The iconic man behind the curtain from “The Wizard of Oz” received his own prequel movie with James Franco as the wizard, but the casting proved to be a misstep. Picture a powerful wizard, even one who doesn’t actually have magic powers, and you’re unlikely to come up with Franco.
Franco has the acting chops, and the movie wasn’t terrible, but he seems more like a hipster playing a magician ironically than someone who really believes in himself. It would be like Michael Cera playing chocolatier Willy Wonka.
Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins
Katie Holmes got big by playing a cute teen in “Dawson's Creek,” but making the transition to love interest for DC's biggest hero, Batman, didn't work out. Many people found her role in the first of three Christopher Nolan "Batman" films to be lacking and forgettable.
When Maggie Gyllenhaal took her place as the character for “The Dark Knight,” people either didn't notice or agreed with the choice. Many think that Nolan had her replaced, but it seems even Holmes thought she wasn't right – she was reportedly offered the role a second time and ended up turning it down.
Justin Timberlake as Mickey Rubin in “Wonder Wheel”
From “The New Mickey Mouse Club” to 'Nsync and beyond, Justin Timberlake has done it all, including dating Britney Spears. He's been in several high-profile movies and delivered a few great performances, but “Wonder Wheel” wasn't his best.
As a Coney Island lifeguard who falls in love with a middle-aged waitress and her daughter, Timberlake was torn in too many directions to deliver a performance that could match up to director Woody Allen's standards. The dramatic film was fraught with problems, getting a mere thirty-one percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and Timberlake was one of the reasons it failed.
Dane DeHaan as Valerian in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Not a lot went right with this sci-fi movie, and plenty of critics and viewers said that Dane DeHaan (who has done plenty but nothing that noteworthy) might have been the weakest point. Many said that he just didn't feel right in the role.
The lack of chemistry with the other leads, such as Cara Delevingne, was another important point – he was supposed to be a charming, charismatic rogue like Han Solo. Still, DeHaan just couldn't pull it off, or the director dropped the ball. One reviewer even said DeHaan and Delevingne seemed like brother and sister.
Don Cheadle as War Machine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies
Don Cheadle is a storied actor who knows how to get the job done but stepping in to replace Terrence Howard as James Rhodes wasn't the right choice. Viewers said that he didn't seem right as a military or air force member, and his chemistry with Robert Downy Jr. was noticeably lacking compared to Howard.
You were able to buy that Howard and Downey had a relationship – they had been friends for a while. But, for some reason, that same element was missing once Cheadle stepped in.