twoscore actors who were replaced by other stars to play the same character

gellert grindelwald

Warner Bros. volition recast Johnny Depp's role in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise.
Warner Bros.
  • Insider rounded up actors who accept taken over each other's roles on TV and in film.
  • Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, and Maggie Gyllenhaal have all taken over prominent superhero picture show roles.
  • Nigh recently, Johnny Depp's character volition exist recast in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise after losing a libel accommodate against publishers of the UK newspaper, The Sun, which referred to him as a "married woman-beater."
  • Visit Insider'southward homepage for more stories.

In that location are numerous reasons why actors have been replaced in movies and Boob tube shows.

Some stars step in to play the same character later on scheduling conflicts arise and the original actor has to leave. Sometimes the celebrity doesn't concur with the script and leaves of their own accord. Other times, gear up drama results in an histrion being fired and a new character is introduced.

Keep reading to see 40 examples of actors stepping in for each other for various TV and picture show projects.

Anjelica Oswald contributed to a previous version of this story.

When Annette Bening dropped out of the role of Catwoman in "Batman Returns," Michelle Pfeiffer took over.

Could yous have seen Annette Bening equally Catwoman?
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Drove via Getty Images, Warner Bros. Pictures/Dusk Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening was originally bandage in the movie but dropped out earlier filming began after becoming pregnant.

"We were a niggling flake in a panic considering we'd fitted the costumes and the mask and everything and and so Annette was meaning," said producer Denise Di Novi in "Batman: The Definitive History of the Dark Knight in Comics, Movie, and Across."

Pfeiffer was cast so late in the process that she actually used some of the article of clothing made for Bening.

Chadwick Boseman briefly played a role on ABC's old lather opera, "All My Children." Michael B. Hashemite kingdom of jordan then took on the role.

Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan both played Reggie Porter, who subsequently took on the proper name Reggie Montgomery on "All My Children."
ABC

In 2018, Boseman recounted how he was fired from a Boob tube bear witness early in his career during a Howard University commencement speech after questioning negative stereotypes of his role, though he didn't identify the show.

Years subsequently when Boseman and Hashemite kingdom of jordan co-starred in Marvel's "Black Panther" together, they were asked about playing the same role equally Reggie Porter on ABC's "All My Children." Boseman admitted to The Wrap that he was fired from the network soap.

"They said, 'You are too much trouble,' but they took my suggestions, or some of them. And for me, honestly, that's what this is nigh," Boseman said at the time about helping to shape the new version of Reggie Porter.

Hashemite kingdom of jordan would proceed to play Reggie, who on the testify eventually became the adopted son of Susan Lucci's Erica Kane and Jackson Montgomery, for four years through 2006.

Olivia Colman was announced equally Claire Foy's replacement on "The Crown."

Claire Foy and Olivia Colman.
Netflix and Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Foy has played Queen Elizabeth for the showtime two seasons of the Netflix drama, just considering the tertiary and 4th seasons portray the middle-aged Queen, a casting modify was needed.

On "Game of Thrones," Gregor Clegane, otherwise known as The Mountain, has been played past three different actors during the prove'southward seven seasons.

Conan Stevens, Ian Whyte, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.
HBO

Fans offset met The Mountain when he was played by Conan Stevens on flavour 1. He was recast for season two and Ian Whyte took over. Whyte has played a few other characters on the HBO show, including some White Walkers and the giant Wun Wun. Strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson took over in one case more in season three and has stayed in the office since.

Likewise on "Game of Thrones," sellsword and Daenerys Targaryen's lover Daario Naharis was played by Ed Skrein on season three and replaced by Michiel Huisman for seasons four through six.

Ed Skrein and Michiel Huisman.
HBO

When Daenerys commencement met Daario, Skrein portrayed the sellsword. But the actor chose to step away from the serial to pursue a film career. He was cast in "The Transporter: Refueled." Huisman and so stepped in.

Read more about recasting on "Game of Thrones" here.

Rebecca "Becky" Conner-Healy, Roseanne's oldest daughter on "Roseanne," went through some changes as the extra inverse back-and-forth a few times.

Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke.
ABC

Lecy Goranson was bandage as the original Becky and played her through flavor five, but she quit the show to attend Vassar College and Sarah Chalke came in to supersede her. The show was expected to terminate with its eighth flavour, so Goranson returned with Chalke and her alternating the graphic symbol every bit a running gag.

