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Doubted castings that nailed it
Some actors get slammed the moment they’re cast in big roles. Fans doubt them, critics complain, and the internet loses its mind. But sometimes, those same actors step up and completely prove everyone wrong.
They turn doubt into applause and deliver performances no one saw coming. These roles went from hated picks to fan favorites.
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Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball
Fans protested Nicole Kidman’s casting in 2021. Critics said she didn’t look or sound like Lucille Ball. Kidman worked with a voice coach and studied Ball’s private and public life. She earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
The film ranked #3 on Nielsen’s streaming chart during release week. Directed by Aaron Sorkin, it got a 65% critic score and 75% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Javier Bardem played Desi Arnaz. Kidman’s performance was widely praised despite the backlash.
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Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet
In 2005, critics said Keira Knightley was too thin and pretty to play Elizabeth Bennet. Jane Austen fans doubted her casting. Knightley was only 20 during filming. She earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, the youngest British actress ever to do so.
The film made over $120 million worldwide. Critics praised her lively, modern take on the role. Knightley said she related to Elizabeth’s strong opinions and independent spirit. Her performance is now considered one of her best.
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Anne Hathaway as Catwoman
Anne Hathaway was cast as Catwoman in 2011. Fans were unsure, calling her too “safe” or “soft” for the gritty role. She trained in martial arts and lost weight for the suit. Director Christopher Nolan praised her intense audition.
The movie made over $1 billion worldwide. Critics said Hathaway’s Selina Kyle was smart, sharp, and powerful. She received strong reviews from The New York Times and Rolling Stone.
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Austin Butler as Elvis Presley
Austin Butler was cast in 2019. Critics doubted him due to his Disney Channel past. He spent three years preparing, studying Elvis’s voice and movements. Butler sang Elvis’s early songs himself.
Director Baz Luhrmann said Butler didn’t break character for over two years. The film earned $288 million worldwide. Butler won the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Actor. He also got an Oscar nomination. Lisa Marie Presley said Butler “captured Elvis perfectly.”
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Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
When Jennifer Lawrence was cast as Katniss, some book fans said she was too old. Katniss is 16 in the books, but Lawrence was 21. Critics also wondered if she looked too “healthy” for someone from District 12.
But her strong, emotional performance won over audiences. She trained hard, did her stunts, and made Katniss feel real. Lawrence turned the role into a global hit and became the highest-paid actress in the world just a few years later.
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Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana
Kristen Stewart’s past in Twilight made people doubt she could play Princess Diana. Many thought she didn’t look or sound like Diana. But in Spencer, she stunned audiences with her performance.
Stewart worked on Diana’s accent and body language for months. Critics praised her for showing Diana’s pain and strength. She earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and finally proved she was more than just Bella Swan.
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Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury
Rami Malek’s casting as Freddie Mercury was met with doubt. Some said he didn’t look like Mercury or share his background. Others worried about how he’d capture the Queen singer’s bold stage presence.
But Malek trained with movement coaches and used a mix of his voice and recordings to nail the performance. He won an Oscar for Best Actor. Even Queen’s bandmates said he honored Freddie’s legacy.
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Ryan Gosling as Ken
When Ryan Gosling was cast as Ken, the internet wasn’t kind. Many said he was too old or just didn’t “look” like Ken. But once the movie hit screens in 2023, Gosling stole the show.
His mix of comedy, charm, and emotion turned Ken into a fan favorite. He even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, proving every critic wrong and showing he was the perfect choice after all.
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Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones
Fans were upset when American Renée Zellweger got cast as British icon Bridget Jones in 2001. Many didn’t believe she could do a proper English accent or fit the role.
Zellweger trained hard, worked undercover in a London office, and nailed the accent. Her performance won over critics and audiences, earning her an Oscar nomination. She later returned for two hit sequels, making Bridget one of her most famous roles ever.
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Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
Hugh Jackman wasn’t the first pick for Wolverine. Critics thought he was too tall, too lean, and too unknown. But when X-Men came out in 2000, he blew everyone away.
Jackman brought real emotion and intense action to the role. Over 17 years, he played Wolverine in about ten films. His final turn in Logan (2017) got rave reviews and made him a legend in superhero history.
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Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman
When Gal Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman, some fans said she was too slim and not tough enough. But her debut in Batman v Superman (2016) changed minds fast.
Then came Wonder Woman (2017), where she showed real power, heart, and leadership. Gadot trained for months to prepare and made the role her own. Her performance earned global praise and helped lead a new era of superhero films.
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Daniel Craig as James Bond
Fans were upset when Daniel Craig was picked as Bond in 2006. He was shorter, had blond hair, and didn’t look like the classic 007. Even the director had doubts. But Craig changed minds fast with a tough Bond who bled, made mistakes, and hit hard.
He did many of his stunts and even got hurt on set. Critics called him the closest to Ian Fleming’s original character. Casino Royale is now seen as a top Bond movie.
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Heath Ledger as the Joker
When Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker, people doubted him. He had played romantic roles and wasn’t known for dark characters. But Ledger shocked everyone with a creepy and chaotic performance.
He changed his voice, wrote in a Joker diary, and locked himself in a hotel room to get into character. His take on the Joker became legendary, winning him a posthumous Oscar. Today, many fans and critics call it the best Joker ever.
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Robert Pattinson as Batman
After Twilight, fans didn’t think Robert Pattinson could play a dark and serious Batman. Many thought he was too soft. But in 2022’s The Batman, he played a younger, moodier Bruce Wayne.
His version of Batman was quiet, broken, and focused on being a detective. Critics praised how real and grounded the movie felt. He wore the suit well, handled the action scenes, and gave fans a fresh look at the character.
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Ben Affleck as Batman
When Ben Affleck was cast as Batman in 2013, the internet exploded with hate. People remembered Daredevil and thought he’d fail again. But when the film came out in 2016, most fans were surprised.
Affleck played an older, tired, and angry Batman with strong fight scenes and a real physical presence. Though the movie itself had mixed reviews, Affleck’s Batman got praise for being brutal and believable.
This prompts many to as if Ben Affleck reinventing Hollywood with his evolving career and unexpected successes?
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Last Updated: September 23, 2025
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