' Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

[@willwell4450]

I think Dougray Scott was the front runner for the role of Wolverine but don't know if he ever started shooting for X-Men. He had to let go of the role due to his commitment to MI 2. Same with Arnie and OJ Simpson, no scenes were shot with OJ, he was certainly considered but Arnold was eventually chosen and he portrayed the character from day 1.

[@dominikakratochvil860]

Wow, didn’t know Jan Werich supposed to be in 007 😂 Agree, he don’t looked the part.

[@barthaande893]

Loved Biehn in K2

[@markkevorkian]

How can you not have Martin sheen replacing Harvey keital in apocalypse now? Keital had already been shooting for a month when they let him go.

[@daviduhr4941]

good list, but not even giving a mention to Harrison Ford replacing Tom Selick in Indiana Jones, or Martin Sheen replacing Harvey Keitel in Apocalypse Now seems like an egregious mistep.

[@mavrik9475]

Michael Biehn's best movie in my opinion Lt. James Curran navy seals

[@vulcanmaster1985]

Kate Mulgrew as captain Janway in Star Trek Voyager

[@Raz.C]

Handy Hint - If the film is called "There Will Be Blood," then please don't make the same mistake as WhatCulture (0:45) and call it a 'Period Drama.' Doing so is just going to confuse all the immature people out there...

[@mikebrandon8545]

Ringo in Tombstone for sure

[@Concreteowl]

Biehn in the Abyss is brill. Though I'm glad he and Newt were killed off for Alien 3 as it makes every Alien film with Ripley a nightmare she wakes up to.

[@roberterlandson8234]

Skyfall is the best bond song

[@donbrunodelamancha1927]

Pitch perfect Ewan‼️

[@davidbeckett1565]

Thinking of voice actors with Scarlet Johansson's brilliant performance in Her, the Paddington films wouldn't have worked with Colin Firth as the titular bear, the Shrek films wouldn't be half as good if Chris Farley and Janeane Garofalo weren't replaced with Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, respectively. Additionally, as much as I love Harvey Keitel, I think Apocalypse Now is a better film because of Martin Sheen's performance. Also, the X-Men and Wolverine films would have been much poorer if Dougray Scott hadn't been injured while filming Mission: Impossible and replaced by Hugh Jackman. Although Nicole Kidman would have been very good in Panic Room, Jodie Foster is *so* good in the lead role, that It would have been a lesser film if Kidman hadn't suffered a knee injury. The MCU films are better for Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard, and The Dark Knight would have been a poorer film if Katie Holmes hadn't been replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Finally, I can't imagine how the Lord of the Rings films would have been with Stuart Townsend as Aragorn.

[@szortowniawordpresscom1388]

My favorite Michael Biehn role is definitely Command&Conquer Tiberian Sun :)

[@MrHand-ms7ut]

Michael Biehn's best was definitely The Abyss.