Actors Cast As A Sure Thing Who Didn’t Deliver
Hollywood loves a gamble, especially when it involves launching fresh faces into mega-budget franchises.
Studios pour millions into casting actors they believe will become the next big thing, building entire universes around them.
But sometimes those bets crash harder than a stunt gone wrong, leaving careers stalled and franchises put to a halt.
Take a look at which eight actors were handed keys to blockbuster kingdoms that never materialized.
1. Taylor Kitsch — John Carter and Battleship
Back in 2012, Taylor Kitsch was supposed to become Hollywood’s go-to action hero.
Disney bet big on John Carter, a sci-fi epic with a budget north of $250 million, expecting it to spawn sequels and theme park rides.
Instead, the film became one of the biggest box-office disasters in history.
Just months later, Kitsch starred in Battleship, another massive flop. Two swings, two misses.
Both movies tanked so spectacularly that his leading-man trajectory froze mid-flight, proving that even charisma can’t save weak scripts and bloated budgets.
2. Taylor Lautner — Abduction
Fresh off Twilight mania, Taylor Lautner seemed destined for solo stardom.
Abduction was designed as his breakout vehicle, a slick action thriller meant to prove he could carry a franchise without vampires or werewolves.
Critics shredded the film, and audiences stayed home. Lautner’s performance was criticized as wooden, and the movie barely recouped its production costs.
Studios quickly cooled on Lautner as a leading man, and his career pivoted toward supporting roles and television work.
3. Charlie Hunnam — King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Warner Bros. envisioned a six-film King Arthur universe with Charlie Hunnam as their rugged hero. The studio poured $175 million into Legend of the Sword, expecting a Game of Thrones-level franchise.
However, the film grossed just $148 million worldwide, a catastrophic failure. Critics found the movie confusing and overstuffed with CGI.
Hunnam’s charisma couldn’t overcome the messy script and bizarre directorial choices.
The planned sequels evaporated overnight, and the actor retreated to smaller, character-driven projects where his talent could actually shine without the weight of failed franchises.
4. Jai Courtney — Terminator Genisys
Jai Courtney was tapped to reboot the Terminator franchise as Kyle Reese, stepping into shoes once filled by Michael Biehn.
Paramount hoped Genisys would erase the mistakes of previous sequels and launch a new trilogy.
The film earned a pitiful 26% on Rotten Tomatoes and confused longtime fans with its convoluted timeline. Courtney’s performance was criticized as bland and forgettable.
While the movie made $440 million globally, its massive budget meant it barely broke even.
5. Josh Lucas — Stealth
Sony bet $135 million on Stealth, a high-tech action thriller starring Josh Lucas as a hotshot Navy pilot battling an AI-controlled fighter jet.
The studio positioned him as the next Tom Cruise in Top Gun-style glory.
Critics savaged the film for its ridiculous plot and wooden acting. It flopped spectacularly, earning just $76 million worldwide.
Lucas’s performance couldn’t salvage the mess of CGI and clichés.
6. Hayden Christensen — Jumper
After Star Wars, Hayden Christensen was handed Jumper, a slick sci-fi action film about teleporting teens. Fox envisioned a youth-driven franchise with sequels and spin-offs galore.
The movie made $222 million globally but received harsh reviews for its shallow plot and Christensen’s stiff performance. Audiences found the story underdeveloped and unsatisfying.
Despite decent box office numbers, the critical drubbing put a stop to any franchise plans.
Christensen’s leading-man aspirations fizzled, and he largely disappeared from mainstream cinema for nearly a decade before returning to the Star Wars universe in a supporting capacity.
7. Alex Pettyfer — I Am Number Four
DreamWorks positioned I Am Number Four as the next Twilight, a YA franchise starring British heartthrob Alex Pettyfer as an alien teen on the run. The studio hoped to launch a multi-film saga.
The film earned $150 million worldwide but fell short of franchise expectations. Critics called it derivative and forgettable, and Pettyfer’s performance was deemed one-dimensional.
Reports of difficult on-set behavior didn’t help his reputation, and he struggled to land major roles afterward, proving that looks alone can’t sustain a blockbuster career.
8. Alden Ehrenreich — Solo: A Star Wars Story
Alden Ehrenreich faced the impossible task of replacing Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Lucasfilm spent $275 million on Solo, expecting a new Star Wars saga centered on the beloved smuggler.
The film grossed just $393 million, a disaster by Star Wars standards. Fans rejected the recast, and critics found the story unnecessary.
Ehrenreich delivered a solid performance, but the shadow of Ford was too immense.
Planned sequels were scrapped, and his career cooled significantly.