Chalke so continued every bit the character during the show's ninth and final flavor. Goranson reprised her graphic symbol when "Roseanne" returned for a revival. Chalke returned in a dissimilar, brief role. Goranson continues to play her on "The Conners."

"Riverdale'southward" Reggie Mantle was played past Ross Butler on season one and Charles Melton on flavor two.

Ross Butler and Charles Melton.
The CW and Dean Buscher/The CW

Butler had to leave his office on The CW show due to scheduling conflicts with "13 Reasons Why."

Melton told INSIDER that he didn't focus on Butler's portrayal of the character on the commencement season because he was told non to.

"I went in during the audition process, it was like the second audition, and I had a session with Roberto," Melton said. "I watched the show to kind of become a experience of it, and Roberto [Aguirre-Sacasa] was like, 'Don't watch anything. Don't watch what Ross [Butler] did. What you're doing is completely different.' He was steering me to not throw myself off by trying to emulate somebody else."

James Kent on "Truthful Blood" was played by Luke Grimes on season vi and Nathan Parsons on season vii.

Luke Grimes and Nathan Parsons.
HBO

When Grimes suddenly left the prove, HBO issued a argument saying it was due to "the creative direction of the graphic symbol." BuzzFeed afterward reported that he left considering he was unwilling to play a gay grapheme, and the writers weren't willing to change the character'south romantic future with Lafayette. Grimes' publicist told BuzzFeed information technology was scheduling.

Katie Holmes played Rachel Dawes, Batman'south friend and beloved interest in "Batman Begins," but didn't return for the sequel. She was replaced past Maggie Gyllenhaal in "The Night Knight."

Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Warner Bros. Pictures

Holmes declined to return for the sequel in order to pursue other projects, but she told MTV that she didn't regret her decision.

"I had a not bad feel working with Chris Nolan [and] I'm sure information technology's going to be a corking picture, [but] I chose to practice this movie ['Mad Money'], and I'm really proud of it," she said.

Terrence Howard played Atomic number 26 Man's friend James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the starting time "Iron Man" movie, simply didn't return for the sequel and was replaced by Don Cheadle.

Terrence Howard and Don Cheadle.
Disney

During an interview on "Picket What Happens Live," Howard revealed that the money offer he had originally received for the movie deals weren't up to par when he went to resign for the second one — and blamed star Robert Downey Jr. for the difference.

"It turns out that the person I helped get Iron Human being...when information technology was time to re-up for the 2d one, [he] took the money that was supposed to go to me and pushed me out," he said. "Nosotros did a three-moving picture deal, then that means that yous did the deal ahead of time. It was going to exist a certain amount for the first i, a sure amount for the second ane, a sure amount for the third. They came to me with the second and said, 'Look, we will pay you ane-eighth of what we contractually had for y'all, considering we call up the 2d one will exist successful with or without you.' And I called my friend — that I helped get the outset job — and he didn't call me back for 3 months."

Cheadle has played Rhodey/State of war Motorcar in all subsequent films.

Hugo Weaving played Johann Schmidt in "Captain America: The First Avenger." After his graphic symbol became the Red Skull, he didn't return for the function.

"TWD" star Ross Marquand took over the role of Red Skull in "Avengers: Endgame."
Marvel Studios

In "Avengers: Endgame," Red Skull surprisingly returned, but Hugo Weaving did non.

Though information technology sounds like Hugo Weaving'south phonation in the moving picture, information technology wasn't him. The character was actually voiced by "The Walking Dead" role player Ross Marquand, who happens to be a dandy impressionist.

"Once Upon a Time" aged up Henry Mills past 10 years for flavour seven, so Andrew J. West stepped in for Jared S. Gilmore.

Jared Due south. Gilmore and Andrew J. West.
ABC

The time bound on the ABC drama introduced an adult Henry every bit an Uber commuter in Seattle.

Rachelle Lefevre played Victoria in the first two "Twilight" films, just was replaced past Bryce Dallas Howard in the third.

Rachelle Lefevre and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Summit Entertainment

Lefevre said she was "stunned" by the news that she was to be recast in the "Twilight" movies in a statement to Access Hollywood.

"I was fully committed to the 'Twilight' saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria. I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules," she said. "I was happy with my contract with Pinnacle and was fully prepared to continue to honor it. Acme chose simply to recast the role."

