We’ve an emotional (and perhaps entirely irrational) attachment with the movies or shows we watch, and the actors who bring the characters to life. Some characters create a space in our hearts mainly due to our emotional connection with the celeb portraying them on screen. But as time goes by, things get a revamp, as they must but it can seem like something is off. The startling sensation that the main character is played by a shiny new actor can be befuddling. The movie, the franchise, becomes so closely attached to the idea of the actor that it be difficult to see them as different entities.
But this change is not new in the entertainment industry; over the years, we have witnessed some of the most legendary characters getting played by different stars. Let’s take a classic and on-the-news example of the Don movie franchise in India, which is all set to become like the Indian counterpart to the James Bond series. Don is more than a decade old, played by two of the most revered actors of our generation, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. And now Ranveer Singh is all set to step into their shoes to bring the character to a newer generation. In his announcement on Instagram, Singh said, I understand what a great responsibility it is to be a part of the ‘Don’ dynasty. I hope the audience gives me a chance and showers me with love, the way they have for numerous characters over the past so many years.
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While the news sparked a huge debate on the actor’s calibre and this change, this is a regular practise because performers are occasionally unable to return for sequels for a variety of reasons. Be it schedule issues that force an actor to abandon a role, perhaps the commercials don’t work, or the celebrity leaves of their own accord because they disagree with the screenplay. Whatever it is, the passing of the baton to the next actor is real. Here are 8 instances that this has happened.
1. Don
Passing the torch in the third instalment of the franchise, Ranveer Singh will play Don, taking over Shah Rukh Khan’s role, which originally starred Amitabh Bachchan.
2. Superman
David Corenswet is officially replacing Henry Cavill as the next Superman in James Gunn’s new movie, Superman: Legacy.
3. Bhool Bhulaiyaa
Last year, Kartik Aaryan replaced Akshay Kumar from the fan favourite horror comedy flick.
4. Spiderman
There have been three live-action film adaptations of Spider-Man starring Tobey Maguire in 2002, Andrew Garfield in 2012 and currently Tom Holland.
5. Jolly LLB
In this 2013, the courtroom comedy drama movie sequel had Akshay Kumar stepping into Arshad Warsi’s role. But the actors are all set to return together in the third instalment of the movie.
6. Fantastic Beasts
Depp resigned from his role as Gellert Grindelwald ahead of the Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and later Mads Mikkelsen took his place.
7. Batman
Robert Pattinson was been chosen as the new Batman, beating out several other actors, including Nicholas Hoult, to play the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’s The Batman.
8. Welcome
In 2015, John Abhram replaced his Garam Masala co-star Akshay Kumar from the much loved comedy movie Welcome.
Also, read 9 Mind-Bending Movies That Will Have You Questioning Everything You Know And Believe
