10 Movie Characters That Were Played by Different Actors and We Can’t Decide Who Was Better

Just because an actor plays a character at one point in history, it doesn’t mean that this character will only be played by them. Different projects with different approaches might happen, where someone else will be called to play the main role. There have been many examples in the history of cinema and in most cases each actor brought something new to the table.

1. Hannibal

Anthony Hopkins delivered an unforgettable performance as Hannibal Lecter in the thriller The Silence of Lambs, and he came back to reprise his role 2 more times in the movies Hannibal and Red Dragon. In 2007, the movie Hannibal Rising came out which is supposed to be a prequel to the 3 films mentioned above, however, this time around the main character was played by Gaspard Ulliel.

Mads Mikkelsen took over the role of Hannibal in 2013 for the TV series with the same name, which was on air for 3 seasons.

2. Miss Marple

Miss Marple is loved by many filmmakers. This Agatha Christie character was embodied by Helen Hayes (A Caribbean Mystery, 1983, and Murder with Mirrors, 1985), Joan Hickson (Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, 1984-1992), and Geraldine McEwan (Marple, 2004-2008).

Joan Hickson was chosen for this part by Agatha Christie herself. After watching Hickson on stage, she wrote to her, “I hope one day you will play my dear Miss Marple.” As a result, Hickson played this famous detective in 12 TV films created by the BBC. Geraldine McEwan’s Miss Marple is quite unusual, in that her look is a little more bohemian.

3. Morticia Addams

Anjelica Huston left a huge mark on the character of Morticia Addams when she portrayed the character in The Addams Family in 1991. Catherine Zeta-Jones was called to reprise the character in 2022 in the series Wednesday and she did a marvelous job.

4. Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II has become the symbol of the UK, and this character is widely used in the movie industry. The queen was played by Helen Mirren (The Queen, 2006), Sarah Gadon (A Royal Night Out, 2015), Penelope Wilton (The BFG, 2016), and Olivia Colman (The Crown, 2019-2020).

In The Queen, Helen Mirren unfolded Elizabeth’s personality not only as a monarch, but also as an ordinary person. For this part, she was awarded an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA. Sarah Gadon played a real episode from 19-year-old princess Elizabeth’s life. She and her sister ran away from Buckingham Palace on Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945. You can also see Elizabeth II in the fantasy movie The BFG. Olivia Colman embodied the character of Elizabeth II in the third season of The Crown. Olivia doesn’t really look like the queen, but she was still excellent in this part.

5. The March sisters

Who would’ve thought that the story of 4 young sisters set in the Victorian era would inspire generations of girls and boys to dream on their own terms? Louisa May Alcott’s classic has been made into various versions, all by women influenced by the March sisters’ girl power.

6. Joker

The viewers mostly remembered Cesar Romero (Batman: The Movie, 1966), Jack Nicholson (Batman, 1989), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, 2008), and Joaquin Phoenix (Joker, 2019).

Cesar Romero played the Joker more as a merry fellow than a criminal because all of his “crimes” are not mean, but funny. In 1989, in the film with Jack Nicholson, the character shows the story of his origin. Jack Nicholson’s acting was so convincing that he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award (1990).

Many people believe that Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Night was iconic. Ledger made up the character’s features himself, locking himself away in a hotel room for a month. Joaquin Phoenix starred in the last movie dedicated to this character (Joker, 2019). The film tells the story of the Joker’s origin, focusing on the fact that even a good person can become a real villain.

7. Cyrano

In 1987, comedian Steve Martin adapted the play by Edmond Rostand for the film Roxanne and portrayed the main part. Viewers still think his version was perfect.

Cyrano portrayed by French actor Gérard Depardieu in the 1990 adaptation is believed to be impressive. A short time ago, Cyrano with Peter Dinklage was released and viewers said the acting was powerful.

8. Cleopatra

Cleopatra is probably one of those famous women whose character is really popular in the movies. There are more than 20 films about her. The most memorable movies were Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) with Vivien Leigh, Cleopatra (1963) with Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra (1999) with Leonor Varela, and Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) with Monica Bellucci.

The filming itself was really challenging for Vivien Leigh. Shortly before the production started, she got ill with tuberculosis, and then she learned about her pregnancy which was lost during the production. That is why she was not really convincing in this part. Elizabeth Taylor’s queen was not only sensual but also a woman of many talents. Actress Leonor Varela and the glamorous Monica Bellucci both looked attractive onscreen in the role of this queen.

9. Batman

There are many movies about Batman, and the first one dates back to 1943. After that, multiple adaptations followed. The most successful ones are Batman (1966-1968) with Adam West, Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) with Michael Keaton, Batman Begins (2005) with Christian Bale, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017) with Ben Affleck.

Adam West played Batman in a comedic style, which is somewhat different from the current typical portrayals of this character. Michael Keaton’s work on 2 Tim Burton films about this superhero is still one of the most significant in his career. The movie with Christian Bale was really successful and got positive reviews from critics. A new Batman movie is planned to be released in 2022, starring Robert Pattinson.

10. Albus Dumbledore

The magic of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would be lackluster without its headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. The beloved wizard was actually played by 3 different actors throughout the movie franchise, and they all added their own unique charm to the character.