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Hollywood has been filled with cases of controversial casting for a long time. Decades before internet dwellers could raise their voices against certain casting choices, Hollywood A-listers faced issues from directors and producers. Evidently, Michael Keaton and Tom Cruise are living examples of such controversial casting.
Just like Tom Cruise faced issues with his over-polished appearance and short height during the 2012Jack Reacherfilm series, even Michael Keaton faced similar issues during his 1989Batmanmovie. Apparently, both the actors were criticized for their short height and were later replaced by other actors in sequel projects.
Also read:Not James Bond, Another Franchise is Paying Daniel Craig So Much It’d Massively Dwarf Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible Payday
Tom Cruise Was A Casting Mistake ForJack Reacher
Despite being a Hollywood heartthrob and one of the most handsome-looking men, Tom Cruise faced casting controversy due to his appearance. Apparently, for his 2012 adaptation of Lee Child’s novel seriesJack Reacher,the actor was considered too good-looking for the role. Slammed for his over-polished appearance, Cruise was brutally trolled for his film series.
Apparently, the character of Reacher is supposed to be a physically imposing figure who embodies military stoicism and a nomadic lifestyle. Thus, unfortunately,Tom Cruisebeing around 5ft 7in, was deemed too short to exude the intimidation that the character demands. Further, apart from his height being a big aspect, Cruise’s version was also called too aesthetic to be a “hobo”.
Thereafter, Amazon Prime’s new seriesReacherfixed the mistakes of casting Tom Cruise in the 2012 and 2016 iterations of Lee Child’s novel series. While the movie version failed to find the perfect embodiment of the character, the series featuredAlan Ritchson, who thankfully appeared far closer to the novel’s description of Reacher.
Also read:“He wants to move on”: Alan Ritchson Was Warned by Producer to Not Send His Heartfelt Letter to Tom Cruise After Replacing Him as Jack Reacher for a Specific Reason
Michael Keaton Was A Controversial Casting ForBatman
Although Tom Cruise faced the Jack Reacher issue in 2012, the casting controversy seemed to prevail in Hollywood for a long time. Michael Keaton faced similar issues to that of Cruise during his 1989 DC movie,Batman. Apparently, Keaton was never viewed as a serious actor, as he often featured in comedy movies.
Since Batman required a different level of seriousness,Michael Keatonwas considered completely wrong for the role. However, apart from his previous experiences, the actor also suffered similar issues to that of Cruise, as he was considered too short to play the role of the intimidating Caped Crusader.
Not just fans but even the executive producer Michael E. Uslan was against Michael Keaton’s casting as Batman. In his mémoire,The Boy Who Loved Batman, Uslan mentioned how he lost his mind after hearingTim Burton‘s choice for the lead role. Uslan wrote,
“I yelled. I screamed. I carried on like a baby. I argued. I protested. I fought. I reasoned. I swore. I begged. I pleaded. I countered. I discussed. I debated. I called in allies from DC Comics.”
In the end, Tim Burton won the fight and signed Michael Keaton asBatman. However, Keaton faced the same fate as Cruise, since he was later replaced by other actors in further iterations, to fix the casting mistakes.
Watch Michael Keaton’sBatmanand Tom Cruise’sJack Reacherfilms on Amazon Prime.
Read more:“I always felt he was in it the right amount”: Batman Director Tim Burton Feels Fans Didn’t Understand Michael Keaton’s Dark Knight After Actor Himself Asked to Be Sidelined
Source:Screenrant, The Boy Who Loved Batman
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
