For a variety of reasons, several horror franchises have recast their iconic characters with new actors within the same continuity. Horror franchises frequently recast key characters in reboots and remakes. However, there is a selection of characters that movie franchises have recast within the same series.
Recasting an established character is notoriously tricky and often yields disappointing results. If done correctly, however, it can improve a franchise. The James Bond franchise routinely updates its protagonist when it needs refreshing, as does the science-fiction series Doctor Who. Evidently, recasting a character while maintaining a franchise’s continuity is possible, and several horror movies have attempted to do so.
10 Pinhead – Hellraiser
Originally Played By Doug Bradley, Replaced By Stephan Smith Collins & Paul T. Taylor
Doug Bradley brought the terrifying lead cenobite, Pinhead, to life in the first eight Hellraiser movies. Bradley’s Pinhead was defined by his urbane and poised characterization, which perfectly balanced the movie’s combination of seductiveness and the grotesque. However, when the ninth movie was in development, Bradley felt the script was weak and only intended for Dimension to retain the rights to the franchise (via Bloody Disgusting). Stephan Smith Collins was cast as Pinhead in the disappointing Hellraiser: Revelations while Paul T. Taylor portrayed the villain in Hellraiser: Judgment. Neither was able to match Bradley’s performance, and both movies were low points in the Hellraiser franchise.
Actors Who Played Pinhead In The Hellraiser Movie Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
Hellraiser (1987) | Doug Bradley |
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1998) | Doug Bradley |
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) | Doug Bradley |
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996) | Doug Bradley |
Hellraiser: Inferno (2000) | Doug Bradley |
Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002) | Doug Bradley |
Hellraiser: Deader (2005) | Doug Bradley |
Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005) | Doug Bradley |
Hellraiser: Revelations (2011) | Stephan Smith Collins |
Hellraiser: Judgment (2018) | Paul T. Taylor |
9 Leatherface – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Originally Played By Gunnar Hansen, Replaced By Bill Johnson, R.A. Mihailoff, Robert Jacks, & Mark Burnham
![10 Horror Franchises That Recast Iconic Characters (And Why)](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-Leatherface-1974.jpg)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- Created by
- Tobe Hooper, Kim Henkel
- First Film
- Texas Chain Saw Massacre
- Latest Film
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
Leatherface is the horrifying antagonist from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. In the first movie, he was played by Gunnar Hansen, but Leatherface was recast for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. There are conflicting reports as to the reason, but it was primarily motivated by Hansen’s disappointment with his offered salary. Consequently, Bill Johnson was cast as Leatherface for the sequel. This set a precedent for each subsequent movie in the original franchise, recasting the character in each with a seemingly cheaper option. The movies treated Leatherface as an interchangeable man in a mask, though none were able to match Hansen’s combination of savage brutality and incongruous tenderness.
Actors Who Played Leatherface In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) | Gunnar Hansen |
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) | Bill Johnson, Bob Elmore, and Tom Morga |
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990) | R.A. Mihailoff |
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995) | Robert Jacks |
Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) | Dan Yeager |
Leatherface (2017) | Sam Strike |
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) | Mark Burnham |
8 Jason Voorhees – Friday The 13th
Most Frequently Played By Kane Hodder, Replaced By Ken Kirzinger
Friday the 13th‘s lumbering villain, Jason Voorhees, was portrayed by a string of stunt performers throughout the franchise’s early installments — sometimes by several in a single movie. By Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, the franchise had settled on the perfect performer: Kane Hodder. He appeared in the next three Friday the 13th movies and was expected to star in Freddy vs. Jason. However, as is detailed in Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy, Jason was recast for Freddy vs. Jason. However, director Ronny Yu wanted a greater height difference between the eponymous villains, and recast the role with Ken Kirzinger.
Actors Who Played Jason Voorhees In The Friday The 13th Movie Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
Friday the 13th (1980) | Ari Lehman |
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) | Warrington Gillette (unmasked) and Steve Daskewisz (masked) |
Friday the 13th Part III (1982) | Richard Brooker |
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) | Ted White |
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) | John Hock and Tom Morga |
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1987) | C.J. Graham and Dan Bradley |
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) | Kane Hodder |
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Goes to Manhattan (1989) | Kane Hodder |
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) | Kane Hodder |
Jason X (2002) | Kane Hodder |
Freddy vs. Jason (2003) | Ken Kirzinger |
7 Frankenstein’s Monster – Universal Classic Monsters
Originally Played By Boris Karloff, Replaced By Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, & Glenn Strange
![](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Frankenstein.jpg)
Boris Karloff’s portrayal of Frankenstein’s Monster is the most enduring image in horror cinema. Karloff depicted the Monster in three movies released under the Universal Classic Monsters franchise: Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and Son of Frankenstein. For 1942’s Ghost of Frankenstein, Karloff was unavailable due to his theater obligations while starring in Arsenic and Old Lace (via American Film Institute).
