9 Times DC disappointed fans with its casting

Casting in superhero films is always going to be something people care about. It is exciting to see who brings their favorite characters to life. When DC gets it right, the fans celebrate it for years, but when it goes wrong, the backlash is immediate and loud. Over the years, DC has made several casting choices that confused, disappointed, or frustrated people who expected more from such iconic roles.

Some actors were announced and instantly questioned, while others didn’t seem like a bad idea until they showed up in the final cut and didn’t deliver. These are not small background parts either because we’re talking about big cast members like Lex Luthor, the Joker, and the Flash.

When memorable roles go sideways, it ruins the whole movie and can even hurt the future of the entire franchise. Some of the issues came from poor fits for the characters, while other poor casting choices involved real-life controversy that dragged down the film’s reputation.

Fans have stuck with DC through a lot, but these casting choices tested that patience. You’ll find people still debating some of these decisions years later, and for good reason. These are the cast members that had people scratching their heads and wondering how they made it past the first audition.

9 Times DC disappointed fans with its casting

1. Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Image via Warner Bros.)

Eisenberg’s Lex came across as a nervous tech guy who ranted about gods and logic puzzles. Fans were waiting for a calm but terrifying businessman who could mentally go toe-to-toe with Superman.

Instead they got a version that talked in riddles and acted like he was always one second from breaking into laughter. His awkward mannerisms distracted from key scenes and made Bruce Wayne’s fears look overblown. The role never recovered, and Lex became unusable for future DCEU stories. Most fans still point to this casting when talking about what derailed the tone of the film.

2. Jared Leto as The Joker – Suicide Squad (2016)

When Leto was cast as Joker, he tried to be edgy with metallic teeth and loud tattoos, but none of it felt scary. Fans were confused by his style and even more puzzled by how little screen time he had.

Warner hyped the character heavily but cut most of his scenes during editing. What made it into the movie felt like random clips with no weight. His performance was criticized as exaggerated and unnecessary. The Joker is usually the heart of any DC film he appears in, but this version faded fast. It was the first time audiences actively rejected a Joker on-screen.

3. Ezra Miller as The Flash – Justice League (2017) and The Flash (2023)

Miller’s Flash leaned hard into awkward humor and made the character feel more like comic relief. Some liked the energy, but many said it was not Barry Allen at all.

Outside the movies, Miller’s arrests and court cases kept piling up. Fans called for Warner to recast the role before the solo film even released. When it finally hit theaters, the nostalgia cameos couldn’t save it. The movie flopped, and the character’s future is now unclear. This casting choice ended up hurting more than just one film and damaged the brand’s most energetic hero.

4. Amber Heard as Mera – Aquaman (2018) and Justice League (2017)

Cast as Mera in the Aquaman movies, Heard did not stand out much in her early appearances. Her performance felt flat, and many scenes were forgettable.

After her courtroom fight with Johnny Depp, the backlash exploded. A petition to remove her from Aquaman 2 gathered millions of signatures. Warner eventually reduced her role and changed the love story entirely. Even with her limited scenes, the controversy overshadowed the film. Merchandise slowed down, and press tours avoided mentioning her. For a movie built around fantasy and spectacle, her casting became the one detail nobody wanted to talk about.

5. Kristen Wiig as Cheetah – Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Wonder Woman 1984 (Image via Warner Bros.)

Many fans found the casting of a well-known comedy actress in a major villain role confusing. Wiig’s performance in early scenes worked fine, but once the transformation into Cheetah began, the character lost focus. Critics pointed to weak dialogue, an underdeveloped arc, and disappointing CGI.

Viewers expected Diana’s arch-nemesis to feel powerful and terrifying, but the fight scenes were brief and lacked emotional weight. Even fans of the film agree the Cheetah plotline didn’t land, and Wiig’s casting is still seen as a missed opportunity for something more intense or grounded.

6. George Clooney as Batman – Batman & Robin (1997)

George Clooney as Batman seemed too odd because he smiled too often, and it felt like a celebrity in a costume rather than a man with trauma. He did not portray the brooding, intense personality that is a defining trait for this superhero. The film pushed a lighter tone, and his take matched that shift.

But fans were not interested in jokes and gadgets with credit cards. The bat suit design also became a joke because of its molded features. Viewers said the movie turned a powerful symbol into something cartoonish. Clooney later admitted the film was bad and said he regretted doing it. That version of Batman forced Warner to take a long break before trying again.

7. Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam – Black Adam (2022)

Dwayne Johnson spent over a decade promoting Black Adam as the next big shift in the DC Universe. But when the film arrived, audiences felt the story focused too much on him and not enough on world-building. The Justice Society was sidelined, and fan-favorite characters were introduced without depth.

Critics called the film flat, and viewers felt Johnson’s control over production limited the creative risk. Instead of serving the larger DCEU, it felt like a star vehicle. The box office disappointment and lack of follow-up confirmed that fans didn’t buy into Johnson’s long-term vision for the franchise.

8. Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond – Green Lantern (2011)

Sarsgaard’s version of Hector Hammond felt exaggerated, awkward, and out of place. The oversized head prosthetics made him look comical rather than threatening. His transformation scenes dragged on and failed to establish real tension.

Audiences struggled to take the cast seriously, and critics noted how little development he had beyond being jealous and creepy. In a film already plagued with poor pacing and flat characters, Sarsgaard’s villain became another weak point. Hammond never felt like a real threat to Hal Jordan, and his scenes were more uncomfortable than dramatic. Fans largely see him as one of DC’s most forgettable villains.

9. Cara Delevingne as Enchantress – Suicide Squad (2016)

Cara Delevingne’s take on Enchantress was one of the most criticized parts of Suicide Squad's cast. From the strange body movements to the whispery, cliché dialogue, her performance felt like it belonged in a different movie. Critics and fans pointed out that she lacked menace, and her glowing CGI design looked cartoonish. Some felt her delivery of lines was unconvincing and lacked the gravitas needed for the ancient sorceress she was meant to be.

Her final scenes, where she dances around a swirling sky beam, became internet memes. Even her motivations felt unclear, making her one of the least compelling DC villains to date. Despite being the film’s main threat, she failed to leave a lasting impression beyond the visual oddities.