The studio responded and said information technology was due to her withholding her scheduling conflicts from them.

Richard Harris played Albus Dumbledore for the first 2 "Harry Potter" films before Michael Gambon took over.

Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.
Warner Bros. Pictures

Harris died after the second pic had been filmed. He was 72.

Eric Forman'southward older sister Laurie was played by Lisa Robin Kelly for virtually of her fourth dimension on "That '70s Testify," just she was replaced with Christina Moore on flavor half dozen.

Lisa Robin Kelly and Christina Moore.
Fox

Kelly was introduced as Laurie during flavor i of "That '70s Prove," but abruptly left the show during season three and was written out past having Laurie get off to beauty schoolhouse. Kelly briefly returned on season five merely was replaced by Moore for a couple episodes of season half-dozen.

In a 2012 interview, Kelly told ABC News that she left because of alcohol abuse brought on past the loss of a child.

"I had lost a baby," she said. "As a consequence of that I lost it. I lost everything and I was abusing alcohol. With 'That '70s Prove,' I was guilty of a drinking trouble. And I ran."

"Dr. Who" is on its 13th incarnation of its titular character. Jodie Whittaker was announced as the first female doctor in 2017 and replaces Peter Capaldi.

Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker.
BBC

Peter Capaldi portrayed the Time Lord for three seasons. The Medico's ability to regenerate his body allows the character to easily be portrayed past numerous actors over time.

Pam'due south mom on "The Office" was played by two separate actresses seasons apart.

Shannon Cochran and Linda Purl equally Pam's mom.
NBC

Helene Beesly start made an appearance on flavor two's 2d episode, "Sexual Harassment," played by Shannon Cochran. Linda Purl took over as Helene on season six with the "Niagara" episodes.

Trudy Monk, Adrian's beloved wife on "Monk," was played by Stellina Rusich through the first two seasons but was bandage as Melora Hardin from season three on.

Stellina Rusich and Melora Hardin.
USA

Rusich played Trudy in a lot of short flashbacks. When they decided to recast for a more significant function, the producers looked for an actress who looked similar to Rusich. Afterwards narrowing the search downward to five actresses, they chose Hardin.

"[She] merely knocked us out. She had an angelic quality without being too syrupy or heavy-handed," director Randy Zisk said in "The Official Episode Guide." "It'due south a softness that we like, considering Trudy would definitely accept that quality."

Janet Hubert-Whitten played the start Vivian Banks on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" but was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid after season three.

Janet Hubert-Whitten and Daphne Maxwell Reid.
NBC

Hubert's exit from the show was controversial, and was due in part to a feud with executives and Will Smith. In 2011, she told TMZ she would never do a reunion with the cast because "I will never practise anything with an asshole like Will Smith." Star Alfonso Ribiero shared a cast reunion photograph once again in 2017 and Hubert went on another tirade against the cast.

"I accept no interest in seeing any of these people on that kind of level," she wrote on her Facebook folio.

Nick Jonas invitee starred as Ryan Vogelson on "Last Man Standing" during season ane, simply his character was recast on season ii with Jordan Masterson taking over.

Nick Jonas and Jordan Masterson.
ABC

The recasting of Jonas' graphic symbol was one of multiple recastings on the sitcom, including the actress who played Tim Allen's oldest daughter.

"Hannibal" recast Mason Verger between seasons two and three with Joe Anderson replacing Michael Pitt.

Michael Pitt and Joe Anderson.
NBC

According to TVLine, Pitt chose to step abroad from the function and Anderson took over.

Jake T. Austin played Jesus Adams Foster on "The Fosters," but Noah Centineo replaced him on flavor three.

Jake T. Austin and Noah Centineo.
Freeform

Austin explained on Twitter that he wanted to pursue "roles with more noun content."

The character Capheus "Van Damme" Onyango on Netlfix's "Sense8" was recast between seasons one and two.

Aml Ameen and Toby Onwumere.
Netflix

Aml Ameen played the sensate on the show's kickoff season, simply it was announced that he was existence recast for the evidence's Christmas special and subsequent second flavor. Deadline reported at the time of his departure that "creative differences" led to the switch. Toby Onwumere was cast within a calendar week due to Ameen's abrupt deviation.

Rachel Weisz played Evie in "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns," but was replaced by Maria Bello in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."

