Certain characters in movie history become iconic, and the actors who portray them become notorious for their roles. While it takes the right story and performance to make that happen, it also requires the right casting in the first place. Some actors are born to play specific roles, and their casting is perfect to the point where it’s impossible to imagine someone else in that role.
Johnny Depp – Captain Jack Sparrow
Johnny Depp has played plenty of great movie characters but will always be known as Captain Jack Sparrow. He brought tons of personality to this performance, both from a physical acting perspective and also with the smaller details, such as his facial expressions. There’s a fine line between being very charismatic and going over the top, and Depp gets it perfect here to create an iconic character.
Alan Rickman – Professor Snape
Professor Snape is a unique character in the Harry Potter franchise, given that he’s positioned to be a villain for most of the movies, but ultimately turns out to be one of the key heroes. Bringing the right level of sternness to the performance while holding enough back so that the big revelation would be understandable is a delicate balance, but Alan Rickman was up to the test. The tone in which he talks and how he moves with the cape flicks help take this character to the next level.
Rowan Atkinson – Mr. Bean
The Mr. Bean character is iconic in British movie history, but it took a specific type of performance to bring it to life. The character is downright goofy, and it took an actor willing to commit to that for this to work, which is what Rowan Atkinson does. From his over-the-top facial expressions to the physical comedy involved, it’s impossible to imagine anybody else thriving in this role.
Julie Andrews – Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews was the right casting to bring Mary Poppins to life. Although she plays a sickly sweet role, Andrews makes it charming, especially when blending in her sterner side when teaching the children lessons. While Emily Blunt attempts to take this character on in the sequel, even her best efforts differ from the original.
Sir Ian McKellen – Gandalf
Gandalf is an essential character in The Lord of the Rings franchise, and Sir Ian McKellen was an excellent choice to play him. It was challenging to simultaneously be a wise leader, a kind teacher, and someone people could take seriously in a fighting role, but McKellen managed to do it perfectly. His voice was ideal for this role as it suited the character, and now it’s impossible to imagine anybody else playing him, even though Christopher Lee wanted the part.
Heath Ledger – The Joker
Several actors have played The Joker throughout movie history, but Heath Ledger is now the person everybody thinks of when they think of this character. He committed to the role completely, adding the right charisma level while being maniacal.
Robert Downey Jr. – Tony Stark
At this point, it’s hard to see where the separation between Robert Downey Jr. and the on-screen character of Tony Stark is. He took on the role and went all in with it, essentially becoming the billionaire superhero. It’s a character that could be easy to find egotistical. Still, Downey Jr.’s performances help add a level of heart to it as he helped Stark as a character throughout the movies to become the true leader of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Ewan McGregor – Obi-Wan Kenobi
This was a character that people loved from the original Star Wars trilogy, so casting the younger version of Obi-Wan Kenobi was always going to be tough. Fortunately, Ewan McGregor proved to be the ideal choice. His performances are one of the highlights from the prequel movies, with his acting quality shining through to make the character even more iconic than before.
James Earl Jones – Mufasa
The character of Mufasa is supposed to be the leader of the animals at Pride Rock, and James Earl Jones’ iconic voice was the right casting to bring that to life. His booming, deep tones commanded respect and worked well regarding the soundbites of giving Simba advice in The Lion King.
Matthew Lillard – Shaggy
Shaggy is one of the most popular characters in the Scooby-Doo franchise, known for his eccentric behavior and over-the-top attitude. The live-action casting would always need someone to bring the energy, and Matthew Lillard ticked that box perfectly.
Christoph Waltz – Hans Landa
Christoph Waltz brought an unforgettable performance in Inglorious ********, balancing out intelligence and evil to create a fantastic character. Being able to speak fluently in various languages, he provided a coolness that made Hans Landa scary without ever needing to be over the top.
Gene Wilder – Willy Wonka
Several people have played Willy Wonka, but Gene Wilder’s portrayal remains the best. He manages to strike the perfect balance between Wonka’s eccentric personality, subtle scariness, and warmth in a mesmerizing performance. It’s an unforgettable piece of work, which is why it has stood the test of time.
Austin Butler – Elvis Presley
Portraying a real-life person isn’t easy in movies because it’s easily comparable, and everybody has specific expectations. There have been good and bad examples over the years, but Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis Presley is one of the best.
Hugh Jackman – Wolverine
Hugh Jackman is a fantastic actor who’s versatile and has a range of skills. He’s got an incredible filmography, but his performances as Wolverine are what he’s known for. He manages to turn what is quite a grumpy and serious character into one that audiences love due to his commitment. He knows when to turn it up and when to be softer, and it helped make Wolverine one of the greatest comic book characters in cinematic history.
Christopher Lloyd – Doc Brown
It’s hard to imagine anybody else playing the part of Doc Brown, and that’s due to the incredible job that Christopher Lloyd does in this franchise. He’s zany enough for people to buy into his inventions and wacky ideas, but he’s also a caring character, and Lloyd also brings that side of himself out.
Tom Cruise – Ethan Hunt
The Mission Impossible franchise has been so successful because of Tom Cruise. He’s the genuine article for action movies, and that’s because he takes on his own stunts, no matter how crazy or dangerous they seem. Fans get excited about this with each movie, which means that people can buy into the action in a way that’s impossible with other movies.
Vin Diesel – Dominic Toretto
Nobody else could’ve taken the role of Dominic Toretto and turned it into what Vin Diesel has. Whether he’s behind the wheel of a car, talking about his family, or getting involved in a fight scene, Diesel commits completely, allowing audiences to buy into the character over the years.
Jennifer Lawrence – Katniss Everdeen
Katniss Everdeen is a unique character in that she’s rather serious and downbeat for a typical franchise hero. But that’s due to the circumstances she’s put in throughout the franchise, and Jennifer Lawrence still managed to bring out a level of charm from the source material to make Katniss even more compelling. She provides the proper levels of emotion while thriving in the action sequences in a role that helped make her a blockbuster star.
John Travolta – Danny Zuko
The actor who portrayed Danny Zuko needed to provide the right aesthetic, being someone female viewers would want to be with and male audiences would want to be with. All while providing real charm, excellent movement, and strong singing. John Travolta ticked all those boxes and then some, ensuring his name would go down in history with this one role.
Jack Black – Dewey Finn
Nobody could’ve taken on the lead role in School of Rock other than Jack Black, as this was essentially a dream part for him. The casting was perfect because he is an actor and rock star. Due to his career with Tenacious D, Black was able to be an exaggerated version of himself. That helped make the performance so much fun as he brought his charismatic energy and excellent musical skills to create an iconic character.
Anthony Hopkins – Hannibal Lecter
Anthony Hopkins’s performances as Hannibal Lecter are iconic, and people can’t imagine anyone else in the role. Showcasing Hannibal’s supreme intelligence while at the same time being eerie and chilling with his actions creates a combination that audiences love to see. He’s terrifying yet charming in equal measure, which makes him so compelling.
