- Even some of the most iconic comic book characters have been miscast in film adaptations.
- George Clooney is still known as one of the worst Batmans in superhero history.
- Halle Berry was sexualized more than anything else in her role as Catwoman.
With about 1000 comic book movies made since the '90s, you'd think there'd be a few misfires on the casting side. You'd be right.
Comic fans have loved seeing their favorite heroes and characters brought to life on the big screen, but sometimes the big studios just get the casting wrong.
Here are some examples we're sure you'll agree could've been handled differently.
SEE ALSO: The 10 highest-grossing movies of all time, including 'Black Panther'
Ezra Miller - "The Flash"
Miller appears quickly in "Batman v Superman" and "Suicide Squad," but we'll count "Justice League" as his first real appearance in the DC Extended Universe. At first glance, Miller just doesn't seem like the superhero type, and his performance in "Justice League" proved it. A talented dramatic actor, Miller is mostly annoying as the Flash. And his voice is a strange fit. We'll see how he does in 2020's "Flashpoint," the first solo Flash movie.
Jesse Eisenberg: "Lex Luthor"
The problems with this film were immense, but Lex Luthor was one of the big ones. The 2016 version of the supervillain was updated to be more Zuckerberg than Trump and so Eisenberg was hired. However, the decision backfired as he remained wholly unintimidating and more obnoxious than anything else.
Nicolas Cage: "Johnny Blaze"
Cage was way too old to play Johnny Blaze in 2007 and that wig ... man. Ouch. Of course, CGI Ghost Rider demanded no actor, so maybe that was the studio thinking: that Blaze didn't matter. But, he did. As bad as the "Ghost Rider" script was, Cage's performance made it worse.
Jessica Alba: "Susan Storm"
Alba, coming off a star-making TV run on "Dark Angel," had done action before so her casting as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman wasn't out of left field. However, the studio decision to dye her hair blonde and give her blue contact lenses was ill-advised. Alba has her moments but mostly seems overwhelmed as Storm once she gains powers and must face Dr. Doom.
Ryan Reynolds: "Green Lantern"
While Reynolds was the perfect choice to play Deadpool in 2016, he wasn't too great as the Lantern in 2011. The problems weren't his to carry alone. The "Green Lantern" script is ludicrous, full of bad jokes and silly dialogue. But Reynolds couldn't elevate it.
Halle Berry: "Catwoman"
After Michelle Pfeiffer owned this character in "Batman Returns," Warner Brothers looked to capitalize on a solo "Catwoman" project years later. However, they didn't go back to Pfeiffer. Halle Berry was tasked with updating the character for a new, MTV "Grind" audience and the result was the sexpot Catwoman seen here. Let's not mince words: The movie was a giant excuse to get Halle Berry in a bikini.
Brandon Routh: "Superman"
While $391 million worldwide might not sound like a box office flop, that number is a smidgen compared to what other "Superman" movies have made. The decision to cast unknown actor Brandon Routh in the lead role may have been partially to blame.
George Clooney: "Batman"
Holy bat nipples, Batman! Joel Schumacher's "Batman" movies are better left forgotten, and there's a case to be made that every actor involved was poorly chosen, but we'll go with the lead character. Clooney was chosen to play Bruce Wayne after Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer had done well in the role. He was coming off "ER" and was a huge TV star, but he probably wasn't ready for the big time at that point. Plus, the script was campy and awful.
Ben Affleck: "Daredevil"
Affleck has done pretty well as Batman in the DC Extended Universe, but he was a weak choice to play the acrobatic Daredevil in 2003. He's more of a brawler than a martial artist-type and his Matt Murdock was a bit of a stiff. Zero personality.
Seth Rogen: "The Green Hornet"
On paper, this may have seemed like a great idea, but in execution, The Green Hornet fell flat. Directed by the great Michel Gondry, the film displays none of his usual creativity and remains a boilerplate comic action flick. The same criticism can be levied at Rogen, who appears lost in this film and forgot how to be funny.
January Jones: "Emma Frost"
Another TV star who looked out of her element in a huge budget movie with a weak script, Jones didn't have much to do as Emma Frost in "X-Men: First Class" anyway. She appears in lingerie throughout the film and is obviously there for sex appeal only. It would've been nice if some thought was put into the character instead.
Topher Grace: "Eddie Brock"
Comic book fans know Eddie Brock is a weightlifting musclebound dude so imagine their surprise when the skinny kid from "That '70s Show" was cast to play him. Weird. "Spider-Man 3" was not a good script, so give the actors a break, but Grace never should've been there to begin with.
Shaquille O'Neal: "Steele"
Do we even have to explain this one? It does get some points, however, for being in the Unintentional Humor Hall of Fame.
Vinnie Jones: "Juggernaut"
Jones, a brawling ex-footballer, saw huge popularity in the early 2000s thanks to his appearances in Guy Ritchie movies. That popularity even translated into a role in an American blockbuster, but it just seems out of place now. It's not so much that Jones is British (Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen have done pretty well in their roles), it's the awkward acting and cursing that gets us.
Will.i.am: "Kestrel"
Yes, this happened. Will.i.am plays Kestrel in an "X-Men" movie. Granted, Kestrel is a pretty minor character and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is one of the worst comic book movies ever, but nevertheless. This is an example of one of those silly cameo moments that does little but take you out of the movie experience.
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