Random Times Actors Were Replaced In Major Movie Franchises (And Hoped You Wouldn't Notice) (13 items)

(#6) Clarice Starling
- The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal
Jodie Foster won an Oscar and a permanent place in film history as the dogged FBI agent Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs. But when the sequel, Hannibal, was made a decade later, Julianne Moore was cast as Starling. The decision was all Foster's; producers tried to woo her back to the role, but she had no desire to return.
(#12) Felix Leiter
- Quantum of Solace, Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, Casino Royale, The Living Daylights, Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever, Licence to Kill, Dr. No, Never Say Never Again
James Bond's friend and CIA operative Felix Leiter is a staple of the Bond books and movies. He has rarely, however, been portrayed by the same actor in more than one Bond film. The reasons for this have never been established, but a roster of excellent character actors have portrayed Felix. Jeffrey Wright, John Terry, and Jack Lord are just a few of the many Felixes seen so far.
(#9) Jennifer Parker
- Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part III, Back to the Future Part II
Remember Claudia Wells, the charming young actress who plays Michael J. Fox's girlfriend Jennifer in Back to the Future? After the first movie, she seemingly disappears and is replaced by Elisabeth Shue.
The recast was Wells's choice, however. Her mother was battling lymphoma at the time, and she knew where her priorities were.
(#11) Hulk
- The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Incredible Hulk, Ultimate Avengers, Hulk, The Avengers, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, Hulk Vs, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Ultimate Avengers 2
In the 2008 Incredible Hulk film, Edward Norton plays the title role. Four years later, Mark Ruffalo was cast as Hulk in the Avengers movies and their assorted spin-offs and sequels.
Norton's conflicts with Marvel and director Louis Leterrier are well-documented, and were likely the biggest reason for the switch. Later, Norton said it was because he didn't want to be associated with one larger-than-life character. "I think you can sort of do anything once," he said, "but if you do it too many times, it can become a suit that’s hard to take off, in other peoples' eyes."
(#3) John Bosley
- Charlie's Angels
The first Charlie's Angels movie has Bill Murray in the pivotal role of John Bosley, Charlie's representative who keeps in regular communication with the Angels. In the sequel, Bernie Mac plays John's brother Jimmy Bosley.
Apparently, Murray and costar Lucy Liu butted heads on set, and though they eventually settled things amicably, Murray feared more friction would erupt. Also, Murray seems to have really hated Charlie's Angels and its director.
(#8) Spider-Man
- Spider-Man, The Green Goblin's Last Stand, The Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, 3 Dev Adam
The first three Spider-Man films starred Tobey Maguire as the web-slinging superhero, but he was eventually replaced by Andrew Garfield. The new casting was spun as a reboot rather than a continuation of the same series.
But Garfield wasn't a successful Spider-Man, as he himself acknowledges. He's since been replaced by Tom Holland. Sunrise, sunset.