9 actors who were replaced in their own movies – and no-one noticed

9 actors who were replaced in their own movies – and no-one noticed

Made an impression, then.

Audiences are pretty aware that it probably isn't Daniel Craig skiing down that mountain, and unless it's Tom Cruise, chances are your Hollywood A-lister is being played by a stunt double at some point.

That being said, there are other scenes where a hunky Chris Hemsworth lookalike in a long wig just doesn't cut the mustard as Thor. What if pregnancy, a disagreement with the studio, or even the tragedy of death gets in the way? Instead of abandoning your million-dollar movie, why not stick someone else in the part and hope no-one notices the difference?

Here are a few actors that you never knew were replaced in the movies.

1. Hugo Weaving – Avengers: Infinity War

One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first big villains was Captain America: The First Avenger's Red Skull. In a typically brilliant turn, Lord of the Rings star Hugo Weaving played the crimson-faced Johann Schmidt. With Red Skull perishing before the credits rolled, many assumed this would be the last time we'd see Schmidt on our screens.

Avengers: Infinity War had the shock return of Red Skull, revealing he had been trapped in Vormir to stand guard over the Soul Stone. Although the looks and the voice were there, the 'new' Red Skull was actually played by ace impressionist, The Walking Dead's Ross Marquand.

2. Richard Bremmer – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Alongside the likes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Lord Voldemort appeared in some form or another for seven of the eight Harry Potter movies – sitting out The Prisoner of Azkaban. Although Ralph Fiennes became synonymous with playing the Dark Lord, he didn't join the cast until the fourth movie, and Christian Coulson played the adolescent Tom Riddle in Chamber of Secrets.

With Voldemort's sinister visage popping up in 2001's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry's first encounter with his mortal enemy starred little-known British actor Richard Bremmer. Bremmer's performance was short-lived, but the footage was reused in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

3. Natalie Portman – Thor: The Dark World

Natalie Portman's tenure as Jane Foster was plagued with problems and the astrophysicist has been MIA since the events of Thor: The Dark World. While the Black Swan actress was once the leading lady of the Thor sub-franchise alongside Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder, even her part in The Dark World wasn't all her.

Reshoots on Alan Taylor's movie added a steamy scene where Thor locked lips with Jane. Most fans would've handed over their own Infinity Stones for the chance to kiss Hemsworth, but Portman was unable to make the reshoots. Complete with a Foster-inspired wig, it was left to Hemsworth's real-life wife, Elsa Pataky, to step into the role.

It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

4. David Hyde Pierce – Hellboy: The Golden Army

Guillermo del Toro's two Hellboy movies are notoriously divisive even among fans. At least most can agree that the amphibious Abe Sapien is a highlight of both movies.

Hocus Pocus and Star Trek: Discovery actor Doug Jones played Abe in both movies, but David Hyde Pierce spoke Abe's voice for 2004's Hellboy. The Frasier star felt it was unfair to take credit for Jones' performance and reluctantly accepted any recognition for the movie.

Thankfully, Jones does a pretty good David Hyde Pierce impression and continued the role for Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

5. Paul Walker – Furious 7

When Fast and Furious star Paul Walker tragically passed away in 2013, it left a big question mark over how director Chris Morgan would complete the seventh movie. Furious 7 went on hiatus while Walker's family decided how they wanted to proceed, but thankfully, there was a solution.

The Walkers decided it was only right to complete Paul's part, so using his two brothers and over 350 VFX shots, Morgan managed to finish the movie. Cody and Caleb Walker helped Furious 7 become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, and gave the character of Brian O'Conner a happy-ever-after as he motored off into the sunset.

6. Gene Hackman – Superman II

Heading back to 1978, Richard Donner's Superman made over six times its budget and showed that the superhero genre could fly to box office greatness. However, when Donner returned for the inevitable sequel, things didn't run as smoothly. The director had already filmed 75% of Superman II during the production of the first movie, but was fired when he argued with Warner Bros over the budget.

The news didn't sit well with the cast when Richard Lester took over as Superman II's director. Although Gene Hackman was due to return as Lex Luthor, he refused to film any new material after the Donner days. Left with a predicament, Lester decided to use body doubles and soundalike actors to continue the Luthor legacy.

7. Damion Poitier – Guardians of the Galaxy

The MCU has been working towards the culmination of Phase 3 since way back in 2012's The Avengers. As the hunt for the Infinity Stones kicked it up a notch, The Avengers was the first time audiences set eyes on the Ribena-esque Thanos. While Josh Brolin is now known as the Mad Titan, he wasn't the first actor to try on an Infinity Gauntlet.

With Brolin yet to be cast as the MCU's big bad, the CGI Thanos from The Avengers' mid-credits scene was portrayed by American stuntman Damion Poitier. Back for a (slightly) larger role in Guardians of the Galaxy, Sean Gunn stood in for Thanos on set and Brolin provided an uncredited voice/performance capture.

8. Penelope Cruz – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

With the Pirates of the Caribbean movies still failing to walk the plank, news that a sixth movie is still in development will undoubtedly have fans looking back on one of the weaker entries. 2011's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has a memorable cast of Penélope Cruz and Ian McShane, but featured a lacklustre search for the Fountain of Youth.

Cruz was heavily pregnant during filming, which can get in the way of a stunt-laden franchise like Pirates of the Caribbean. Stepping into the role of Angelica, Cruz's sister took on some of the more daring scenes.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Penélope revealed that Mónica Cruz tackled the tricky swordplay sequences and moments where a baby bump might get in the way of the swashbuckling adventure.

9. James Purefoy – V for Vendetta

A thrilling tale of politics and plots, V for Vendetta beautifully adapted Alan Moore and David Lloyd's acclaimed comic series. Although audiences never got to see behind the Guy Fawkes mask of the titular V, most know that it was Hugo Weaving who played the tragic hero of the story.

Weaving got the credit for the movie, but fewer people know that he wasn't always cast as V. In the early days of V for Vendetta, V was played by Rome star James Purefoy. Even with Purefoy leaving six weeks into filming, some of his scenes made it into the final cut. Good luck spotting where, though!