Top 10 Surprising Casting Choices for Biopics

“Ray” (2004)
While we now know that Foxx is an uber-talented multi-hyphenate, it’s important to remember that general audiences in 2004 weren’t aware of his potential for superstardom. Prior to depicting the life of the soul and R&B legend in director Taylor Hackford’s film, Foxx was best-known for his stint on the iconic sketch show “In Living Color,” in addition to his self-titled late ‘90s sitcom. Independently produced then distributed by Universal Pictures, it was clear that, with “Ray,” the studio would be taking a risk on a mostly-unproven leading man. That doubt dissipated instantly, however, when “Ray” was released, becoming a huge box office success and earning Foxx the Academy Award for Best Actor.

“Elvis” (2022)
When Denzel Washington himself personally calls your director to recommend you for the part of Elvis freakin’ Presley, you can probably breathe a sigh of relief and assume you have it in the bag. That’s what happened to former Disney kid Austin Butler, who was Oscar-nominated and launched into instant superstardom for his starring part in Baz Luhrmann’s epic biopic. What makes Butler’s casting even more surprising is the stiff competition he faced for the role: he was reportedly up against such heavy hitters as Miles Teller, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and even pop star Harry Styles. We hope Austin called Denzel back to say thanks!

“Adaptation” (2002)
How many biopics are about the life of the guy who wrote them? Originally intended as a straightforward translation of Susan Orlean’s “The Orchid Thief” from the page to the screen, “Adaptation” evolved into a meditation on making movies that only partially adapts Orlean’s book. As such, Cage was cast against type to play Kaufman, the film’s neurotic screenwriter, as he experiences a mild existential crisis in trying to write the script for the movie you’re watching. It’s a bit of a head trip. Cage, by then already better known for his unhinged performances in action movies, returned to his character acting roots in playing not only Kaufman, but his fictional twin brother “Donald.” We told you — total head trip.

“Find Me Guilty” (2006)
Even in 2006, audiences mostly associated leading man Diesel with his roles in the “Fast and Furious” and “Riddick” franchises, which clearly didn’t make use of the actor’s full dramatic potential. “Find Me Guilty” finds Diesel playing Jackie DiNorscio, a slightly eccentric real-life mobster who was a defendant in this federal trial. This trial, by the way, stands as the longest ever of its kind, lasting nearly two years due to extenuating circumstances… chiefly among them, DiNorscio’s baffling choice to legally represent himself. It’s a shame that “Find Me Guilty” went decidedly under the radar after its release — Diesel is highly compelling as DiNorscio. Maybe he could squeeze in another drama between “Fast” sequels?

“Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018)
Possibly the film with the most troubled production on this list, there were moments when it seemed like “Bohemian Rhapsody” might never be made at all. Various iterations drifted in and out of development hell, including a proposed warts-and-all version starring Sacha Baron Cohen that was shot down by the surviving members of Queen. Eventually, the film’s producers caught “Mr. Robot,” the USA Network cyber-drama which starred Malek, and felt they had found their Freddie. Despite the Emmy winner’s resemblance to Mercury, he, like Jamie Foxx, was untested as a movie star — Malek has even said that, during dance rehearsals, he felt like a “lost cause.” Ultimately, it worked out, with Malek winning an Oscar for his performance.

“Spencer” (2021)
Clearly, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been praised by critics and cinephiles for your work across multiple indie films — when you’ve starred in five “Twilight” movies, like Kristen Stewart did, audiences have trouble getting the image of Bella Swan out of their minds. At that time, Stewart had been relentlessly mocked by memes calling attention to her supposedly wooden acting, and that stigma had led audiences to question her casting as the beloved “People’s Princess” — not to mention the fact that she’s American and Diana was obviously British. When asked why he cast Stewart, “Spencer” director Pablo Larrain commented that he felt Stewart accurately conveyed the “uncrackable mystery” of Princess Diana.

“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013)
It might seem odd to think about it now, but there was a time in the 2000s when Matthew McConaughey was largely regarded as an unserious leading hunk, foregoing his previous dramatic acting skills in favor of formulaic Hollywood romantic comedies that made money, but not lasting impressions. The juicy, real-life role of Ron Woodroof, an ‘80s HIV/AIDS activist, was passed from actor to actor, including the likes of Woody Harrelson, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Gosling, but the film’s producers felt that McConaughey, a charismatic Texas native, was the man for the job. It would seem that they were right — McConaughey won the Oscar for Best Actor for playing Woodroof, capping off what was informally known as the “McConnaissance.”

“Blonde” (2022)
On the surface, casting de Armas as the all-American icon Monroe might have raised some eyebrows. By her own admission, the Cuban performer had only become fluent in the English language a few years before being cast as Monroe, and still bore a strong accent at the time “Blonde” was filmed. Director Andrew Dominik was confident that he had found his Marilyn, however; he went to bat for her after her very first audition. De Armas immersed herself in the role and Marilyn Monroe’s life over the course of a year, and despite the film’s overwhelming divisiveness, was rewarded with a Best Actress nomination at the 95th Academy Awards.

“Foxcatcher” (2014)
This dark wrestling drama proves that actors should never be pigeonholed into the genres they’re best known for. Initially intended for future Oscar winner Gary Oldman, the role of the mentally ill heir eventually went to comedic superstar and Emmy nominee Carell. Much to the surprise of Jeanne McCarthy, the film’s casting director, Carell was handpicked by director Bennett Miller, despite Carell’s limited dramatic experience and relative lack of resemblance to John du Pont. Carell himself largely credited his left-field casting to Miller, speculating that he was cast because “Bennett says [he has] a benign public persona, and Du Pont did too.” Whatever the case for defying typecasting, it worked out — both Miller and Carell were nominated for Oscars.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, “The Iron Claw”
The Former “High School Musical” Mines New Dramatic Territory in This Wrestling Drama


Christian Bale as Dick Cheney, “Vice”
Proof That Bale Can Handle Pretty Much Anything a Director Tasks Him With


Willem Dafoe as Vincent Van Gogh, “At Eternity’s Gate”
The American Actor Is Significantly Older Than the Dutch Painter Ever Was


Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin, “Chaplin”
Downey Was Oscar-Nominated For His Immersive Performance As the Iconic British Filmmaker


Russell Crowe as Jeffrey Wigand, “The Insider”
Crowe Convincingly Plays Much Older Than His 35 Years At the Time

“Man on the Moon” (1999)
Didn’t we just say that actors should leave their comfort zones more often? That’s perhaps best exemplified by Carrey’s all-in performance as the legendary comedian, actor, and provocateur Kaufman. This unconventional biopic goes a long way in maintaining Kaufman’s unique mystique, and it seems fair to say that Carrey is a crucial part of that. Beating out known dramatic actors like Edward Norton, Nicolas Cage, and John Cusack, Carrey took the role extremely seriously. So seriously, in fact, that the level of method acting he committed to not only alienated those around him on the film’s set, but those who had known Kaufman in his life felt that he was reincarnated through Carrey.


Are there any biopics we forgot about? Any on our list that surprised you? Let us know in the comments below!