Summary
There are several reasons a character might look completely different in a sequelfrom the previous movies. Usually due to circumstances outside the director and producer’s control, amovie character may be recastfor a sequel. In the instance of some animated movies, characters might look different because of a drastic improvement in the technology used to make the movies since the last installment.
However,the design of a character might also be changed to account for the time that has passedwithin the setting. With animated characters, this is a concentrated effort, while in live-action movies, a character’s appearance will shift over time as the actor grows older or the wardrobe department makes updates. In each instance, fans are given multiple distinct character appearances and get to decide whether they prefer the classic or new and improved version.
15 Movie Recasts That Actually Worked
Recasting a character can be a very risky move for any major film or franchise but a handful of Hollywood recasts completely hit the nail on the head.
10Agent Smith
The Matrix (1999) | The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Both Agent Smith and Morpheus are recastfor theMatrixlegacy sequel, with the consensus being that one of these worked out better than the other.Morpheus' new appearance is excused because the character isn’t actually supposed to be Morpheus;he is a program created by Neo who plays out Morpheus' role in a simulated version of the originalMatrixstoryline. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is also generally more suited to his character than Jonathan Groff.
On the other hand,Groff is technically supposed to be the very same Agent Smith who fought Neo all those years ago,which makes the change harder to accept. While Groff is a talented actor, his performance doesn’t have the iconic quality that Hugo Weaving once brought to the character, making it even harder when the story demands the audience treat them as the same person. This would be an example of when a character looked completely different, and it was to the detriment of the movie.
The Matrix
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
The Matrix Resurrections
Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison - a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.
9Tony Rydinger
The Incredibles (2004) | Incredibles 2 (2018)
A lot of thecharacters inThe Incredibleslook noticeably different inIncredibles 2due to the drastic technological advancement in animation in the intervening 15 years. However, the animators make an effort for there to be some continuity where the Parrs are concerned.Violet’s crush Tony looks hilariously different,which is likely a byproduct of him being a side character whose only narrative purpose is to show Violet gradually becoming more confident.
Back whenThe Incredibleswas in production and 3D animation was still relatively new, animating each character would have been a bigger challenge. Again,the animators obviously concentrated most of their energy on the Parrs, while Tony ended up with some weird features,like eyelids that are always half-closed. In contrast, Tony would have been a much quicker task forIncredibles 2, giving him more awake features and an overall more clean-cut look.
The Incredibles
The Incredibles follows the retired superhero Bob Parr, now an insurance adjuster living in suburbia with his family. When a mysterious assignment surfaces, he is called back into action alongside his family, leading them to confront hidden dangers.
The Incredibles 2
The sequel to Pixar’s The Incredibles, Incredibles 2 follows the Parr family as they continue to fight crime as Supers. In a world that has only recently rediscovered its need for superpowered heroes, building trust is key. However, when Elastigirl uncovers a villainous plot to discredit the Super community, the family investigates, putting the Parrs in more danger than ever before.
8Gellert Gridelwald
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (2016) | Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore (2022)
Grindelwald’s appearance also dramatically changes between movies for the reason thatJohnny Depp was fired fromFantastic Beastsafter making a cameo in the first movie and playing the main villain in the second.The filmmakers make some effort to draw connections between the two versions of Grindelwald,such as maintaining silver highlights in his hair. However, they largely depended on the audience accepting this continuity error when Mads Mikkelsen was also a strong casting choice. The movie ultimately flopped for other reasons.
Additionally,it has been pointed out that the young Grindelwald’s appearance shiftsfrom his brief appearance inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1toFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Jamie Campbell Bower and Toby Regbo reprise the respective roles of the younger Grindelwald and Dumbledore. However, the detail of Grindelwald having different colored eyes was added in the latter movie.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
In 1926, British magizoologist Newt Scamander travels to New York City in his ongoing field research into magical creatures. Here, he finds himself caught up in some trouble involving a No-Maj, local wizarding law enforcement, and the Dark Wizard Grindelwald.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
In the third and final installment of the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, the threat of Grindelwald grows ever larger. To defeat him, Albus Dumbledore recruits Newt Scamander, along with other talented witches and wizards, to fight Grindelwald and his acolytes before their plans to destroy the non-magic world come to pass.
7Victoria
Twilight (2008) | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
Victoria’s appearance also changes from her introduction in the firstTwilightmovie to her return inEclipseas the primary villain. What’s interesting is that little notice is paid to this whenVictoria is recast afterTwilight.When Rachelle Lefevre plays her in the first movie, the filmmakers decided that Victoria’s defining physical attribute was not strictly necessary and let her be blondwhen she appears with James and Laurent.
