History Main / QuestionableCasting

[[caption-width-right:300:''Film/TheConqueror'': Featuring Creator/JohnWayne as UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan, pilgrim.]]

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/TheConqueror https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6_johnwayne.jpg]]]]

-->-- ''Film/{{Grindhouse}}'' trailer

Sometimes the result of FakeNationality, NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent or a combination of the two. RaceLift and DawsonCasting are also sometimes factors. In live-action media this may lead to cases of HollywoodGenetics.

[[quoteright:297:[[Film/TheConqueror https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6_johnwayne.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:297:''Film/TheConqueror'': Featuring Creator/JohnWayne as UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan, pilgrim.]]

-->-- '''Film/{{Grindhouse}}'''

Not to be confused with MoneyDearBoy (though often the effect is the same); sometimes, the actors involved just did it for the heck of it and [[DoingItForTheArt not necessarily because they were paid very much]] or that they're trying to show that they can be versatile and [[PlayingAgainstType not be in]] the TypeCasting trap; which can be bad for actors. Which makes for a great work but still does nothing to reduce the surreality of their presence in it. Can also occur when an attempt at StuntCasting comes ''waaaaay'' out of left-field. But there are cases where the odd casting actually ''worked'' SugarWiki/AndTheFandomRejoiced. See also: BlackSheepHit, a hit song that doesn't sound anything like the band's other songs and PlayingAgainstType, when an actor or director makes a project outside of their usual character type.

This is, naturally, a subjective thing. What will make one person sit back and say "Why did no-one stop this?" might make perfect sense to someone else.

Sometimes the result of FakeNationality, NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent or a combination of the two. RaceLift and DawsonCasting are also sometimes factors.

->''"And Creator/NicolasCage... as... Franchise/FuManchu!"''

[[caption-width-right:290:And featuring Creator/JohnWayne as UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan, [[Film/TheConqueror pilgrim.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:290:And featuring Creator/JohnWayne as UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan, pilgrim.]]

We've all seen it. Sometimes, when watching a movie or TV show, you see an actor portraying a character and you can't help wondering how the hell he wound up in that role and/or entire production. "What the Hell, Casting Agency?" happens when you know quite well who the actor is - you just can't understand why he/she's in ''this''.

We've all seen it. Sometimes, when watching a movie or TV show, you see an actor portraying a character and you can't help wondering how the hell he wound up in that role and/or entire production. A subtrope of HeyItsThatGuy, "What the Hell, Casting Agency?" happens when you know quite well who the actor is - you just can't understand why he/she's in ''this''.

[[quoteright:297:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6_johnwayne.jpg]]

[[caption-width-right:290:And featuring JohnWayne as GenghisKhan, pilgrim.]]

[[quoteright:297:[[Film/TheConqueror http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6_johnwayne.jpg]]]]

->''"And Creator/NicolasCage as... Franchise/FuManchu!"''

-->''"And Creator/NicolasCage as... Franchise/FuManchu!"''
-->-- '''{{Film/Grindhouse}}'''

-->''"And Creator/NicolasCage, as... Franchise/FuManchu!"''
-->--- '''{{Film/Grindhouse}}'''

-->'''"And Creator/NicolasCage, as... Franchise/FuManchu!"'

----
'''No examples, please. This only defines the term.'''

[[quoteright:297:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6_johnwayne.jpg]]

This can range from really bad to [[OneSceneWonder completely awesome]], depending on the actor, the part and the production. On the bad end, an actor might be horribly miscast for the role, or out of place in the entire show/movie. When done right, that dissonance can make the character or the whole production a lot better than could be expected without them. They might even [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct do far better in the role than expected.]] There is certainly a lot of possibility for SoBadItsGood as well.

No examples, please. This only defines the term.

We've all seen it. Sometimes, when watching a movie or TV show, you see an actor portraying a character and you can't help wondering how the hell he wound up in that role and/or entire production. A subtrope of HeyItsThatGuy, WTH Casting Agency happens when you know quite well who the actor is - you just can't understand why he/she's in ''this''.

This can range from really bad to [[OneSceneWonder completely awesome]], depending on the actor, the part and the production. On the bad end, an actor might be horribly miscast for the role, or out of place in the entire show/movie. When done right, that dissonance can make the character or the whole production a lot better than could be expected without them. They might even [[HeReallyCanAct do far better in the role than expected.]] There is certainly a lot of possibility for SoBadItsGood as well.

Not to be confused with MoneyDearBoy (though often the effect is the same); sometimes, the actors involved just did it for the heck of it and [[DoingItForTheArt not necessarily because they were paid very much]] or that they're trying to show that they can be versatile and [[PlayingAgainstType not be in]] the TypeCasting trap; which can be bad for actors. Which makes for a great work but still does nothing to reduce the surreality of their presence in it. Can also occur when an attempt at StuntCasting comes ''waaaaay'' out of left-field. But there are cases where the odd casting actually ''worked'' AndTheFandomRejoiced. See also: BlackSheepHit, a hit song that doesn't sound anything like the band's other songs and PlayingAgainstType, when an actor or director makes a project outside of their usual character type.

This is, naturally, [[YourMilageMayVary a subjective thing]]. What will make one person sit back and say "Why did no-one stop this?" might make perfect sense to someone else.

This is, naturally, {{YMMV}}. What will make one person sit back and say "WTH?" might make perfect sense to someone else.