11 Famous Roles That Were Recast ASAP Because The Original Star Was Fired, Quit, And Just Couldn't Do It Anymore

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25-02-2025

It might be hard to fathom, but some major roles in your most beloved movies and TV shows weren't always in the hands of the actors who made them famous. For a thousand different reasons, actors can find themselves taking over (and successfully making their own) a role initially attached to a different performer. So here are just 11 memorable times that come to mind:
1. Charlotte Le Bon: Chloe in The White Lotus
In Season 3 of The White Lotus, Charlotte Le Bon stars as Greg (Jon Gries)'s girlfriend Chloe. She's an ex-model from Quebec. The role was initially set for Francesca Corney. No official reason was made for the recasting, though Deadline reported producers wanted an actor "who played older."
2. Julian Kostov: An unnamed (for now) Russian character in The White Lotus
Though we haven't seen him pop up yet on The White Lotus, Julian Kostov is set to play a character only described so far as Russian. Miloš Biković was tapped initially for the character. However, Deadline reported the actor exited the series following "criticism from Ukraine" over his casting.
3. Vanessa Williams: Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty
As America Ferrera revealed on her Ugly Betty co-stars Michael Urie and Becki Newton's new rewatch podcast Still Ugly, Vanessa Williams was a last-minute replacement. She was brought in after another actor had completed two table reads but had been let go when filming began. In fact, Vanessa joined after they started shooting. The actor who previously played Wilhelmina wasn't named.
4. Jodie Foster: Meg Altman in Panic Room
In Panic Room, Jodie Foster played a mom who hid herself and her daughter in their home's safe room. Nicole Kidman was cast but dropped out after a previous injury prevented her from filming intense action scenes. Nicole thanked Jodie in a 2024 Hollywood Reporter interview for taking over the role. "I was in a really bad way. I was like, 'I'm having a breakdown.' And Jodie took over, thank the Lord," Nicole said.
The Tell Me Lies star is set to play Amanda Knox in an upcoming limited series at Hulu. She's replacing Margaret Qualley, who left the show last year due to scheduling conflicts.
6. Ben Whishaw: Paddington in Paddington
It might be hard to think of anyone voicing the marmalade-loving Paddington beside Ben Whishaw. For a moment, though, the role was Colin Firth's for the taking. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the casting change occurred because they needed a "slightly more open, and younger, voice" for the talking bear.
7. Mark-Paul Gosselaar: Paul Johnson in Mixed-ish
Mark-Paul Gosselaar starred as Bow Johnson's father in this prequel to Black-ish. Anders Holm originally played the role in the pilot, but Mark-Paul took over the role when the series received an entire Season 1 order. No reason was given for the recasting, though it's not unheard of for actors to be replaced after the pilot episode.
8. Vanessa Kirby: Empress Josephine in Napoleon
Vanessa Kirby played Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife, Empress Josephine, in the 2023 biopic that starred Joaquin Phoenix as the French empower. Initially, the role went to Jodie Comer, who left the movie due to scheduling conflicts with her play Prime Facie. "I'm so happy for her and I wish her all the success with that movie," Jodie told the Hollywood Reporter. "A lot of this industry is sliding doors, and I do feel like I was always supposed to do that play. So I was happy with my decision."
9. Ana de Armas: Sadie Rhodes in Ghosted
Ana de Armas starred alongside Chris Evans in the 2023 action rom-com Ghosted. Before she joined, Scarlett Johansson was initially set for the role, though no reason was given for her departure.
10. Salma Hayek: Maxandra Mendoza in Magic Mike's Last Dance
Salma Hayek joined Channing Tatum's final ride with Magic Mike in the 2023 film Magic Mike's Last Dance. She did so in a role set for Thandiwe Newton. No reason was given for Thandiwe's departure from playing a socialite with her eye on Mike.
11. Finally, Giancarlo Esposito: A.B. Wynter in The Residence
Giancarlo Esposito stars alongside Uzo Aduba in Shonda Rhimes's new series The Residence. The show is a whodunnit set in the White House during a state dinner, and Andre Braugher was initially cast in the role of the White House chief usher. Following Andre's death in 2023, Giancarlo replaced him in the role.