However, a naturally red-headed actress was cast as Victoria the next time around and the character became more similar to how she is described in the books. As a result, it creates a dramatic contrast during the climactic fight between her and Edward when both Victoria’s hair and Bella’s blood stand out against the snowy setting. However,the team behindTwilightultimatelyhad to trust their audience to not mind too much when they decided to recast.
Twilight
Based on Stephenie Meyer’s book of the same name, Twilight follows Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), who falls madly in love with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who she soon finds out is a vampire. Falling in love with her at the same time, Edward and Bella must overcome obstacles to preserve their forbidden relationship.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
In the third chapter of Stephenie Meyer’s phenomenal Twilight series, Bella Swan is surrounded by danger as Seattle is hit by a string of murders and an evil vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, Bella is forced to choose between her love, Edward Cullen, and her friend, Jacob Black — knowing that her decision may start another war in the ageless feud between the werewolves and vampires.
6Bo Peep
Toy Story (1995) | Toy Story 4 (2019)
Like with theIncrediblescast, the appearances of the characters inToy Storyshifted over time as they honed in the animation process. That being said, Woody, Buzz, and the rest still look plausibly similar.Bo Peep’s appearance is intentionally changed from the last time the audience saw her,as she has been living outside a child’s bedroom or another permanent residence for some time inToy Story 4. The Pixar artists cleverly adjusted her design to reflect how she has become more action-oriented and accustomed to a rougher lifestyle.
Bo Peep at some point lost her bonnet but fashioned herself a bow; she also modified her skirt, so it doubles as a cape.
Bo Peep at some point lost her bonnet but fashioned herself a bow; she also modified her skirt, so it doubles as a cape. Her arms are patched up with tape as she is porcelain, and they have broken off at some point.Some of the changes to Bo Peep’s design are more difficult to explain,like how her bodice has completely changed. However, Pixar evidently decided that they could take some creative liberties in this case.
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 animated feature from Pixar Animation Studios. It follows Woody, a cowboy doll, as he faces rivalry with new toy Buzz Lightyear. The film explores the dynamics between the toys as Woody and Buzz are inadvertently separated from their owner, embarking on a journey to return home.
Toy Story 4
Toy Story 4 is part of Pixar’s animated franchise, where Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, embarks on a road trip with old and new friends. As Bonnie introduces Forky, an unconventional toy, Woody navigates the challenges of his evolving role while exploring the wider world beyond Andy and Bonnie.
10 Movie Sequels That Completely Changed How You Saw An Important Character
Sometimes iconic characters can become completely different people in movie sequels, and audiences can never see them in the same way again.
5Wanda Maximoff
Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015) | Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
Like the rest of the MCU cast, Wanda’s look gradually evolved. This is strongly influenced by the culture of the comics becoming more widely appreciated and truer versions of the heroes' costumes being incorporated into the MCU.Wanda started out with just a red leather jacket(actually Nat’s jacket) as a not-overt homage to her comic book costume. This morphed into a longer coat in CaptainAmerica: Civil WarandAvengers: Infinity War, while her hair color also shifted.
When she returns fromWandaVision, Wanda is now sporting the dramatic Scarlet Witch ensemble that makes her look starkly different from her first appearance in the MCU. Interestingly,the version of Wanda that exists in the Illuminati’s universe bears a closer resemblance to the Wanda inAge of Ultron(at least closer to her hair color then). It is interesting to think about what implicationsDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessis trying to make here, despite many its weaknesses as a movie.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron, released in 2015, follows Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man and Captain America, as they contend with Ultron, a rogue AI with plans for global annihilation. This Marvel sequel sees The Avengers form uneasy alliances and embark on a perilous global adventure to thwart Ultron’s schemes.
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Doctor Strange as he navigates diverse and perilous alternate realities in the Multiverse with the aid of mystical allies. Directed by Sam Raimi, this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces a mysterious new adversary.
4Sarah Connor
The Terminator (1984) | Terminator Genisys (2015) | Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Sarah’s appearance changes fromThe TerminatortoTerminator 2: Judgment Day,with a new hairstyle and fashion sense, but she is still recognizable. It is when she is recast as Emilia Clarke forTerminator Genisysthat she appears completely different. As far as theTerminatortimelineis concerned, this is the same Sarah that existed in 1984 in the original, genetically speaking. The movie asks that the audience accept the recast as part of theTerminatorreboot, leading into a new era of time travel adventures.
Of course,Genisyscrashed and burned, only making the recast one scathing element of the whole mess. Linda Hamilton then returns as Sarah inTerminator: Dark Fate. She obviously looks different just because she is older, but some intentional changes are still made that give her a bold new look.InDark Fate, Sarah has a shorter haircut and new gear, showcasing the natural evolution of her characterif she had been fighting Terminators alone for decades.
