Big Budget Movie Roles Played by Multiple Actors

Films: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror Mirror
Played by: Adriana Caselotti (1937), Kristen Stewart (2012), Lily Collins (2012) 

When it comes to iconic Disney princesses, Snow White is up there with the best of the best. Everyone remembers the original animated feature that starred Adriana Caselotti as the voice of the hunted beauty, but Snow has been reincarnated several times since then. 

Snow White @commondsneyfan / @faveslooks / @robstenmaniacas / Twitter.com

Kristen Stewart took on the role in the 2012 adaptation Snow White and the Huntsman, while Lily Collins also gave it a shot in a slightly different version of the tale that same year. Mirror Mirror was more of a comedic take on the original Disney movie, but it still managed to capture some of the nostalgic magic.

Films: Batman (The Movie), Batman, The Dark Knight, Suicide Squad, Joker
Played by: Caesar Romero (1966), Jack Nicholson (1989), Heath Ledger (2008), Jared Leto (2016), Joaquin Phoenix (2019)

Taking on the role of Gotham’s maniacal madman the Joker isn’t for the faint of heart. Caesar Romero made his mark on the role back in the ‘60s when he starred in the original TV show and its subsequent movie spinoff. However, the character evolved over time to be something much darker. 

The Joker @ProwlingGambino / @Movieman_1970 / @TeamCoco / Twitter.com

Jack Nicholson brought a new twist to the villain in AT&T’s Warner Bros. retelling in 1989, but it was Heath Ledger who scooped a posthumous Oscar for his time as the Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight. Jared Leto also briefly became Mr. J for 2015’s Suicide Squad, before Joaquin Phoenix wowed audiences and The Academy with his performance in 2019’s Joker.

Films: Superman 1-3, Superman Returns, Man of Steel 
Played by: Christopher Reeve (1978-1987), Brandon Routh (2006), Henry Cavill (2013-)

There are some characters that become such a huge part of our cultural identity that they stop being simply characters. Instead, they’re historical icons. Christopher Reeve wasn’t the first actor to play Superman, but he is the one that most of us associate with the role. Reeve played the Kryptonian superhero from 1978 to 1987. 

Superman @Darragh_Scanlon / @tylerdoran36 / Pinterest.com @ajayjaiswalnp / Twitter.com

After that, it was Brandon Routh’s turn to pick up the mantle for 2006’s Superman Returns. Routh’s performance was well-received, but plans for a sequel were scrapped. Henry Cavill donned the cape for Man of Steel in 2013 and, at the time of writing, remains DC’s current Superman. 

Films: Star Trek 1-6, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond
Played by: Leonard Nimoy (1979-1991), Zachary Quinto (2009-2016)

Leonard Nimoy’s portrayal of the logical Vulcan Spock is highly lauded for a reason. The actor gave his all to the part ever since he crashed onto our screens in the original Star Trek series in the ‘60s. Spock wouldn’t make his way to the silver screen until 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but over the course of the next decade, multiple features were made. 

Spock @markmtz / @Film4 / Twitter.com

When it came time for the role to be handed down in 2009, Nimoy himself chose Zachary Quinto. Leonard did appear in CBS’ Star Trek Into Darkness one last time as Spock before he passed away two years later in 2015. 

Films: Dracula, The House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, Dracula
Played by: Bella Lugosi (1931), John Carradine (1944-1945), Gary Oldman (1992)

Bram Stoker probably didn’t realize just how popular his blood-sucking character would become when he first put pen to paper in 1897. However, over 120 years later, the iconic vampire remains just as popular as ever. Bella Lugosi famously originated the part in a Broadway play before starring in the first Dracula movie in 1931. 

Dracula @Virgil Taylor / Facebook.com | @bgtohio / Pinterest.com | @Juan99moya / Twitter.com

While Lugosi is always heavily associated with the part, multiple actors have given it a go over the years – to varying levels of success. John Carradine starred in both The House of Frankenstein and The House of Dracula in the ‘40s, while Gary Oldman starred in 1992’s Hollywood blockbuster Dracula. 

Films: Pride & Prejudice, Pride & Prejudice (2005), Pride, Prejudice & Zombies
Played by: Greer Garson (1940), Jennifer Ehle (1995), Keira Knightley (2005), Lily James (2016)

Period dramas have always been very well-loved, which is why adaptations of them always seem to fare well – especially when they have a decent budget behind them. Greer Garson brought the role of Pride & Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet to life for the first time in 1940. Amazingly, it would be 65 years before another movie was made. 

Elizabeth Bennet @colleeneris / @julianna625 / Pinterest.com | @WITCHP0ETRY / Twitter.com

This time, Keira Knightly donned the costume and arguably gave a career-defining performance that quickly set her up as a leading lady in the genre. Disney’s Cinderella actress Lily James transformed into a slightly different version of Bennet for 2016’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 

Films: Star Wars (Episodes IV-VI), Star Wars (Episodes I-III)
Played by: Alec Guinness (1977-1983), Ewan McGregor (1999-2005)

It seems crazy to think about now, but when George Lucas was trying to get Star Wars made, studios thought it was a completely ludicrous idea. Little did they know that the space opera would make Lucas one of the richest people alive.

Obi-Wan Kenobi @sw_holocron / @callme_scooby / Twitter.com

Alec Guinness was part of the original cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi, appearing in the first three installments of the franchise. Famously, Alec really didn’t value his involvement in the project at all, labeling it “tedious.” Ewan McGregor seemed to have much more fun with the Disney property during his stint as Obi-Wan in the ‘90s and ‘00s.  

