Cinema is an incredible thing. It allows for stories that have already been told through books, comics and otherwise, to come to life, and one of the best things about this, is when casting is done so perfectly you can’t imagine anyone else in that spot.
Here, we take a look at six incredible casting choices that (almost) no one can argue with, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), to the world of sci-fi and beyond.
Robert Downey Jr. - Iron Man
Tony Stark, along with his alter ego Iron Man, have been iconic way before the MCU was established, but when the cinematic universe began, it was imperative that whoever played the eccentric billionaire was perfect.
Robert Downey Jr., or RDJ as he is sometimes known, was of course the ideal actor to take on this role. His mannerisms were perfect from the very first scene of Iron Man from 2008, the movie that kicked off the MCU, and continued throughout the franchise.
It is clear that no one else could have really played Stark, as it is hard to imagine anyone else in his shoes. He knows this character, he is in perfect sync with him, and his brilliant sarcasm and snarky jokes could be said by no one else.
There has only been one Tony Stark portrayed on the big screen, and that was all we needed. RDJ portrayed this iconic character with the upmost understanding and adoration from beginning to end, and made the character even more iconic than he already was.
Sigourney Weaver – Ellen Ripley
Sci-fi can be a tricky genre to get right, what with many of the monsters and scenarios being unrealistic in theory, but made real by the execution; this is where Sigourney Weaver comes in.
Weaver portrayed Ellen Ripley in Alien which released in 1979, as well as some sequels that took place years after. Ripley is, many would argue, the perfect female protagonist, and only Weaver could have proved this.
Ripley is brave, caring and determined, but nothing like a man, as many films in the 70s and 80s had male heroes. Ripley stood firmly on her own two feet, and showed the most gall and courage out of anyone in her crew on the Nostromo.
Weaver was born to play Ripley, there is no doubt about that. She is a fixed point where women should look if wondering where to find a perfectly casted heroine.
Arnold Schwarzenegger – The Terminator
Schwarzenegger has played many action heroes in his time, as well as one or two comedic roles, but The Terminator is a character he will be known for until Skynet wipes us all out.
The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) are two of the greatest sci-fi/action movies ever made, some would say, and what made them so perfect, was Schwarzenegger.
The Terminator is a cold, unforgiving creature, and of course, had to look strong and unbeatable, which is where Schwarzenegger comes in. He not only looked the part, but played it to perfection.
He mastered the demanding presence, and it’s hard to see anyone else doing such a thing. He towered over everyone he met, and even his Austrian-American accent worked so well for the role, making the character stand out even more.
Hugh Jackman – Wolverine
While the X-Men movies aren’t the perfect collection, save for one or two, there has always been a character who has been incredible from start to finish, and that’s Wolverine.
Hugh Jackman is the only actor to have ever played Wolverine (aka Logan) in live-action, and there was never a point where he faltered in his portrayal of the classic comic character; he played every emotion, every scene with perfection, and that’s why there’s only ever been one Wolverine.
While many actors nail their given roles, we can still sometimes recast them in our minds, but not Wolverine. Jackman has always portrayed the character, and done it so brilliantly, that thinking of a replacement or someone else who could’ve given it their all like Jackman did, is impossible.
He truly embodies the character from the comics, and details what a hero is; it isn’t the perfect life, people die and you soldier on alone, but despite his character’s films being (obviously) fictional, Jackman brought Logan to life, and he will always be many people’s Wolverine.
Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool
As we know, Ryan Reynolds is a master of comedy, someone who can laugh at anything, which makes him the ideal candidate to portray the iconic Merc with a Mouth.
Reynolds plays Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, in the X-Men universe, and there could not be a better man for the job. While humour is the character’s forte, he also delves deep into his emotions just as well as whenever he makes a probably ill-advised joke.
Wade Wilson is a tormented character, but one that always finds something to laugh about in every situation, and that’s just Reynolds in a different body; the actor was born for this role, and while Reynolds (obviously) wasn’t tortured like Deadpool was, they both have a knack for the dramatic.
Essentially, Wilson and Reynolds are one and the same, making him the perfect actor to take on the role of a man who still lives his best life, no matter what’s thrown at him.
Margot Robbie – Harley Quinn
Comic book characters can sometimes be hard to cast for many reasons, one being that they need to be someone who audiences will agree encapsulate the given character, and who else could bring the crazy to the character of Harley Quinn more than Margot Robbie?
Aside from looking the part to a T, Robbie has absolutely nailed Harley’s voice, which has been described as her ‘tough Brooklyn cookie’ accent, and embodies the character so well that, as with all good casting, it is hard to imagine else anyone playing Quinn.
Harley is a somewhat complex character, what with her living the criminal life for the Joker; however, despite being tied to him in the comics and some animated movies, this Harley Quinn has always stood tall; a strong, resilient female character who (almost) knows who she is.
Robbie is a brilliant choice for Harley, as many deem Suicide Squad (2016) to be a bad movie, Robbie shines bright as Quinn, making her a standout character.
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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