Top 10 Breakout Roles That Almost Weren't

Strange enough, for some actors' there most popular roles were never originally intended for them. And not only were they popular, but they basically MADE their careers.


10. Abe Sapien (Hellboy series)
Actor: Doug Jones
Originally cast: David Hyde Pierce
David Hyde Pierce did in fact voice the character in the first Hellboy. He was brought in to add a bigger name to the cast list, but Pierce denied credit citing Doug Jones as the real talent behind Abe even basing his voice patterns on Jones' real voice. Jones got a chance to voice Abe in both Hellboy 2 and DVD cartoons. He is now Guillerme Del Toro's go to monster man.


9. Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
Actor: Christian Bale
Originally cast: Leonardo DiCaprio
Bale almost definitely got his job as Batman because of this movie. Bateman! Batman! Coincidence? In American Psycho, Bale plays a yuppie rich dude who during the day acts like your average playboy, but at night has a terrible dark persona. It is almost interchangeable except Bateman is a hero, and Bateman is a blood thirsty serial killer.


8. Vivian Ward (Pretty Woman)
Actor: Julia Roberts
Originally cast: Molly Ringwald, as well as everyone else at that time
Julia shot to fame, Molly went into obscurity.


7. Randy "The Ram" Robinson (The Wrestler)
Actor: Mickey Rourke
Originally cast: Nicholas Cage
Cage as a wrestler is just laughable. Instead we got the ultimate comeback role with Rourke welcomed with open arms (where were you before Hollywood douchebags) and has upcoming projects lined up around the corner.


6. Aragorn (Lord of the Ring series)
Actor: Viggo Mortensen
Originally cast: Stuart Townshend
Both are pretty good, but Stuart looked significantly younger, which is why he got booted. Viggo has gotten steady work in damn good flicks. He has kept low key than most big shots, but he has become a fan favorite nonetheless.


5. Indiana Jones
Actor: Harrison Ford
Originally cast: Tom Selleck
Lucas was afraid of Harrison Ford becoming his "Deniro" since Ford was in both Star Wars and American Graffiti, but thank god for Spielberg who pushed for Ford. Ford didnt just play Indy, he made Indy. Even Ford's trademark chin scar become a part of Indy's story- he got it during his first attempt with his whip.


4. Rocky Balboa
Actor: Sylvester Stallone
Orignally cast: Ryan O'Neal, among others.
Ryan Who? Yeah, that's right. Ryan was a young actor who had actually done golden gloves boxing. You can now see him on the tv series "Bones" as Brennan's father, Max. Stallone on the other hand is now one of the biggest action stars Hollywood has ever seen. I mean, come on, he wrote the damn script, he had to get the role.


3. John McLane
Actor: Bruce Willis
Originally cast: Arnold Shwartzanegger, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Gere, Burt Reynolds, in the order.
Bruce made McLane like Ford made Indy. It was his own Jersey-bred sarcasm that added an extra likeable level to McLane and the mostly dead serious thriller Die Hard once was. Now how good Willis is? Well, I used Jersey and likeable in the same sentence, so that should give you an idea.


2. Wolverine (X-Men)
Actor: Hugh Jackman
Originally cast: Dougary Scott
Scott got stuck on post-work on Mission: Impossible 2 and Hugh stepped in. Now Hugh is easily one of Hollywood's go to guys, one of the more charismatic people in showbusiness, and seems usually appreciative of praise, fans, and fame.


1. Terminator (Terminator series)
Actor: Arnold Shwartzanegger
Originally cast: Lance Henrickson
Everyone knows about OJ Simpson's rumor, but Henrickson made it to negotiations. He ended up plays a cop, and Arnold got to move up from Kyle Reese to the Terminator creating a truly iconic character. A character to appear both on AFI's Top 100 Heroes and Villains twice, once as a hero, and once as a villain.

Top 10 Best Comic Movie Castings

Casting a comic movie tends to be the most essential element. Not only is their the performance/personality portion, but also a physical resemblance from years of illustration. Although in my opinion, fanboys hold the resemblance part in higher importance (Triple H for Thor? Really?).
10. Heath Ledger as The Joker
The most inspired casting on the list. No one thought the pretty-boy-cowboy-lover would make an impressive Joker. I, frankly, was excited to see what was going to happen, but was having a hard time visualizing it. I am still surprised at what we got, and it is a role that is a testament to his chameleon like performances in other not so well-known movies, a la Brothers Grim and Lords of Dogtown.
9. Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool
Surprise! I haven't even seen the movie yet, but no casting as had me more excited about a part. Deadpool is my favorite character, and I think Reynolds is far superior an actor than most give him credit for. I am not too worried about the obvious changes to the character since they have some kind of parallel. But those damn lazer eyes piss me off to no end.

8. Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier
From the beginning, this was probably the easiest character to cast. Who's bald and a strong leader. Patrick Stewart. It almost seems unfair at how obvious it is, but he captured the character with grace.

7. Kelsey Grammar as Beast
I didn't think at his age that Kelsey could pull off an action role. The role of Beast has always made me a little uneasy considering that while strong and agile, he had a very old soul, and an older actor would need to be cast. Grammar was damn near perfect. As perfect as I could guess.

6. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent
Probably the greatest performance in The Dark Knight and a far more deserving supporting performance than Heath's. Eckhart held the entire story on his shoulders, but he was overshadowed by Joker's theatrical nature.

5. Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man
Who better to play a savvy, charismatic substance abuser than an actual savvy, charismatic substance abuser. I never believed Downey was having a comeback since all he always had a string of solid if not relatively unknown performances coupled with a run in with the law and a random Oscar nom. In the end, this put him on the map, or back on the map, or whatever.

4. Sir Ian McKellan as Magneto
The idea behind the X-Men was to be a metaphor for minority's civil rights laced with science fiction action. Sir McKellan being both gay and Jewish knew full well the extent of being a popularly discriminated minority (far to weird of a phrase but you get what I am saying). Ian has a certain distinguished screen presence that helped depict Magneto as the classic dictator-esque world-takeover-type of villain.

3. Mickey Rourke as Marv
Mickey Rourke oozes cool and as Tarantino noted, Marv is like what would happen if Rourke and Frank Miller, the creator of Sin City, had a baby and I have to agree. No one is better for the Cro-Magnum trenchcoat wearing bar brawler than Mickey Rourke, a movie tough guy turned boxer turned movie tough guy. I think I speak for everyone else when I say welcome back Mr. Rourke.

2. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
Who thought a 6 foot something Aussie would perfect as the 5 nothing Canuck, Wolvie? Turns out he'd be damn good. He captured the intensity of Wolvie that grasped the fanboys interest, but added a certain level of heart and likability that many thought Wolvie was lacking.

1. Ron Perlman as Hellboy
Perlman is one of those actors who never got his just dessert. He is one of the finest actors today. Charismatic. Screen presence a plenty. Theres no beating the guy in innate ability. And despite having plenty of roles before and after Hellboy that proves his mettle, I think old HB will be remembered as his most likable and memorable.

Top 10 Rogues for the Next Batman Movie

These are my favorites for the next Batman movie.


10. David Cain
With Batman on the run, the mob and the law will both be looking for him. Prime spot for a hired gun.
Chances: None. The character is devoid of a lot of the eccentricities that a Bat-Rogue usually entails. In the hired gun department there are simply better choices
Casting: Too hot of a commodity especially with comic flicks, but Mickey Rourke all the way.

9. Killer Croc
Nothing to challenge a hero like a freak with brute force. Probably too dumb to carry a flick like The Dark Knight though
Chances: Pretty good as a henchman, but do not expect too much.
Casting: Kevin Durand



8. GCPD
Gotham City Police Department will surely be following the Bats considering the end of Dark Knight. But do they pose a big enough threat especially considering their boss is on his side
Chances: 100% they'll be involved, but not in the capacity this list is emplying.
Casting: Michael Madsen as Bullock please!


7. Talia Al Ghul
Batman's eternal love interest come back for revenge for her father's death with the entire League of Shadows behind her.
Chances: 50/50. Great character with full circle appeal but I feel her direction does not correspond with the ending of The Dark Knight.
Casting: Kate Beckinsale. Uninspired but she'll do for now.


6. The Penguin
After the shake-up the mob got from the Joker, there is a huge hole left. Fill it with the Penguin. Frankly, I do not think he is a big enough threat to carry an ENTIRE movie.
Chances: 50/50. Nolan and Co. seem hesitant on continuing if characters already portrayed. If seen I think he should be in a role similar to Eric Roberts' in the last one.
Casting: David Suchet. Spitting fuckin' image.

5. Ra's Al Ghul
By nature, he is ripe for a return. By nature, he is also pretty much the perfect Batman Rogue. Strong, skilled, intelligent, and has intimate knowledge of Bruce's psychology.
Chances: I have no clue. I think Nolan likes the character but he has stayed away from the unrealistic nature of Batman.
Casting: Liam Neeson of course.

4. The Riddler
Too good to pass up. Fights Batman with his mind instead of with violence. Allows Batman to do some detective work, something the series has lacked.
Chances: Pretty good in my opinion. He may have already been used but his potential for noir atmosphere and crossover to the "Nolanverse" pretty well.
Casting: Casey Affleck. Or anyone but that Mr. E guy from Dark Knight.


3. Bane
Bane CAN be interesting. He's got a lot of potential miles beyond the Batman and Robin portrayal. It would be a great one on one for Batman. Just like Cain and GCPD, he can also be used to go after the now fugitive Bat.
Chances: Slim. Slimmer than my liking. He's been used before, but poorly. And his nature is a tad unrealistic, but could be easily adapted.
Casting: Put some big dude in the mask and have Javier Bardem voice him Darth Vader style.

2. Catwoman
Joker and Two Face are done. Rachel is done. Batman is out a nemesis and a love interest. Who better to fill both roles than Catwoman.
Chances: Slim as main villain. Damn good as part time rogue, full time love interest.
Casting: Michelle Monaghan. Spunky attitude, slinky build. How can you say no?


1. Deadshot
In my opinion, Deadshot is the best candidate for "The Hunt for The Bat." Lots of attitude. The antithesis to Batman (sorta). The character is really charismatic, and can be portrayed as both anti-hero and rogue if necessary.
Chances: Almost zip with WB planning a Suicide Squad flick with 'shot as a member of the team.
Casting: Timothy Olyphant. Think Go not Hitman.