Top 10 Times Roles Were Recast Because the Actor was Cancelled
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Times Actors Were Recast Because the Actor Was Canceled. For this list, we’ll be looking at actors who were replaced in their film and TV roles either before or during production due to a public controversy. Which of these recastings did you think was the most scandalous? Let us know in the comments below!
#10: Frank Langella
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“The Fall of the House of Usher” (2023)
Continuing Mike Flanagan’s stellar track record with Netflix, 2023 saw him adapting this short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Carla Gugino reunited with Flanagan following the success of the “Haunting” anthology, and four-time Tony Award winner Frank Langella was poised to star as Roderick Usher. However, Langella was later accused of sexual harassment, and an investigation found that he had behaved inappropriately toward a co-star. Langella was subsequently fired from the production, which was already halfway through filming. Bruce Greenwood was cast in his place, and all of the scenes involving Roderick had to be reshot.
#9: T.J. Miller
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“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (2019)
Miller has one of those voices that you instantly recognize. That voice was on full display throughout the first two “How to Train Your Dragon” films, in which Miller played Hiccup’s buddy Tuffnut Thorston. Three years after the release of the second film in 2014, Miller became the subject of a sexual assault allegation dating back to his college days. And shortly after that, Miller placed a fake bomb threat on an Amtrak train, reportedly while intoxicated. As a result of both of these controversies, Miller was fired by DreamWorks Animation. He had already recorded his lines for the third “Dragon” film, “The Hidden World,” so impersonator Justin Rupple was brought in for redubs.
#8: Chrissy Teigen
“Never Have I Ever” (2020-23)
Created by Lang Fisher and Mindy Kaling, and inspired by the latter’s upbringing, “Never Have I Ever” is about an Indian-American teenager navigating high school following the death of her father. One of the show’s gimmicks is that big name celebrities narrate certain episodes. Tennis legend John McEnroe provides most of the narration, with Andy Samberg and Gigi Hadid chipping in on occasion. The Hadid role was originally cast with Chrissy Teigen, but the model pulled out of the show when cyberharassment she had engaged in a decade earlier was made public. With Tiegen out, Netflix hired another prominent model to take her spot.
#7: Chris D'Elia
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“Army of the Dead” (2021)
This Zack Snyder film was already in post production when actor and stand-up comedian Chris D'Elia became the subject of a scandal. In June 2020, multiple women accused the comedian of sexual harassment and grooming. Fellow stand-up Tig Notaro was tapped to replace D’Elia in the film. Unfortunately, as shooting was already completed and the COVID lockdowns were in full swing, Notaro was forced to shoot her scenes on a green screen. This footage was then incorporated into the film through some clever editing and CGI.
#6: Justin Roiland
“Rick and Morty” (2013-)
Not only did Roiland co-create the beloved animated comedy, he also voices both of the lead characters. Well, he did until January 2023. That was when an alleged domestic battery incident dating back to 2020 surfaced in the national news. In its wake, multiple people came forward with accusations of predatory behavior, some of which came from fellow “Rick and Morty” employees. While the battery charges were eventually dismissed, Roiland’s reputation was tarnished and he was fired from Adult Swim. However, the company insisted that “Rick and Morty” would continue without Roiland and that the title characters would be recast.
#5: Shia LaBeouf
“Don't Worry Darling” (2022)
The production and release of Olivia Wilde’s anticipated follow-up to her acclaimed debut “Booksmart” were mired in scandal. The film stars Florence Pugh as Alice, a stereotypical ‘50s housewife who begins harboring suspicions about her living situation and husband Jack. Harry Styles was brought in to replace Shia LaBeouf in the role after Wilde claimed that LaBeouf had “a combative energy” and made Florence Pugh feel “uncomfortable.” The stories about LaBeouf’s conflicts on set are muddled, with LaBeouf saying he willingly left the production and Wilde saying that she fired him for his poor behavior. At this point, we’ll probably never know what really happened.
#4: Louis C.K.
“The Secret Life of Pets 2” (2019)
As the #MeToo movement gained momentum in 2017, multiple women called out comedian Louis C.K. for inappropriate behavior. The allegations derailed C.K.’s career, including a job on “The Secret Life of Pets 2.” The first film, in which C.K. voiced lead character Max, was an enormous success, grossing nearly $900 million. The sequel seemed like easy money for the comedian, but he was fired by Illumination in the wake of the scandal. The adorable Jack Russell terrier remained, but he was now voiced by Patton Oswalt. A third movie is currently in development, and it seems highly unlikely that C.K. will be involved.
#3: Armie Hammer
“The Offer” (2022)
For a while there, Armie Hammer seemed like the next big thing in Hollywood, especially on the heels of “Call Me By Your Name.” However, his career imploded when a number of horrible allegations came out in January 2021. Aside from some bizarre physical desires, Hammer was also accused of emotional abuse - so much so that a previous girlfriend was allegedly hospitalized for PTSD. He subsequently dropped out of numerous projects - including biographical miniseries “The Offer”, which he had been cast in just a month before. He was replaced by Miles Teller. Meanwhile, Will Arnett replaced him in Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins”, which required reshoots.
#2: Johnny Depp
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“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” (2022)
For the first two films in this Harry Potter spin-off franchise, antagonist Gellert Grindelwald was portrayed by the legendary Johnny Depp. But in April 2018, British tabloid “The Sun” ran an article against Depp, claiming that he was abusive towards his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Depp sued the newspaper for libel but lost the case, with the court ruling that there was enough evidence of Depp’s alleged abuse. The case was devastating to Depp’s reputation, and Warner Bros. reportedly asked him to step down as Grindelwald for the third film. Despite having already shot three scenes, Depp heeded their recommendation and was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen.
#1: Kevin Spacey
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“All the Money in the World” (2017)
Ridley Scott’s crime thriller chronicles the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, the grandson of the prominent and wealthy J. Paul Getty. The elderly oil magnate is played by Christopher Plummer, who was cast to replace Spacey when multiple accusations of misconduct came out after filming had already concluded. In fact, the allegations surfaced just a few months before the movie’s scheduled release, leaving little room for filming and post production. Plummer reshot all of Spacey’s scenes in the span of just nine days at the cost of $10 million. The recasting was a huge success, earning Plummer an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