Films: Batman, Batman Returns, Catwoman, The Dark Knight Rises
Played by: Lee Meriweather (1966), Michelle Pfeiffer (1992), Halle Berry (2004), Anne Hathaway (2012)

Catwoman has managed to successfully prowl her way from the small screen to the silver screen across the course of decades. Lee Meriweather first brought her to the cinema in 1966’s Batman, but it was really Michelle Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle that set tongues – or should we say tails – wagging. 

Catwoman @cultdung / @Tony_Mogul / @ComicBooksTal / Twitter.com

Pfeiffer’s turn as the secretary-turned-villain was admirable and iconic, but we never saw her title her own feature. That honor was reserved for Halle Berry’s box office bomb in 2004 before Anne Hathaway donned the catsuit to appear in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. Costumes based on the character remain widely available on sites like eBay.

Films: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 
Played by: Gene Wilder (1971), Johnny Depp (2005)

Roald Dahl was a superb author that unleashed a plethora of amazing characters onto the world. The tale of young Charlie Bucket and his journey to the famous chocolate factory is one of Dahl’s most prominent works. In 1971, Gene Wilder wowed audiences with his portrayal of the eccentric chocolatier. 

Willy Wonka @dwuori / Twitter.com | @mooneyes68 / Pinterest.com

Not many people have been brave enough to try and take on the character as it’s so synonymous with Wilder. However, in 2005 Tim Burton and Johnny Depp thought they would give it a whirl. Depp’s Wonka was vastly different from Wilder’s man. Some thought it was genius, others thought it was a waste of good HSHY

Films: Mad Max, Mad Max 2, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Mad Max: Fury Road
Played by: Mel Gibson (1979-1985), Tom Hardy (2015)

When creators George Miller and Byron Kennedy came up with the premise for Mad Max, they probably didn’t realize that it would become such a hit. The first movie was released in 1979, starring Mel Gibson as the titular character in a dystopian world struggling with gangs, rampant crime, and everything in between. 

Mad Max @nathalieivanes / @Witchy_Rabbit / Pinterest.com

At the time, Gibson wasn’t the Hollywood superstar he was set to become. As his star rose he stuck with the franchise for a further two installments. In 2015 when it was rebooted, AT&T producers settled on Tom Hardy to take over the part of Max. 

Films: Alice in Wonderland, Alice in Wonderland (2010), Alice Through the Looking Glass
Played by: Kathryn Beaumont (1951), Mia Wasikowska (2010, 2016)

Lewis Carroll first published Alice in Wonderland back in 1865, so it’s hardly surprising that many actresses have played the part of the wandering child since then. There have been so many adaptations over the years that it would be impossible to mention them all, so we’ll stick to the most prominent. 

Alice In Wonderland @ronniedelcarmen / @megastarfilms / Twitter.com

Kathryn Beaumont was just 10 years old when she voiced the part of Disney’s animated character. When it came time to make a live-action reboot in 2010, Mia Wasikowska donned the blue dress. It went on to take over $1 billion at the box office, but its 2016 sequel didn’t do nearly as well. 

Films: Batman, Batman (1989), Batman Forever, Batman Returns, Batman & Robin, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice 
Played by: Adam West (1966), Michael Keaton (1989-1992), Val Kilmer (1995), George Clooney (1997), Christian Bale (2005-2012), Ben Affleck (2016-2017)

Fans are just as obsessed with Batman as they are with Superman. Adam West will always be Bruce Wayne to many, as he helped bring the character to life with the original ‘60s movie and TV series. Since his time in the Batmobile, times have changed.

Batman @Funny Fish TV / Youtube.com

Michael Keaton is widely regarded as a successful Batman, while Val Kilmer and George Clooney have both readily admitted they fell short of the bar in their lone outings that followed. Christian Bale picked up the slack as Christopher Nolan’s Bruce in the very profitable The Dark Knight Trilogy, while Ben Affleck’s attempt at the Bat was short-lived and divisive.

Films: The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Jack Ryan
Played by: Alec Baldwin (1990), Harrison Ford (1992-1994), Ben Affleck (2002), Chris Pine (2014), John Krasinksi (2018-)

Tom Clancy really hit the jackpot when he created Jack Ryan. The character leaped from the page to become one of America’s greatest on-screen action thriller heroes. In 1990, Alec Baldwin played Ryan in The Hunt for Red October. This spawned a series of follow-ups, with Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine each taking a turn.

Jack Ryan @holtonmumenthal / Pinterest.com

Although it’s a TV series and not a movie, it’s important to mention John Krasinski’s involvement with the franchise, too. The actor has been playing the CIA analyst on Amazon Prime’s series since 2018. Jack Ryan as an on-screen commodity has made close to $800 million so far. 

Films: Various
Played by: Sean Connery, 1962-1971, 1983), Roger Moore (1973-1985), Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002), Daniel Craig (2006-)

The name might be Bond, James Bond, but there have been so many actors take a turn as 007 that we couldn’t state them all. The suave and sophisticated British spy has stolen hearts since 1962. Sean Connery originated the part and will forever be associated with the sharp suits and high-tech gadgets. 

James Bond ©Stefano Chiacchiarini / Shutterstock.com | @danmcdaid / @TModded / Twitter.com

Roger Moore also proved he had the gall to make the role his own from 1973 to 1985, while Pierce Brosnan gave it his best shot in the ‘90s. Modern audiences may remember Daniel Craig as the only blonde Bond, but he is set to hand in the keys to the Aston Martin soon. Bond remains a very lucrative franchise, having made over $14 billion.