Movies That Recast Characters in Sequels: ‘Twilight,’ ‘Harry Potter’ and More Franchises Who Replaced Stars

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Movies That Recast Characters in Sequels: 'Twilight,' 'Harry Potter' and More Franchises Who Replaced Stars

Out with the old, in with the new! The saying "everyone is replaceable" has proven to be true in Hollywood, and some of the biggest franchises have recast major characters. Sometimes the general audience doesn’t even recognize the switch in actors, but diehard fans definitely notice. Filmmakers risk controversy and alienating their fanbase when they take the plunge and switch actors. If a studio makes a character adjustment, the audiences want to know why. If the studio does not share a reason that an actor has been replaced, it is sometimes up to the actor to make the exit announcement. The After franchise has replaced multiple actors over the course of the four films. The latest casting changes occurred prior to filming the third and fourth installment of the series, After We Fell and After Ever Happy. Shane Paul McGhie let fans know he would not return in the role of Landon after two films in the franchise and was replaced by Chance Perdomo. "It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing I will not be filming in Bulgaria," McGhie wrote via Instagram in October 2020. "We could not come to an agreement, and I had to make a really tough call. I had to stand up for me, the way that Landon would. I am so grateful to you all for welcoming me into the After family and for supporting me along this incredible journey." When the After producers decided to film the last two films overseas amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they recognized there may be issues getting the cast to return. "Some of the original cast were not available to return for various reasons, whether it be scheduling or other commitments," the production team said in a statement at the time. "They are all wonderful actors and will be missed, however, we think you're going to be really pleased with the immensely talented group that have chosen to take the roles." As a result of this decision, Stephen Moyer replaced Charlie Weber as Christian Vance, Arielle Kebbel stepped in for her former Vampire Diaries costar Candice King as Kimberly Vance and Carol Young was recast with Mira Sorvino taking over for Selma Blair. Scroll down to see which of your favorite characters in movies were recast with other actors. [podcast_block]

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures; Shutterstock (4); YouTube (2)

Movies That Recast Characters in Sequels: 'Twilight,' 'Harry Potter' and More Franchises Who Replaced Stars

Out with the old, in with the new! The saying "everyone is replaceable" has proven to be true in Hollywood, and some of the biggest franchises have recast major characters. Sometimes the general audience doesn’t even recognize the switch in actors, but diehard fans definitely notice. Filmmakers risk controversy and alienating their fanbase when they take the plunge and switch actors. If a studio makes a character adjustment, the audiences want to know why. If the studio does not share a reason that an actor has been replaced, it is sometimes up to the actor to make the exit announcement. The After franchise has replaced multiple actors over the course of the four films. The latest casting changes occurred prior to filming the third and fourth installment of the series, After We Fell and After Ever Happy. Shane Paul McGhie let fans know he would not return in the role of Landon after two films in the franchise and was replaced by Chance Perdomo. "It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing I will not be filming in Bulgaria," McGhie wrote via Instagram in October 2020. "We could not come to an agreement, and I had to make a really tough call. I had to stand up for me, the way that Landon would. I am so grateful to you all for welcoming me into the After family and for supporting me along this incredible journey." When the After producers decided to film the last two films overseas amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they recognized there may be issues getting the cast to return. "Some of the original cast were not available to return for various reasons, whether it be scheduling or other commitments," the production team said in a statement at the time. "They are all wonderful actors and will be missed, however, we think you're going to be really pleased with the immensely talented group that have chosen to take the roles." As a result of this decision, Stephen Moyer replaced Charlie Weber as Christian Vance, Arielle Kebbel stepped in for her former Vampire Diaries costar Candice King as Kimberly Vance and Carol Young was recast with Mira Sorvino taking over for Selma Blair. Scroll down to see which of your favorite characters in movies were recast with other actors. [podcast_block]

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The 'Aurora Teagarden' Franchise

Following Candace Cameron Bure's departure from Hallmark, the network announced that Skyler Samuels would take over the role of Aurora Teagarden in a prequel movie.

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The ‘Twilight’ Saga

Rachelle Lefevre played Victoria in the first two Twilight films in 2008 and 2009, but just as her character was beginning to intensify, she was replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard in the third movie, in 2010. The recast was a complete shock to her, according to Lefevre in a statement to Access Hollywood.

"I was fully committed to the Twilight saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria. I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules," she said. "I was happy with my contract with Summit and was fully prepared to continue to honor it.

Summit chose simply to recast the part." Summit claimed the recasting was due to her withholding schedule conflicts.

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Christopher Nolan’s ‘Batman’ Trilogy

In the movie Batman Begins, Katie Holmes played Rachel Dawes, who was significant to the storyline and a main character in Bruce Wayne’s life. She did not accept the role for the sequel, so Holmes was then replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal.

“Katie wasn’t available for the role, which I wasn’t very happy about, but these things happen, and I was very, very fortunate that Maggie was able to take it over,” Nolan told Business Insider in 2016.

There was no malice with this recast, as Gyllenhaal reached out to Holmes to ask for her blessing prior to taking the role, according to the outlet.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Fresh off an Oscar nomination for his role in Hustle & Flow, Terrence Howard was cast as James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine, Tony Stark’s sidekick in 2008’s Iron Man. Although playing a supporting role, Howard was being paid six times more than Robert Downey. Jr, according to CBR. Downey was a risky casting decision at the time as the actor’s substance abuse issues and prison stint made studios hesitant.