Rachel Weisz and Maria Bello.
Universal Pictures

Sources told CinemaBlend that Weisz left the movie due to bug with the script.

Mae Whitman is known for playing Ann on "Arrested Evolution, but Alessandra Torresani played the character for her first appearance on season one.

Alessandra Torresani and Mae Whitman.
Netflix

According to Flavorwire, series creator Mitch Hurwitz thought about having a different actress play Ann in each episode to bear witness how "unmemorable" she was, but they concluded up just having the two actresses.

Kaitlin Cooper on "The O.C." was outset played by a young Shailene Woodley before being replaced by Willa Holland.

Shailene Woodley and Willa Holland.
Flim-flam

Kaitlin was shipped off to boarding school during flavor one and Holland began playing the grapheme when she returned for the third season.

Jerry Seinfeld'south dad Morty was played by Phil Bruns on an episode of flavor 1, but Barney Martin replaced him for every other appearance.

Phil Bruns and Barney Martin.
NBC

Bruns was recast because they wanted a harsher take on Jerry's dad, but Bruns' first episode wasn't reshot.

Erinn Hayes played Donna Gable on "Kevin Can Wait," merely her grapheme was killed off after season i and Leah Remini became the new female person atomic number 82.

Erinn Hayes and Leah Remini.
Jeffrey Neira and Jeff Neumann/CBS

Hayes announced in June that she wouldn't be returning to the show, and in August, CBS confirmed that her character would be killed off before the new season and would be handled later a time jump.

Fans weren't pleased with how her expiry played out, and star Kevin James' reasoning for why she was killed has too been poorly received. Remini didn't accept over the grapheme role, merely she did replace Hayes every bit a regular on the CBS sitcom.

After eight seasons, Charlie Sheen's character was killed off of "Two and a Half Men" and Ashton Kutcher stepped in for the show's concluding flavor.

Charlie Sheen and Ashton Kutcher.
CBS

Sheen was fired from the show in March 2011 after his off-ready antics landed him in hot water.

Shannen Doherty left "Beverly Hills, 90210" after iv seasons and was replaced by Tiffani Thiessen as the new villain.

Shannen Doherty and Tiffani Thiessen.
Fox

Doherty was fired from the bear witness and was known to not get forth with the cast and crew. According to Entertainment Weekly, Doherty cut her hair halfway through filming an episode without informing anyone, and that was the last straw.

Shannen Doherty likewise starred on "Charmed," only the actress left after three seasons and Rose McGowan joined the bandage for 5 seasons.

Shannen Doherty and Rose McGowan.
The WB

Doherty'due south character was killed off after it was decided that she would be leaving the show early on. Co-ordinate to ABC News, Spelling TV made a statement urging Doherty to pursue other projects.

"Nosotros take had a long and prosperous relationship with Shannen and we didn't desire to concord her back from what she wanted to practice," the argument read.

In an interview following her departure Doherty said, "There was likewise much drama on the fix and not enough passion for the work. I'k 30 years old and I don't accept time for drama in my life anymore."

McGowan joined the cast every bit the long-lost younger sister.

Skyler Astin is joining the bandage of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" as Greg, who was played by Santino Fantana on the starting time 2 seasons.

Santino Fontana as Greg and Skyler Astin.
The CW and Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Greg hasn't been seen since season two, but he's coming dorsum for the testify's fifth and final season. He left when Fontana asked to exit the bear witness. Astin'due south takeover of the character will non be ignored, Rachel Bloom said.

"We don't want to spoil it as well much," she said, co-ordinate to The Hollywood Reporter. "Information technology will be a groovy argument on how our perception of people changes. Greg is a barometer of how people's perceptions changes. It'll have been two years since Rebecca'due south seen him."

Nathalie Kelley played Cristal on The CW's "Dynasty" reboot but her character was recast for the 2nd flavor with Ana Brenda Contreras.

Nathalie Kelley as Cristal and Ana Brenda Contreras.
The CW and Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The CW announced that Ana Brenda Contreras would play the "real" Cristal on the 2d season of the soap opera after leaving Cristal's fate up-in-the-air after a fire. Kelley had announced that she wouldn't be returning to the series before the network was ready during an an interview with "E! News."

"Is it a coma? Is it death? … I actually don't know," she said. "But I know that I'one thousand not going to Atlanta in July, that I'm staying [in LA]…. I've got my life back."

