10 Book Characters Who Were Miscast in the Adaptation but Still Great

Casting is among the most scrutinized aspects of adapting books. Authors often provide vivid descriptions of their characters. Weight, height, age, and nationality are all important to paint that picture. As a result, fans have a firm idea of how their favorite figures ought to look. Not everyone has the same idea, though.

In certain adaptations, the characters don’t resemble their book counterparts in the least. Taking such liberties may seem like deliberate disrespect from the filmmakers, but it’s not the end of the world. These changes can sometimes lead to great things. The alternative actors may be compelling in their own right, bringing out the characters’ best qualities and letting viewers connect with them on a new level. They might even be superior to the original text. Because of that, we should strive to keep an open mind, even with our favorite stories. A pleasant surprise could come any time.

Related: 10 Manga to Anime Adaptations That Need to Happen

10 Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone

Despite his young age, Jesse Stone is among the more damaged Robert B. Parker protagonists. The 35-year-old detective is physically imposing, but his drinking problem costs him his marriage and his job at the LAPD. Now serving as the police chief of a small New England town, he seeks recovery and redemption. That groundwork leads to an exceptional portrayal.

Tom Selleck brilliantly plays the downbeat detective in several TV movies. His huge height helps to intimidate, and his charisma lets him subtly showcase the character’s tragic layers. The regret is all over his face, but you also sense an iron resolve to do right by himself and the townspeople. This poignant performance always draws you in. The only caveat is that Selleck is about 20 years too old. That difference may seem like a huge distraction, but it’s easily overlooked, given the compelling drama onscreen.^[1]

9 Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit revolves around a group of Dwarves and their daring quest, and Thorin certainly looks like a leader with a daring scheme. Though still Dwarf height, he’s tall for his race and has a regal air thanks to his royal lineage. At the same time, he’s clearly past his prime, sporting an aged face and a long, white beard. Oddly enough, his big-screen version is the opposite.

In Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, Richard Armitage plays the wayward king. While still older than most of his companions, his flowing locks are black with only a few streaks of gray. In addition, his beard is only a few inches long. Luckily, he compensates through sheer gravitas. His deep delivery conveys disarming pathos with every line, and his slow body language betrays years of heavy hardships. Above all, he has the intense eyes of someone with lifelong ambition. You truly believe that he needs to embark on this journey, which is precisely what Thorin calls for.^[2]

8 Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg

A prominent part of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher tales, Yennefer is simultaneously imposing and appealing. The eternal love of the titular monster slayer, this sorceress is the epitome of classically commanding beauty. Her features are nearly perfect, possessing the purity of youth and the structure of maturity. Topping things off are her black hair, pale skin, and piercingly purple eyes. These traits combine into an impossibly alluring image.

At first glance, the 2019 TV series deliberately deviates from that image. Anya Chalotra’s British-Indian heritage means she lacks Yennefer’s pale complexion and violet pupils, and she seems a little too young to convey the character’s decades of experience. To everyone’s surprise, though, she completely owns the role.

Going into the backstory lets her show the sorceress’s deep-seated emotional turmoil, and she continues hinting at that rawness even as the character matures. At the same time, she carries herself with all the grace, power, and cynicism that you’d expect from Yennefer, and she does so without driving viewers away. Blending those contrasting qualities is the greatest challenge with this heroine, and Chalotra accomplishes it beautifully.^[3]

7 Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder

Tom Builder’s background determines both his name and appearance. A principal figure in Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth, he’s a lifelong mason. That career has given him an immense stature and a strong build. Despite his nonviolent profession, he’s the most physically imposing person wherever he goes. In casting this hero, the filmmakers focus on other aspects.

Rufus Sewell steps into Tom’s shoes for The Pillars of the Earth miniseries. He looks about average size and doesn’t tower over anyone. On one hand, this lessens his credibility as a career stoneworker. On the other hand, you can still see that experience in his demeanor. He ably channels the quiet intelligence needed for this precise line of work, and his striking eyes imbue his lines with the renewed passion Tom feels upon starting the story’s revolutionary building. Most importantly, he holds the paternal warmth that you’d want in this blue-collar family man. Sewell makes you believe he’s this man through subtle nuance. For such deep-set aspects, that approach is appropriate.^[4]

6 Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe

A British soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe is the image of rough riding. He’s spent his life as a rogue and has the unscrupulous appearance to match. His angular bone structure, facial scar, and black hair add up to an unfriendly image. That image suits the chip on his shoulder, but it also makes his casting more surprising.

