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[digitalrelic]

I watched Deadpool over the weekend (which was phenomenal btw), and I left the theater thinking that Deadpool was a character that Ryan Reynolds was born to play. As in, his manuerisms, wit, delivery of lines, looks, etc.. all lined up perfectly for him to perform the role in a way that few, if any, other actors could.

Other actors I thought of were Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man:

And Hugh Jackman as Wolverine:

So what do you think, GAF? Obviously these are all comic book characters, but I'd like to see more genres. What other actors/actresses have fulfilled roles like these?

 

[Humidex]

"That's a Smith & Wesson. And you've had your six..."

 

[Prompto]

J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson
Patrick Stewart as Proffesor X
Ian Mckellen as Magneto

Also rewatching The Sopranos currently and I can't think of any other actor who could play the character of Tony Soprano as well as James Gandolfini did.

 

[jelly]

Knowing nothing of Tony Stark, I don't know, was Downey just good or suited as well?

 

[Skulduggery]

Heath Ledger maybe wasn't born to play the Joker, but he did die to play the Joker.

 

[Son Of D]

On the subject of comic book movies. (JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in the Raimi Spider-Man trilogy)

 

[The Lamonster]

Nathan Fillion as Malcolm Reynolds

 

[Strangelove77]

Heath Ledger maybe wasn't born to play the Joker, but he did die to play the Joker.

Ummm...alright.

 

[Parallax]

At least with deadpool, he was namedropped in the comics long before he appeared in movies

 

[fr0st]

Knowing nothing of Tony Stark, I don't know, was Downey just good or suited as well?

He was good...comic iron man became rdj after iron mans success and huge boost in popularity.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

 

[Haloid1177]

Wesley Snipes as Blade is vastly overlooked in the perfect casting category for comic book movies.

 

[Lan Dong Mik]

 

[SJRB]

Jeremy Piven was born to play Ari Gold. No matter how much he himself seems to dislike the character, his portayal is perfect and pretty much singlehandedly carried the show [AND the movie].

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

 

[CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls]

 

[brandonh83]

Stephen Lang as Cable.

 

[Viewt]

I'd actually disagree that Jackman was "born to play" Logan, though he's certainly found a great take on the character. His best work is still firmly outside the realm of superheroics, though (The Prestige, Prisoners).

There are also weird cases where roles that are seemingly perfect for an actor just fall flat. For example, there's no reason why Anthony Hopkins shouldn't be great as Odin. He's got the Shakespeare background, the vocal and visual gravitas, and there's a lot of great reference material for a wonderful take on the Allfather. But even if they handed him a decent characterization, he just doesn't give a shit, and is happy to read his lines off a cue card.

Anyway, to actually answer your question, I'd go with Alan Rickman as Snape. He embodies the disdain, the quiet intensity, and the vulnerability of the character so damn well. Such a wonderful actor.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Spoiler

LOL!

 

[Ishida]

Dude was basically playing as himself. And he was GREAT.

 

[BKatastrophe]

Wesley Snipes as Blade is vastly overlooked in the perfect casting category for comic book movies.

No he isn't. Anytime Blade gets brought up people immediately go to Wesley.

 

[Lan Dong Mik]

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.

 

[digitalrelic]

Heath Ledger maybe wasn't born to play the Joker, but he did die to play the Joker.

See, I think Heath Ledger was phenomenal as the Joker. He's the best incarnation of the Joker yet IMO and totally deserve the Best Actors Oscar nod.

With that said, that's where this kind of odd distinction comes into play. I don't think he was born to play the role. He worked his ass off to create a character that was amazing, and he completely pulled it off, but it didn't feel like it came naturally to him like some of the other roles mentioned above. It's hard to describe, and it's a weird distinction, but I feel it's a legitimate one.

 

[Zetta]

I always found Alan Rickman as Snape as the perfect fit.

 

[Ishida]

Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.

The entirety of the BTTF cast was 100% spot on. Michael J. Fox was just perfect as Marty McFly.

 

[Afro Samurai]

Alan Rickman

 

[Platy]

Jack Black in school of rock ? =P

Ron Perlman as Hellboy !


Also, while Hugh Jackman did an AWESOME job with the wolverine role ... he was not BORN to play the role because he was BORN too tall to play wolverine =P

 

[Viewt]

Spoiler

LOL!

Man, looking at that just makes me feel so bad for Routh. I really think he could've been great as Supes in a different film.

 

[digitalrelic]

Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.

That's a perfect example! There no way I could ever see another actor playing Doc Brown.

 

[Ryce]

Do original characters count? Because James Gandolfini and Bryan Cranston were born to play Tony Soprano and Walter White, respectively.

 

[Kthulhu]

Will Farrell as Ron Burgundy

 

[Son Of D]

I always found Alan Rickman as Snape as the perfect fit.

Alan Rickman

That's another good one. Wasn't Alan Rickman Rowling's dream casting for Snape or something like that?

 

[DrForester]

That's another good one. Wasn't Alan Rickman Rowling's dream casting for Snape or something like that?

Supposedly Rickman was one of three actors Rowling requested (other's being Maggie Smith as McGonagall and Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid). Though, Rickman was offered the role only after Tim Roth turned it down.

 

[Arkeband]

 

[digitalrelic]

Here's another good one:

 

[Represent.]

Cranston was perfection.

 

[Kenzodielocke]

Batfleck.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men is literally just Charlie Sheen. Wait... I guess that doesn't really count.

Marvel films are pretty good with getting this across, like people have said RDJ as Tony Stark, but I have a pretty hard time imagining anybody else other than Chris Evans playing Steve Rogers now too.

At least with deadpool, he was namedropped in the comics long before he appeared in movies

Not a one time thing with Marvel characters

 

[CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls]

I always imagine how Stuart Townsend would have faired as Aragorn.

 

[Vinegar Joe]

Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl in Popeye.

Pretty sure Robert Altman sold it to her on the fact she was born to play the role, in fact.

 

[Stairouais]

Those three guys.

edit: damn, beaten.

 

[Joni]

His original Joker, Mark Hamill's The Trickster

Wentworth Miller, boring actor, until he becomes Captain Cold

Andy Withfield, Spartacus reincarnated

Crixus, Manu Bennet perfection

Grant Gustin, aka Lightning Gave Me Abs kid

Hawkeye Pierce, sometimes called Alan Alda.

 

[Tom Nook]

O'Shea Jackson, Jr., literally is born to play his Dad.

 

[NealMcCauley]

Cameron wanted Lance Henrikson or OJ Simpson originally, but changed his mind after meeting Arnold.

 

[Head of Vengarl]

Can you imagine anyone but Jeff Bridges playing The Dude? I can't.

 

[DrForester]

Pretty much everyone in that film was perfect for the role, except of Ozymandias. Was so weird that they made a point to cast the characters to look close to their comic counterparts for every character in the film except for him.

 

[Violence Jack]

Arnold as Conan

Bruce Willis as John McClane

Signorey Weaver as Ripley

Professor X

 

[digitalrelic]

Wentworth Miller, boring actor, until he becomes Captain Cold

Andy Withfield, Spartacus reincarnated

Crixus, Manu Bennet perfection

Grant Gustin, aka Lightning Gave Me Abs kid

Hawkeye Pierce, sometimes called Alan Alda.

I can't say I agree with literally any of these picks, except maybe Hawkeye Pierce.

 

[Lan Dong Mik]

O'Shea Jackson, Jr., literally is born to play this Dad.

lol

we're done here