Laura Benanti played Kara'south biological mother Alura Zor-El for the first ii seasons of "Supergirl" only was replaced by Erica Durance for the 3rd.

Laura Benanti and Erica Durance.
The CW

Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said that Benanti couldn't continue on the show because "piece of work commitments in [New York]."

Benanti after tweeted, "I loved working on this show and volition miss it so much! Correct now it'southward time for me to exist supermom to my own fiddling one in NYC."

Durance played Lois Lane on "Smallville."

Twins Chloe and Sophia Garcia-Frizzi played a young Judith Grimes on "The Walking Dead." When the show jumped frontward 6 years, Cailey Fleming took over the part.

Cailey Fleming turned Judith into a fan-favorite on "TWD."
Jackson Lee Davis, Jace Downs/AMC

Though a number of young children were swapped to play Judith equally a baby and toddler on "TWD," the Garcia-Frizzi twins played the part from seasons six through nine.

When the show moved forwards in time, "Star Wars" actress Cailey Fleming joined the show as i of the new leads. You may recognize her from her role equally Young Rey in "The Force Awakens."

"We did a very broad-ranging search for Judith. We had and so many amazing fiddling girls audition, just so much talent regionally," showrunner Angela Kang told Insider. "Cailey just had the most astonishing read. Me, and the other executive producers, nosotros all just sparked to her. She but had this kind of liveliness and light and such intelligence in her optics, and simply made such keen choices."

Samantha Morton originally voiced the AI in "Her" earlier Cherry-red Johansson re-recorded the role.

Samantha Morton originally voiced the atomic number 82 female vocalisation in "Her."
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Entertainment, Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

"Samantha was with us on set and was amazing. Information technology was only in post-production, when nosotros started editing, that we realized that what the character/motion-picture show needed was dissimilar from what Samantha and I had created together," director Spike Jonze said in an electronic mail statement to Vulture. "We recast and since then Scarlett has taken over that role."

Colin Firth was the original vox of the lovable carry Paddington before Ben Whishaw took over the function.

Colin Firth stepped down from the role in 2014.
Myung-Gu/Getty Images, Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

The film'southward producer, David Heyman, said the little bear from Republic of peru needed a "slightly more open, and younger vocalism."

Whishaw, who took over the role, told The Daily Post he was originally a chip hesitant to take it on.

"I resisted a little fleck, considering I had a bad experience doing this kind of piece of work in the past and I thought I was no good at it. But I was persuaded to go, slightly grudgingly," Whishaw said.

It seemed like they knew what they were doing. 2018'southward "Paddington" became the all-time-reviewed moving picture on Rotten Tomatoes of all time.

Kevin Spacey was removed from Ridley Scott's finished moving picture, "All the Money in the Earth," and rapidly replaced with Christopher Plummer.

So 58-year-old Spacey was quickly replaced past the so 88-twelvemonth-one-time veteran.
TriStar Pictures

When Spacey faced allegations of sexual harassment from more a dozen men, the thespian was removed from the 2017 motion-picture show about oil tycoon J. Paul Getty.

Instead of shelving the film, managing director Ridley Scott filmed about 400 new shots over 9 days with Plummer recast in the function.

"We were pressured with time, and the 2 gave very different performances, and then it wasn't just a question of replacing [Spacey with Plummer]," editor Claire Simpson told The Hollywood Reporter. "The rhythm was very different, his emphasis on the dialogue was very different, and that impacted the other performances in the scene. So we decided to replace complete scenes."

Plummer received a best supporting Oscar nominee for his performance.

Finally, Johnny Depp will be replaced in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise by a yet-to-be-named actor.

Johnny Depp played nighttime sorcerer Gellert Grindelwald.
Warner Bros.

Depp was asked to resign from his role as the dark sorcerer, Gellert Grindelwald, in the "Harry Potter" prequel series. The actor stepped downwards from the role days after losing a libel suit confronting the publishers of UK paper The Lord's day for describing him equally a "married woman beater" in connection to ex-wife Amber Heard.

A Warner Bros. representative confirmed to Insider Depp'southward role in the franchise will be recast. Despite resigning, Depp will reportedly receive his full eight-figure salary for the moving picture due to his "pay or play" contract, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

According to Borderline, "Hannibal" player Mads Mikkelsen is in talks to take over the part.

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