The original post: /r/television by /u/Brungala on 2026-01-01 05:41:26+00:00.
So, I’m the kind of person that likes how an actor portrayed a character in any form of media, because I can definitely SEE them as THAT character.
But nowadays, shows/movies recasting an already established character that fans grow attached to, feels really off putting and strange. As now, fans have to get used to seeing their performance as a character that they have loved BECAUSE that previous actor made the character really lovable. It’s even more awkward, as if they show any flashbacks to events that the main cast have experienced with that character, now either swap out or macgyver a previous scene to NOT show the previous actor
However, there are actually two instances where recasting has actually felt needed and STILL manage to win over the hearts of the fans that loved that character and now love them even more because the new person brings a new twist on their character.
Those two shows being Superman & Lois, with Jonathan (Who originally was portrayed by Jordan Elsass, and following S3, was portrayed by Michael Bishop), and the OG Fresh Prince.
Fresh Prince worked well, as there was some drama with Aunt Viv’s original actress behind the scenes (which have now been amended with Will Smith patching things up and have made up) so after her departure from the show, she was replaced with Daphne Maxwell Reed, and had stayed that way up to the finale. Hell, the show made some fourth-wall jokes about Aunt Viv looking different. I feel as if it was handled well as the chemistry with Daphne’s Aunt Viv worked so beautifully with the main cast, and fans were okay with it.
And in Superman & Lois, Jordan Elsass’s performance of Jonathan didn’t really work, as he was stubborn, and was pretty envious of Jordan getting his powers. The dude isn’t a bad guy, but his acting left more to be desired.
But come S3, and Michael’s depiction of Jonathan was definitely weird. I initially didn’t like his take on Jonathan. But as I watched more and more, I actually thought his performance was really good. He had some very well acted scenes, and that breakdown scene of him finally unlocking his powers was amazing (but him getting powers so late kind of felt unearned and a little lackluster to me)
That’s what I think about recasting. What about you?