While it’s not a common practice, there have been many cases whereTV showshaverecast certain characters, either with a different actor or an entirely different character. A big part of the success and popularity of a TV show is its cast, either thanks to their chemistry, their performances, or because they help make their characters relatable.
However, there have been some cases where the cast didn’t remain intact from beginning to end. It’s not uncommon for actors to leave the show they lead, either due to behind-the-scenes problems or because they want to pursue other projects. In some cases, their character leaves and the show moves on, but in others, the character is replaced.
Other, more common cases are when an actor leaves but the character’s arc isn’t over, so the team behind the show decides to recast, sometimes with positive results and sometimes not so much. Both types of recast apply to this list, and there are some that truly shocked the audience.
10Reggie Mantle In Riverdale
Ross Butler & Charles Melton
Riverdalestarted with one Reggie Mantle and ended with another. Reggie Mantle was Archie’s friend and rival, who played football in high school and was also the town’s prankster. Reggie was played by Ross Butler inRiverdaleseason 1, with Charles Melton taking over for the rest of the show.
The humorous side of Reggie came out with Melton’s performance, which made it a bit strange to watch after Butler’s version felt more antagonistic. In the end, the audience was more welcoming of Melton’s version, which became the character’s definitive portrayal. Butler leftRiverdaledue to scheduling conflicts with13 Reasons Why.
9Daario Naharis In Game of Thrones
Ed Skrein & Michiel Huisman
Game of Thronesalso has a place on this list thanks to Daario Naharis. The character made his debut inGame of Thronesseason 3, and in his first three episodes, he was played by Ed Skrein. However, for the rest of Naharis’ time in the show, he was played by Michiel Huisman, withSkrein saying the recast was due to “politics”(viaEW).
Naharis’ recast took viewers by surprise as his actors looked nothing alike.
Daario Naharis was trained as a pit fighter after being sold when he was a kid, but his talents earned him his freedom. Once freed, Daario joined the Second Sons sellsword company, and he later pledged his allegiance to Daenerys, with whom he was in love.Naharis’ recasttook viewers by surprise as his actors looked nothing alike, but narratively, he was recast on time.
8Laurie Forman In That ‘70s Show
Lisa Robin Kelly & Christina Moore
Joining Eric Forman (Topher Grace) and his friends inThat ‘70s Showwas Laurie, Eric’s older sister. Laurie was the stereotypical beautiful but mean girl, and she was also quite promiscuous, with Eric making fun of that, and their mother, Kitty, being annoyed by her actions. Laurie was often tormenting Eric, manipulating their father, and playing with Kelso’s feelings, as he was attracted to her.
Kelly left That ‘70s Show due to her substance-use disorder.
Laurie left in season 3 and returned in season 5, but when she showed up again in season 6, she was played by Christina Moore. Kelly leftThat ‘70s Showdue to her substance-use disorder, and unfortunately,Moore couldn’t match Kelly’s comedic timing and charm, and she was a very different Lauriethat viewers weren’t very welcoming of.
7Aunt Viv In The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Janet Hubert & Daphne Maxwell Reid
Vivian Banks was the wife of Philip Banks and the aunt of Will (Will Smith) inThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In the show’s first three seasons, Aunt Viv was played by Janet Hubert-Whitten, and she was explained to be a former artist who left her career to look after her children. However, Aunt Viv went through a big change in season 4.
Janet Hubert leftThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airafter being told that she had 10 weeks left of filming and couldn’t work on other projects (viaABC). Daphne Maxwell Reid took over the role, but the writers left Aunt Viv mostly aside, and Reid gave the character a different style that has divided fans of the show for years.
6Darrin Stephens In Bewitched
Dick York & Dick Sargent
Even classic TV shows likeBewitchedwent through a recast. Starring alongside Elizabeth Montgomery as witch Samantha Stephens was Dick York, who played Samantha’s (non-magical) husband, Darrin Stephens. Dick York played the role through most ofBewitched’s run (from season 1 to 5, to be exact), so viewers were used to his style and physical appearance.
York leftBewitcheddue to a severe back condition that was interfering with his work, and so Dick Sargent was cast. Unfortunately, Sargent didn’t have the same chemistry with Montgomery that York had, nor did he have the charm to carry on with the role.
5Michael Scott In The Office
Michael Scott Was Replaced By Robert California
When Michael Scott (Steve Carell) leftThe Office, he left a void in the show and its in-universe company that no character could fill. Surely, there was more than one replacement for him, but the one that stands out is Robert California (James Spader). California was introduced in season 7, when he was interviewing for the position of manager.
Spader and Carell have completely different comedy styles,and going from Carell’s expressive style and impeccable comedic timing to a more chill style from Spader wasn’t well-received by the audience.Carell leftThe Officedue to his contract ending and wanting to spend more time with his family.
4Eric Forman In That ‘70s Show
Eric Forman Was Replaced By Randy Pearson
Another major change inThat ‘70s Showwas when its lead character, Eric, left after season 7 (along with Ashton Kutcher’s Kelso). To fill the void left by Eric,That ‘70s Showintroduced Randy Pearson (Josh Meyers). Randy managed to impress Eric’s father and Eric’s friends, but not Fez and the audience. The show even gave him a romance with Donna, but that didn’t help the character.
Randy was very obviously written to replace Eric by being a weak copy of Grace’s character, instead of a different character that added to the show.Grace leftThat ‘70s Showbecause he wanted to pursue other projects, but he returned in the show’s finale and inThat ‘90s Show.
3Geralt Of Rivia In The Witcher
Henry Cavill & Liam Hemsworth
A recent recast that caused controversy was that of Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’sThe Witcher. Originally played by Henry Cavill for three seasons,Cavill’s departure was announcedbefore season 3’s release, and his replacement was revealed right away.Liam Hemsworth was cast as Geralt, and he will play the role inThe Witcherseasons 4 and 5.
At the time of writing, the only look at Hemsworth as Geralt is in season 4’s character teaser, so viewers still have nothing substantial to compare both versions. It’s to be seen, then, how different Hemsworth’s Geralt will be from Cavill’s, as well as how his chemistry with the rest of the cast will be, but the recast itself was a big shocker.
2Charlie In Two and a Half Men
Charlie Harper Was Replaced By Walden Schmidt
In 2011,Two and a Half Menwent through a big change when Charlie Sheen left the show and his character,Charlie Harper, was revealed in season 9 to have died. However, the show introduced another character to take Charlie’s place (after all, the show had to match its title, right?): Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher), a billionaire internet entrepreneur.
AlthoughTwo and a Half Mengot creative after Sheen’s departure, to the point of having Kathy Bates as Charlie’s ghost, the show wasn’t the same with Kutcher in the lead.Charlie Sheen was fired fromTwo and a Half Mendue to his substance-use disorder.
1Fox Mulder In The X-Files
Fox Mulder Was Replaced By John Doggett
Dave Duchovny’s Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson’s Dana Scully were the heart ofThe X-Files, so when the former left after season 7, he left a void that couldn’t be filled as hard as the show tried.The X-Filesintroduced FBI agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick) and made him Scully’s new partner, which changed the dynamic viewers were used to.
Duchovny leftThe X-Filesfor different reasons, such as royalty disputes, creative differences, burnout, and wanting to pursue a film career. Although John Doggett was well-received by critics, the audience wasn’t so welcoming, and to this day, Mulder’s departure is shocking and frustrating.