For the series of TV movies, Sean Bean steps up as Sharpe. He doesn’t look nearly as mean as the novels describe; his hair color isn’t even the same. On the upside, he’s always convincing as a man of action, and he flawlessly portrays the character’s inborn anger and resentment of authority. In fact, he’s so appealing as this flawed hero that Cornwell admits to hearing Bean’s voice when writing the character. You couldn’t ask for a better seal of approval.^[5]

5 Katee Sackhoff as Vic Moretti

Victoria “Vic” Moretti may be another damaged cop, but she’s also an invaluable member of the team in Craig Johnson’s Longmire novels. Previously based in Philadelphia, she was ostracized after becoming a whistleblower. She now seeks a fresh start in Wyoming, where she sticks out like a sore thumb. Caucasians and Native Americans make up the region’s population; Vic comes from an Italian family. That’s clear from her name, but it apparently wasn’t clear to the casting director.

Katee Sackhoff—with her white skin and blonde hair—is the furthest thing from an Italian. Nevertheless, she effortlessly embodies the exiled cop. She has a weathered quality about her, which suits the heroine’s tragic background. This persona makes her a hard figure, but she’s never cold. You can still empathize with her plight, and you don’t deny she cares deeply for her allies. Those characteristics are difficult to blend, but Sackhoff’s success with similar roles lets her do the same here.^[6]

4 Peter Cushing as Victor Frankenstein

This mad scientist is infamous in fiction, but his true appearance may surprise you. The ambitious protagonist of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein hails from a Swiss family and spends his years studying alchemy. He wants to discover the elusive elixir of life—a goal that constantly fuels his experiments. He eventually animates a makeshift human, but that reckless action actually stems from the impetuousness of youth. Frankenstein achieves this milestone soon after his college years. When adapting this iconic tale, though, most filmmakers portray the young academic as an older soul.

One example comes in the form of Peter Cushing. He holds the role throughout Hammer Film’s Frankenstein franchise. Not only does he sport his native British accent, but his angular appearance and calculating demeanor are a far cry from the energetic youth found in Shelley’s novel. However, he compensates with chilling precision.

His immense intellect shows in his articulate delivery and penetrating gaze. You buy him as an academic who knows his subject’s significance. That factor makes him both scarier as a villain and heartbreaking as a tragic figure. Cushing consequently emerges as the best Frankenstein ever put to screen. Considering how many interpretations we’ve seen, that’s saying a lot.^[7]

3 Ben Barnes as Caspian

Caspian X is a pivotal prince in The Chronicles of Narnia. Though technically a member of the invading Telmarines, he sides with the locals and liberates the land from the would-be conquerors. Given his accomplishments, it’s easy to forget that he’s just a preteen boy. With blonde hair and a small frame, he’s the picture of prepubescent naivete. However, he and the rest of the Telmarines (originally European pirates) see a notable change in translation.

In 2008’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, these guys are given a much darker complexion akin to conquistadors, many of them played by Latino actors. Thus, Ben Barnes doesn’t resemble the book’s Caspian at all, with differences ranging from his black hair to his older age. That said, he’s arguably more interesting. He still has a youthful drive, but he also imbues the lost prince with uncertainty and emotional volatility. His Caspian is a troubled soul who’s trying to find his place and right the wrongs done to him. A person in his position would naturally have that same attitude, lending an unexpected authenticity to this fantastical figure.^[8]

2 Christopher Lee as Francisco Scaramanga

This Spanish hitman is one of James Bond’s deadliest adversaries. Though employed by many seedy factions in Ian Fleming’s novels, Scaramanga takes center stage in The Man with the Golden Gun. His expert marksmanship lets him live lavishly despite his young age. He’s only in his thirties, and his red hair is in a crew-cut style. Aside from his tall height, he’s not what you’d imagine from a seasoned assassin.

By contrast, Christopher Lee fits snugly into that image. He obviously has the monumental height, but he also sports black hair with gray streaks—slicked back with nary a strand out of place. These facets distinguish him from his book counterpart, but he nails the villain in all other areas. His sinister presence is perfect for a killer with no conscience. In addition, he has the classy charisma of a disciplined hitman.

This is the type of guy who shoots you between the eyes and casually cashes the check. Beneath the surface, though, is a genuine love for killing; it’s an art form for him. That cold passion is almost too intimidating. When Roger Moore’s Bond comes out on top, you don’t buy it for a second. Lee does his job and then some.^[9]

1 Ray Winstone as Beowulf

Since his pivotal poem, Beowulf has stood tall as the prototypical hero. This Swedish warrior combats all manner of monsters through sheer strength, guile, and force of will. He’s a bear of a man—taller than everyone else with the muscle to match. He’s exactly what you’d imagine when picturing a conquering champion.

Among many other things, the 2007 film takes a few liberties with its casting. Ray Winstone assumes the mantle of Beowulf. He’s not exactly brimming with muscle, and his delivery barely hides his Cockney accent. That said, it also carries an electric conviction. He exudes authority and power, giving him firm command of every scene. Plus, the performance capture format lets him look like the strong warrior that the poem describes, and he confidently carries himself to match that body type. Capturing a larger-than-life hero is no small feat, but Winstone is more than capable of that daunting task.^[10]