Lon Chaney Jr. was cast in the role, but this posed a problem for the next movie, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, as Chaney already portrayed the eponymous Wolf Man. Instead, Frankenstein’s Monster was played by Bela Lugosi — this was interesting since Lugosi declined the role in the original Frankenstein. Accounts differ on the reason Lugosi did not star as the Monster again, but Glenn Strange was cast in the role for subsequent movies in the Universal Classic Monsters franchise.
Actors Who Played Frankenstein’s Monster In The Universal Classic Monsters Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
Frankenstein (1931) | Boris Karloff |
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) | Boris Karloff |
Son of Frankenstein (1939) | Boris Karloff |
The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) | Lon Chaney Jr. |
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) | Bela Lugosi |
House of Frankenstein (1944) | Glenn Strange |
House of Dracula (1945) | Glenn Strange |
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) | Glenn Strange |
6 Count Dracula – Universal Classic Monsters
Originally Played By Bela Lugosi, Replaced By Lon Chaney Jr. & John Carradine
![Bela Lugosi as the title character in 1931's Dracula.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bela-lugosi.jpeg)
Few actors are as synonymous with a role as Bela Lugosi was with Count Dracula, and he created several of the character’s notable distinguishing features. Lugosi played the vampire in a string of theater adaptations, but only appeared in two feature films as Dracula. Todd Browning’s Dracula proved so effective that Lugosi became Hollywood’s personification of evil. As a result, Lugosi struggled with typecasting despite several efforts to shake his horror association — as detailed in Michael Mallory’s book Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror.
Lugosi begrudgingly appeared in a string of Universal horror movies, but did not appear in the firstDracula sequel, Son of Dracula, and was replaced by Lon Chaney Jr. When it came to the crossover movies, however, Chaney once again portrayed multiple protagonists. Consequently, John Carradine was cast as Dracula in House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula. Lugosi, however, became desperate for work and once again donned the infamous cape to play Dracula in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, a movie that mocked Lugosi’s greatest performance.
Actors Who Played Dracula In The Universal Classic Monsters Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
Dracula (1931) | Bela Lugosi |
Son of Dracula (1943) | Lon Chaney Jr. |
House of Frankenstein (1944) | John Carradine |
House of Dracula (1945) | John Carradine |
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) | Bela Lugosi |
5 The Invisible Man – Universal Classic Monsters
Originally Played By Claude Rains, Replaced By Vincent Price & Jon Hall
![The Invisible Man (Claude Rains) shaking his fist with Flora Cranley (Gloria Stuart) in 1933's The Invisible Man](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/invisible-man-Cropped.jpg)
Universal Pictures’ The Invisible Man adapted H.G. Wells’s classic novel of the same name. Claude Rains played Dr. Jack Griffin, the eponymous scientist afflicted by invisibility. Rains embodied the character with a palpable relish and gusto, creating a sinister inflection through characterization alone. Universal recast the role for the sequel, however, favoring an entirely new narrative. Vincent Price starred in The Invisible Man Returns as a man who encounters Griffin’s brother. Universal then recast the role again to create a fresh story. Two explicitly different variations of Griffin later appear in Invisible Agent and The Invisible Man’s Revenge, both of which starred Jon Hall in the title role.
Actors Who Played The Invisible Man In The Universal Classic Monsters Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
The Invisible Man (1933) | Claude Rains as Dr. Frank Griffin |
The Invisible Man Returns (1940) | John Sutton as Dr. Frank Griffin |
Invisible Agent (1942) | Jon Hall as Frank “Raymond” Griffin |
The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944) | Jon Hall as Robert Griffin |
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) | Arthur Franz as Tommy Nelson |
4 Gloria “Mama” Firefly – Rob Zombie’s Firefly Franchise
Originally Played By Karen Black, Replaced By Leslie Easterbrook
![Karen Black as Mama Firefly laughing with Baby in House of 1000 Corpses](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/House-of-1000-Corpses-Karen-Black-as-Mama-Firefly-with-Baby.jpg)
Rob Zombie’s Firefly trilogy features an array of distinct characters throughout. House of 1000 Corpses introduced the murderous Firefly family, including the matriarch Gloria “Mama” Firefly. Mama was played to perfection by Karen Black, delivering a performance that was as sinister as it was sleazy. Unfortunately, Black did not return for The Devil’s Rejects, as she requested a higher wage for the sequel, which the studio couldn’t afford. The role was recast with Leslie Easterbrook as Mama Firefly, who proffered an equally impressive rendition. Easterbrook’s Mama was much more gregarious and more suited to the tone of The Devil’s Rejects, but it would have been fun to see Black’s interpretation.
Actors Who Played Mother Firefly In The Firefly Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
House of 1000 Corpses (2003) | Karen Black |
The Devil’s Rejects (2005) | Leslie Easterbrook |
3 Clarice Starling – The Hannibal Franchise
Originally Played By Jodie Foster, Replaced By Julianna Moore
![Jodie Foster as Clarice and Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter speaking through glass in The Silence of the Lambs](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Clarice-and-Hannibal-Lecter-in-The-Silence-of-the-Lambs.jpg)
Hannibal
- Created by
- Thomas Harris
- First Film
- Manhunter
- First TV Show
- Hannibal
- TV Show(s)
- Hannibal, Clarice
Jodie Foster won an Academy Award for playing Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. Despite this, she elected not to return for the sequel, Hannibal, as she was unhappy with the script and the direction of Clarice’s development. As Foster explained to Total Film, she felt starring in the sequel would “trample“ on Clarice’s characterization — though the official reason given was that she was working on another movie, Flora Plum. Julianne Moore was selected as Foster’s replacement and was incredibly enthralling in the role. As Foster determined, Clarice in Hannibal was indeed a very different interpretation, which Moore was particularly well suited for.
Actors Who Played Clarice Starling In The Hannibal Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) | Jodie Foster |
Hannibal (2001) | Julianne Moore |
2 Tommy Doyle – Halloween
Originally Played By Brian Andrews, Replaced By Paul Rudd & Anthony Michael Hall
![Blended Image of Halloween Kills' Tommy Doyle played by Anthony Michael Hall, and Paul Rudd as Tommy in Halloween 6](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Halloween-kills-tommy-doyle-Anthony-Michael-Hall-paul-rudd-1.jpg)
Tommy Doyle first appeared as the eight-year-old child whom Laurie Strode was babysitting in the original Halloween, portrayed by Brian Andrews. Tommy didn’t feature in another Halloween movie until the sixth, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. Producers initially wanted Andrews to reprise the role, but they were unable to reach him — explained by writer Daniel Farrands in the Halloween: The Ultimate Collection Blu-ray audio commentary for Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, The Producer’s Cut.
Consequently, Paul Rudd was cast as the adult Tommy in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, making his feature film debut. Rudd was a particular highlight in the latter Halloween movie, and so when Halloween Kills was in pre-production, Rudd was contacted about reprising his role as Tommy. Unfortunately, Rudd was unable to reprise the role due to scheduling conflicts with Ghostbusters: Afterlife (via Collider). Instead, Anthony Michael Hall starred as the middle-aged Tommy in Halloween Kills.
Actors Who Played Tommy Doyle In The Halloween Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
Halloween (1978) | Brian Andrews |
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) | Paul Rudd |
Halloween Kills (2021) | Anthony Michael Hall |
1 Art The Clown – Terrifier
Originally Played By Mike Giannelli, Replaced By David Howard Thornton
Terrifier
- Created by
- Damien Leone
- First Film
- Terrifier
The monstrous modern slasher icon Art the Clown appeared in a handful of movies before David Howard Thornton assumed the role in the feature film Terrifier and its infamous sequel. Art the Clown was originally played by Mike Giannelli in Damien Leone’s short films The 9th Circle and Terrifier and then in his anthology movie All Hallows’ Eve. Mike Giannelli subsequently retired from acting in major roles (via Looper). The character was recast, and David Howard Thornton stepped into the clown’s shoes for the Terrifier feature films that followed. Thornton proved successful, developing the character and his depravity to far greater heights.
Actors Who Played Art The Clown In The Terrifier Franchise | |
---|---|
Movie | Actor |
The 9th Circle (2008) | Mike Giannelli |
Terrifier (2011) | Mike Giannelli |
All Hallows’ Eve (2013) | Mike Giannelli |
Terrifier (2016) | David Howard Thornton |
Terrifier 2 (2022) | David Howard Thornton |
Terrifier 3 (2024) | David Howard Thornton |
Sources: Bloody Disgusting, American Film Institute, Total Film, Collider, Looper