Terminator
In 1984, a human soldier is tasked to stop an indestructible cyborg killing machine, both sent from 2029, from executing a young woman, whose unborn son is the key to humanity’s future salvation.
Terminator Genisys
Terminator: Genysis reboots James Cameron’s Terminator franchise by rewriting the events of the original movie. This time, Emilia Clarke’s Sarah Connor already knows why Jai Courtney’s Kyle Reese has been sent back in time, and an older T-800, once again played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, helps them in their quest to prevent an AI uprising.
Terminator: Dark Fate
Terminator: Dark Fate is a direct sequel to Terminator 2: Judgement Day, ignoring the rest of the future films to re-canonize the franchise. Set years after Sarah Connor successfully stopped the impending Judgement Day, a new Terminator is sent to destroy the resistance before it forms. Now forced to team up with a former T-800 terminator model, Sarah will seek vengeance and protect Dani Ramos, the new target of Skynet.
3Nymphadora Tonks
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007) | Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Tonks has a built-in story explanation for her changing appearance that is only briefly shown inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixrather than completely explained.Tonks is a Metamorphmagus,with the rare natural ability to change her hair and facial features. Because her and Remus' roles are largely reduced in the movies, the ways Tonks' appearance changes from sequel to sequel aren’t really highlighted.
However, movie stills and posters show off how she is taking full advantage of her ability, as she does in the source material. In the books,Tonks shows up to almost every gathering with a different hair color and texture.To make life easier for the costume and makeup department, she only has a different hairstyle for each movie. She also wears a variety of bold garments, although her style becomes more simplistic once she is married and a mother.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix follows Harry’s return to Hogwarts for his fifth year, where he finds himself disbelieved about Lord Voldemort’s return. As a result, Harry takes initiative, forming a group of students to master defense against dark forces, facing opposition from the Ministry of Magic.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 concludes the epic saga with Harry, Ron, and Hermione embarking on a perilous mission to defeat Voldemort. As their journey grows increasingly dire, Harry encounters three magical items that provide him powers to confront the dark wizard’s formidable strength.
2Elizabeth Swann
Elizabeth’s cameo inPirates of the Caribbean 5was a last-minute addition; Keira Knightley flew to the set for a one-day shoot when the fans demanded her character’s return (viaUSA Today).Elizabeth’s appearance in the movie suggests that it was thrown together at the last minute— no time to dye her hair blond (if Knightley would have done this) or even find a good wig. She’s also wearing a standard period dress that doesn’t reflect her character, or at least what her character was before.
It’s been established that Elizabeth isn’t a huge fan of the fashion of the day, even when she is not pirating. With her frilly dress and sensible jewelry,Elizabeth could be a completely different character in this movie.Maybe her tastes have changed over the decades, but ultimately, this is just one inconsistent detail in a movie that has much bigger problems.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
The fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales follows young Henry Turner as he enlists Captain Jack Sparrow to release his father, Will Turner, from the curse binding him to the Flying Dutchman. Their quest puts them in the path of ghostly pirate-hunter Captain Salazar, with whom Sparrow has a storied past. To save his old friend, Sparrow must confront his own past to reunite Will with his long-lost son.
10 Most Ridiculous Movie Cameos Of All Time
There are plenty of movies with surprising cameos, but when they are in ridiculous situations, they are the cameos no one ever forgets.
1Hiccup (& The Rest Of The Young Cast)
How To Train Your Dragon (2010) | How To Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
Hiccup’s appearance changes between movies, reflecting how his role in the story and his village have changed. In the firstHow to Train Your Dragon,Hiccup is supposed to be the weakest link in the tribe, and his design is wimpy and awkward.In the second movie, Hiccup is now five years older, a hot-shot dragon rider, and the"pride of Berk.“He is taller, buffer, and has a lot of cool gear and gadgets.
Overall, the changes in theHow to Train Your Dragonmovies are some of the best made to movie character designs to show their growth.
How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 animated film set in the Viking world of Berk, where Hiccup, the son of Stoick the Vast, befriends a dragon and defies the village’s traditional dragon-slaying ways, leading to a reevaluation of the Viking-dragon conflict.
How to Train Your Dragon 2
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is an animated adventure comedy that follows up shortly after the first film. This second entry in the trilogy finds Hiccup and Toothless exploring new worlds and charting unmapped territories. When the two discover a secret cave filled with new dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider, the two will have to join forces to defeat a ruthless dragon hunter - a cruel and dangerous foe who threatens the freedom and safety of all dragonkind.