Hugely successful, the first Iron Man film grossed almost $600 million across global box office in 2008. However, the 2010 sequel found the role recast with Don Cheadle. During a monthly appearance on Bravo’s late-night chat show Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Howard responded to a call-in question about the recasting of his role, “We did a three-picture deal, so that means that you did the deal ahead of time. It was going to be a certain amount for the first one, a certain amount for the second one, a certain amount for the third.”

“They came to me with the second and said, ‘Look, we will pay you one-eighth of what we contractually had for you, because we think the second one will be successful with or without you,” he continued.

The following day, NBC’s Today reported that instead of paying Howard the contracted amount of $8 million for Iron Man 2, Marvel offered him $1 million.

The salary discrepancy caused Howard to walk away from the sequel and opened the door for Cheadle as his replacement in future movies and tv series. The Black Monday actor is still playing Rhodey in the MCU more than a decade later.

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The 'Harry Potter' Franchise

In the Harry Potter franchise, Albus Dumbledore was played by Richard Harris in the first two movies. After he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Harris believed he would be well enough to film Prisoner of Azkaban and asked producer David Heyman not to recast his role.

“Richard Harris was Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies, and when he got sick, I remember going to see him in the hospital,” Heyman told The Hollywood Reporter in 2013. “He said: ‘Don’t dare recast. I’ll be back.’ And then he didn’t make it.”

When Harris passed away in 2002, Michael Gambon was cast as the new Dumbledore.

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The ‘To All the Boys I Loved Before’ Franchise

In To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, John Ambrose McClaren was played by Jordan Fisher instead of Jordan Burtchett, who was in the first film.

The TATBILB filmmakers gave no explanation for why there was a replacement, but producer Mark Kaplan shared his excitement about the new addition. "Jordan's charisma practically leaps off the screen with anything he does, whether it's acting, singing, or dancing,” Kaplan shared. “There isn't a more perfect guy who could believably shake things up in Lara Jean and Peter's world."

Burtchett hasn’t said much about the situation, but he shared his gratitude in an emotional Instagram post in March 2019.

“I am here to express just how much I appreciate you. So thank you for the support and love you show me,” he wrote to his fans. “You have my heart fam and I’m excited for where the future adventures will lead us.”

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The ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Franchise

Negative publicity resulted in Johnny Depp being asked not to return as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Warner Bros. requested his resignation from the role days after he lost a libel suit in the U.K. The actor sued a tabloid for defamation in 2018 after he was called a "wife beater" amid his tumultuous legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.

“I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request,” Depp posted via Instagram.

Mads Mikkelsen replaced Depp as Grindelwald for the third film, but the recast did not cost the Pirates of the Caribbean alum his multi-million dollar paycheck. He still received $16 million after his exit, per The Hollywood Reporter.

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The ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ Franchise

National Lampoon’s classic Vacation series includes four films that star Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo as Clark and Ellen Griswold. In each of the four movies, their children, Rusty and Audrey are played by different actors.

The original Vacation featured Anthony Michael Hall as Rusty and Dana Barron as Audrey. When Hall declined to return for the sequel, the decision to recast both children was made. Subsequently, Rusty was played by Jason Lively, Johnny Galecki and Ethan Embry and Audrey was played by Dana Hill, Juliette Lewis and Marisol Nichols in the second, third and fourth films, respectively. In 2015’s Vacation revival movie, Ed Helms and Leslie Mann played the adult siblings.

By changing the actors playing Clark’s kids in each movie, it became a running joke in the series. It was incorporated into a gag in the fourth Vacation film when Clark tells his kids he “hardly recognizes them anymore” before freezing on their faces.

Since the focus of the movies is Clark’s efforts to reconnect with his teenagers, the recasting of his children is another way to poke fun at his shortcomings as a family man.

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The ‘Halloweentown’ Franchise

With three Disney Channel Halloweentown movies under her belt playing the lead character Marnie Piper, Kimberly J. Brown was disappointed to be replaced by Sara Paxton in Return to Halloweentown, the fourth and final film in the series. The assumption that the change was made due to scheduling conflicts was discredited in a YouTube video Brown released in 2018 to address the issue.

Brown dispels the rumor that she was replaced due to a scheduling conflict. She explained in the vlog, “Some people asked me or heard that I was working at the time, which was not the case at the time. I was available and ready to do it and talked to them about possibly doing it but Disney decided to go in a different direction and recast the role.”

The actor added she was “bummed” because she “obviously loved the character.” Brown did not condemn Paxton in any way. She only discussed Disney’s actions during Return to Halloweentown’s development.

However, Halloweentown creator Sheri Singer recalled a different story, claiming to E! News that Disney and the actress’ reps couldn’t agree on a deal for Brown to return for Halloweentown 4. As a result, Paxton was cast as Marnie in the fourth movie.

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The ‘Back To The Future’ Franchise

The reason for this replacement is, unfortunately, just the reality of life. In the Back to the Future trilogy, Jennifer, Marty McFly's girlfriend, was initially played by Claudia Wells. Unfortunately, Claudia’s mother had some health issues resulting in the actress backing out of the sequel. Elizabeth Shue took over the role in the remaining two movies.