Why do the Actors Matter?

[Hussar]

I always find it kind of weird that some characters get so tied up in specific actors. For example, I saw a headline that Hank Pym of Marvel, played by Michael Douglas, will be retired out of the movies because Mr. Douglas won't play him any more. Why does this matter? I've seen half a dozen different Supermen, god knows how many Batmen, at least three Spider-Men, and various other characters played by a boatload of different actors.

Good grief, Fantastic Four is getting a new set of actors again.

Maybe it's because I come from such a theater background, but, I've never really tied a character with a specific actor. If the brought back Tony Stark and had him played by a young actor, it wouldn't bother me in the least. Sure, I'm going to compare. Of course. Certain actors are renowned for their portrayals of certain characters. But, it seems like fandom has a real problem, sometimes, with changing actors.

Never minding if the new actor happens to look significantly different from the old one. That brings in a whole 'nother ball of wax.

Am I alone here though in not really insisting that a fictional character must be played by a single actor and once that actor is done, that character goes away? It wouldn't bother me in the least if they rebooted Star Trek TNG and brought in a young Picard actor. I'd judge it based on whether the show was good or not. Not on how much they toe the line with the previous actor.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. It was just knocking around in my mind.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Mr Douglas is pretty much retied from acting. Like many of us, his age has brought health issues, and it's not like he needs the money.

And Hank Pym's role in the MCU is done. They don't need to recast because they don't need that character going forwards.

 

[Stalker0]

yeah I see that one as more of "we don't need Hank Pym anymore" than because Michael Douglas is leaving.

That said....its the same reason I can't stand remixes in my songs. Once I got the song in my head, THATs the correct version, everything else sounds wrong. People see a character on screen, and that is the character for them. That is how the character looks in their head. When you change it, it feels wrong. Some people feel it more strongly than others but its definately a thing.

 

[Deset Gled]

I suspect for the MCU right now it's largely a marketing thing.

The MCU is the top dog in movie franchises for now, but they're faltering and need to work to stay there. By "retiring" Hank Pym when the actor retires (and making a deal about it) they get the fanbase to talk and think about continuity. And don't you know, the MCU has 70% more continuity than Brand X!

Also, while I agree that actor continuity isn't critical, it is nice. There's just too darn many Batmen in the world today, I tell ya.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Joan Hickson is the One True Marple.

 

[Morrus]

They do and have recast in the MCU. I’m sure if they need to they will do so again.

 

[TiQuinn]

I always find it kind of weird that some characters get so tied up in specific actors. For example, I saw a headline that Hank Pym of Marvel, played by Michael Douglas, will be retired out of the movies because Mr. Douglas won't play him any more. Why does this matter? I've seen half a dozen different Supermen, god knows how many Batmen, at least three Spider-Men, and various other characters played by a boatload of different actors.

Good grief, Fantastic Four is getting a new set of actors again.

Maybe it's because I come from such a theater background, but, I've never really tied a character with a specific actor. If the brought back Tony Stark and had him played by a young actor, it wouldn't bother me in the least. Sure, I'm going to compare. Of course. Certain actors are renowned for their portrayals of certain characters. But, it seems like fandom has a real problem, sometimes, with changing actors.

Never minding if the new actor happens to look significantly different from the old one. That brings in a whole 'nother ball of wax.

Am I alone here though in not really insisting that a fictional character must be played by a single actor and once that actor is done, that character goes away? It wouldn't bother me in the least if they rebooted Star Trek TNG and brought in a young Picard actor. I'd judge it based on whether the show was good or not. Not on how much they toe the line with the previous actor.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. It was just knocking around in my mind.

I don’t know that fans actually care or whether it’s the attempt by the producers to create an illusion of a consistent universe and canon, but it’s one that’s ultimately doomed to fail. At some point, they will want a new Wolverine, or a new Spider-Man, or a new Tony Stark. And at some point, Hugh Jackman, Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr all will have aged out. Is trying to explain it away with a multiverse twist really worth it? I doubt it.

 

[aco175]

It has been done with Rhodes.

Nobody retired, but I gather there was casting issues and actor egos and such. It did not bother me. They were both fine.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I fully agree with this. To me there is no reason why another actor can't play Luke Skywalker, Indiana Jones, etc.

What really takes me out of it is when they digitally de-age an actor to show them as the younger version of the character. For so long in movies audiences have accepted that different actors can play the same character at different ages. Why has that changed now?

When a digital Mark Hamill appeared on Mandalorian, I was totally taken out of the narrative. Same with Carrie Fischer in Rogue One. Just cast a young actor and put cinnamon buns in her hair! We will get it!

 

[Ryujin]

Different medium, different expectations. Plays generally stand alone. There aren't a lot of theatre "franchises." A play is a discrete thing, that takes place in the moment. Your experience will hinge on what actors were involved but the next time it shows, it's a different experience.

Telling long term stories, across dozens of films, takes a little continuity to help with the immersion. it doesn't really matter if there have been 4 Spider-Men, because each was telling a different string of stories. There were 4 Hulks but that didn't matter, with the separation of time, space, and stories. When they had an ongoing storyline, they kept the same actor.