5 Movie Castings That Got Us Hyped & 5 That Killed the Hype

5 Movie Castings That Created Hype & 5 That Instantly Killed the Hype

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the casting decisions that had us ready to open our wallets or roll our eyes.

#5: Killed: Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor

“Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016)

When the DCEU’s Batman, Wonder Woman and Lex Luthor were revealed to the public, reactions were swift and merciless. Most were not happy. “Batman v. Superman” ultimately surprised critics with the relative effectiveness of Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot. Eisenberg’s turn as Luthor, however, was spared that redemption arc. His unhinged interpretation was negatively likened to Heath Ledger’s performance in “The Dark Knight.” Such excess and revisionism contributed to the movie falling way below box office projections. Lack of faith that its stars could pull things off may have also been the reason people stayed away.

#5: Created: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen

“The Hunger Games” (2012)

In 2012, Hollywood was really hitting the YA literature market hard. This could be a mixed bag, especially where casting was concerned. Future Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence drew a particularly mixed response. Few doubted her skill, but fans of “The Hunger Games” were quick to point out that she did not have Katniss' olive complexion, as described in Suzanne Collins’s books. But the rising star’s casting brought more attention to the already highly anticipated film. Despite misgivings, the charismatic and moving Lawrence was the right choice for the role.

#4: Killed: Ben Platt as Evan Hansen

“Dear Evan Hansen” (2021)

Most of the time, when a Broadway musical makes it to Hollywood, movie stars are cast over the original performers. So “Dear Evan Hansen” casting Tony winner Ben Platt in the film version of the show that made him a huge star was met with confusion. How could the 27-year-old actor be convincing as a teenager in close-ups? The fact that Platt’s father, mega-producer Marc Platt, produced both the Broadway version and the movie led to allegations of nepotism. Audiences found that a lot of things didn't translate well to the screen. It was a perfect storm of bad publicity that made the weaknesses in this film adaptation feel even weaker.

#4: Created: Ariana Grande as Galinda

“Wicked” (2024)

Casting movie musicals can be tricky business. Do you hire someone who has the theatre chops, or do you hire someone who has experience generating an audience. Ariana Grande has both, with a higher vocal range that made her an ideal choice for the role of Galinda in “Wicked.” But Grande herself understood fans’ skepticism. If anything, she was inspired to counter the naysayers by rejecting studio efforts to rework the classic soundtrack to her modern pop style. The combination of Grande’s dedication and her undeniable megastar status earned the trust of “Wicked,” and added to the movie’s mystique. The movie went on to make over $700 million, and Grande was widely awarded for her work.

#3: Killed: Zoe Saldaña as Nina Simone

“Nina” (2016)

As she was one of the most talented, haunted and misunderstood women in popular music, a biopic about Nina Simone should sell itself. However, Zoe Saldaña’s casting was a major stumbling block. Simone’s own daughter was a vehement opponent of the casting. As early as 2012, articles about the makeup techniques to darken her skin and widen her nose were getting the movie heaps of attention. It was just the wrong kind of attention. “Nina” would not be released until 2016. If the long gap between filming and release didn’t kill its chances to find its audience, Saldaña’s misguided casting surely did.

#3: Created: Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana

“Spencer” (2021)

Even for those who had followed Kristen Stewart’s career after Bella Swan, the announcement that she was taking on the role of Diana, Princess of Wales, was a great big “huh?”. Stewart wasn’t just an American; she was also known for roles that were more grounded and realistic than what we might assume from a fictionalized story about the British royal family. Whatever questions or concerns people had, they were silenced once “Spencer” came out. Stewart’s Oscar-nominated performance was a triumph. People who worked for and loved the real Diana called Stewart’s the most accurate portrayal they had ever seen.

#2: Killed: Jared Leto as the Joker

“Suicide Squad” (2016)

It wasn’t just the casting announcement that had fans on edge. The run-up to the release of “Suicide Squad” was rife with clickbaity stories about the bizarre lengths Jared Leto was going to to disturb his co-stars. Headlines about him gifting co-stars Margot Robbie and Viola Davis disgusting items as a sort of in-character prank were constant. While the movie did very well at the box office, all the hubbub about Leto’s Joker was overshadowed by his relatively small role and the film’s many other problems. Nonetheless, the unhinged villain’s depiction as a gangster, and Leto’s strange take on that, were met with massive backlash. Despite or perhaps because he was over-marketed, Mr. J’s limited screentime further sullied “Suicide Squad’s” status.

#2: Created: Daniel Craig as James Bond

“Casino Royale” (2006)

After the 2002 release of “Die Another Day,” Pierce Brosnan hung up his 007 jersey, and the search for a new James Bond began. When Daniel Craig was announced, it inspired an Internet movement to boycott his first outing as Bond and have him removed from the role. Their biggest complaint? James Bond could never be blond! Some more level-headed critics were also less than impressed with the choice, suggesting he didn’t have the same charisma as his more debonair predecessors. Nevertheless, “Casino Royale” was a success, and Craig’s Bond plumbed new emotional depths for the character in the acclaimed series that followed.

#1: Killed: Scarlett Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi

“Ghost in the Shell” (2017)

The people behind this live-action adaptation of a beloved Japanese anime franchise were obviously looking for a way to translate its success to the English-speaking world. Unfortunately, their solution was to cast Scarlett Johansson as protagonist Mira Killian. The decision to cast a White actress in the role was met with a resounding thud, followed by outrage. Doubly unfortunate was that many people’s first exposure to the story might have been because of this controversy. What’s worse was the twist that Killian was an android carrying the consciousness of Motoko Kusanagi, who was Japanese. The backlash and the many other factors behind “Ghost in the Shell’s” poor reviews factored into a major box office disappointment.

#1: Created: Heath Ledger as the Joker

“The Dark Knight” (2008)

Hindsight is 20/20. When Heath Ledger was announced as the new Joker in Christopher Nolan’s critical and financial smash “The Dark Knight,” fans were not happy. He was considered too young and frankly too pretty. Given Ledger’s resume up to that point, there was a widespread belief among Batman fans that he was the wrong choice. We know how that turned out, don’t we? Ultimately, it seems like the surrounding the casting decision only added to the pre-release hype. Ledger’s take on the Joker has gone down as one of the greatest acting performances of our time. His posthumous Oscar win rounded out the definitive example of apparent miscasting turning out to be the perfect pick.

What are some other casting announcements that inspired hype or hate? Tell us in the comments below.