Name a movie character played so perfectly and the actor who played them. Now, can you think of any other actor in that role? Neither could this online community, so you’ve got company. One person asked, “What movie character was so perfectly played by their actor that nobody could replace them for said role?” Here is what one internet collective thought about the question.
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger as T-800 Terminator
That stoic expression. The accent. A physique that only a cybernetic death machine could have. Arnold Schwarzenegger was made to play the Terminator franchise’s T-800. So it’s ironic that the former Mr. Olympia was initially called in to play Terminator’s hero, Kyle Reese. When director Arnold gave some pointers on how the T-800 should be portrayed, Cameron recast him.
2. Andy Serkis as Gollum
Bless Andy Serkis, who will endure a lifetime of hearing “My precious” on the streets after his iconic portrayal of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Initially hesitant to audition for the voice role, Serkis found inspiration from an unlikely source: his cat, struggling with a furball.
3. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark
He is Iron Man. Even more so, Robert Downey Jr. fits so perfectly as billionaire playboy philanthropist Tony Stark that it’s difficult to imagine some other actors considered, including Nicolas Cage and Timothy Olyphant, in the role. Jon Favreau’s casting choice even earned high praise from fellow director Christopher Nolan, who called it “one of the greatest casting decisions in the history of movies.”
4. Jeff Goldblum as Ian Malcolm
Try to imagine Jurassic Park without Jeff Goldblum’s chaotic Ian Malcolm. Casting director Janet Hirshenson simply couldn’t after witnessing Goldblum’s dry approach to the character. And that was after a lengthy audition from Jim Carrey, who, according to Hirshenson, had brought a more outwardly comedic charm to the character.
5. Ian McKellen as Gandalf
Ian McKellen is precisely what The Lord of the Rings fanatics expect Gandalf to look like. In an interview with GQ, McKellen admits he doesn’t know “how Gandalf came [his] way.” He (jokingly) stated that all other potentials for the role likely didn’t want to live in New Zealand for more than a year. Ultimately, director Peter Jackson contacted the X-Men actor personally for the role.
6. Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Harrison Ford and his noted indifference to the character Han Solo are part of what helped him perfect the role. Many Star Wars buffs explained how Ford didn’t care for “being in a sci-fi movie in the first place.” The best part about this is that the character had a vast “indifference to the idea of laser-sword fighting space wizards.”
7. Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger is the thing nightmares are made of, but surprisingly, there was a point when the producers didn’t think so. Englund was replaced by an actor wearing a Freddy mask for the earlier part of the second Nightmare on Elm Street movie. They soon realized their mistake and reconciled their differences with the famed Freddy actor.
8. Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister
Macaulay Culkin emerged as a terrific child actor who stole the show in almost every movie he appeared in, and Home Alone was just a taste of his skills. Numerous filmgoers agree that the newer Home Alone actors don’t measure up to the OG of home hijinks.
9. Leonard Nimoy as Spock
Some individuals shared how they miss Leonard Nimoy as Spock and that he embodies the character and all he stands for. Zachary Quinto may have elevated the character and brought his interpretation in the Star Trek reboot movies. Still, only one actor immediately comes to mind when we think of Spock.
10. R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman
With the added benefit of being a former Marine Drill Instructor, R. Lee Ermey was an ideal fit for the role of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. He was brought on originally in a consultant or technical advisor role but soon replaced Tim Colceri as the foul-mouthed non-commissioned officer. Ermey was so good at his job and impressed director Stanley Kubrick with his demonstration that the casting change was a no-brainer.
11. Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow
Johnny Depp is the only one who could play Jack Sparrow (though there should be a “captain” in there somewhere)! Depp’s persistence in creative control of the character is how we got the eccentric and hilarious pirate that we all have grown to love. There is no way the franchise is as big as it is without the likes of Johnny Depp’s expertise.
12. Leonardo Dicaprio as Arnie
Many believe that Leo did a surprisingly good job in this film. Leonardo DiCaprio was a relatively unknown actor when What’s Eating Gilbert Grape started filming, and many first-time viewers were convinced he was indeed developmentally disabled.
Source: (Reddit).
