I'm not really sure I "disagreed" with these casting choices, but here are some recent performances that I was pleasantly surprised by:

Zachary Qunto as Spock

Channing Tatum in Jump Street

Melissa McCarthy in Spy

Colin Firth in Kingsman

I had the same thought regarding Heath Ledger as the Joker, but obviously my negativity was highly mis-placed. He made us all forget Jack Nicholson.

While I understand the marketing of casting Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, I disagreed with it at the time and still do. Alec Baldwin, as much as I loathe that goofball, was a much better choice given how Clancy wrote the character in the books. Ford was really too old IMO.

Unlike much of the rest of the known universe, I was not aghast at the casting of Ben Affleck as Batman. I have generally not had a problem with him in movies - I love Armageddon and I actually enjoyed much of Pearl Harbor. I gave him a chance as Batman and I don't feel like I had any reason to be disappointed.

Bruce Almighty said:

---

A ton of Marvel. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man was a big wtf for me. Chris Evans for Captain America was even a bigger wtf. I thought Marvel jumped the shark with Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy and Paul Rudd as Ant Man. Some how, they all keep working out.

---

I remember I had just recently seen kiss kiss bang bang when they announced RDJ as iron man and I thought it was a perfect choice.

I'm with you on Evans...

I'd add the Iron Fist guy, but Marvel's earned a lifetime "benefit of the doubt" pass from me at this point, so I'm sure he'll be brilliant.

Flashdiaz said:

---

I'll admit, after Nicholson's Joker, I wasn't initially crazy about Heath...



but man was I wrong.

---

This was the first thing that came to mind.

Max Power said:

---

I remember wondering what in the hell Nolan was thinking casting Heath Ledger as the joker. That immediately changed when this picture was released as a promo:



The definitive comic movie villain of all time for me, The Dark Knight was on last night and I watched it again, a truly incredible performance. Leto in Suicide Squad is just embarrassing.

---

I was always a believer in Ledger, but thought they'd go more a direction of a psycho, sadistic crime boss and downplay the clown aspect. When they released that photo, I lost my mind, I was so excited. Totally knew we were in for something special.

I'd say Batman movies have a nice history of this... Affleck, Keaton, Heath Ledger, Anne Hathaway.

Robert Duvall as Gus in Lonesome Dove. Thought they had lost their minds when I first read that. Now I can't imagine anyone else in that role.

And...waiting for the derivative of this thread

Even though I'm a fan of Denzel's work, I was also a big fan of the Equalizer series. Didn't seem like a fit.

But I loved the update. Hope they make a couple more.

I'll also admit that I don't like when Leo gets cast in physical roles. I just don't think you can stretch certain frame limitations. But it retrospect, I think he did well in the Departed. Just have a hard time seeing him as a gangster.

Lastly, markie mark recently pleased me by doing a decent job in deepwater horizon and in lone survivor. I used to roll my eyes when he was cast for ANY role. Now, I'm kinda enjoying his projects.

ok_ag95 said:

---

Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck was nails!

---

Same with Edward James Olmos

Jeff Goldblum as Ian Malcolm.

Max Power said:

---

I remember wondering what in the hell Nolan was thinking casting Heath Ledger as the joker. That immediately changed when this picture was released as a promo:



The definitive comic movie villain of all time for me, The Dark Knight was on last night and I watched it again, a truly incredible performance. Leto in Suicide Squad is just embarrassing.

---

I remember this like it was yesterday. The second that promo shot dropped, I was like 'Damn. I see you, Chris Nolan. I see you.'

Pitt as Lt. Aldo Reins (sp?) in Inglorius. I didn't like him at first. After my 2nd watch, I couldn't see anyone else played that role.

Robert Duvall - Gus McCray

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Too tall.

Maveric said:

---

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Too tall.

---

I guess they could have cast Danny DeVito

Michael Keaton as Batman.

Bruce Willis in Die Hard. I remember thinking "I bet this movie stinks because it has that goofy guy from Moonlighting playing an action hero" and 2 hours later I had just watched one of the greatest action heroes of all time.

Danny Devito in Always Sunny.

Maybe Tom Cruise as Lestat...?


nah, still think bad choice

Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn