Hollyweird: Casting Choices That Made You Gag

A white actor gets cast at the King of Pop and more.

Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson - Sometimes Hollywood has the tendency to make some decisions that make the public go "huh?" Whether for good or not so good reasons, they bring out some kind of reaction.For instance, here's something a lot of people didn't see coming. A British TV movie is being made about the King of Pop trying to escape New York after the 9/11 attacks, and a white actor was cast as the lead. Joseph Fiennes will play the legendary singer in the insane story which claims that Michael Jackson tried to head back to Los Angeles by car with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando after the attacks. Social media was up in arms after the announcement was made.Read on for more casting controversies.(Photos from left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE)

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Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson - Sometimes Hollywood has the tendency to make some decisions that make the public go "huh?" Whether for good or not so good reasons, they bring out some kind of reaction.For instance, here's something a lot of people didn't see coming. A British TV movie is being made about the King of Pop trying to escape New York after the 9/11 attacks, and a white actor was cast as the lead. Joseph Fiennes will play the legendary singer in the insane story which claims that Michael Jackson tried to head back to Los Angeles by car with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando after the attacks. Social media was up in arms after the announcement was made.Read on for more casting controversies.(Photos from left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for GREY GOOSE)

Photo By Photos from left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Idris Elba as James Bond - Roger Moore (pictured above in his role as James Bond) recently debunked a report that he considers Idris Elba not quite "English-English" enough for 007. "#Lost in translation," he tweeted. Elba's already used to the speculation, however. He's been rumored to be playing the dapper hero, portrayed by Daniel Craig in November's  Spectre, for years.(Photos from Left: Ian Gavan/Getty Images, Keith Hamshere/Getty Images)

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Idris Elba as James Bond - Roger Moore (pictured above in his role as James Bond) recently debunked a report that he considers Idris Elba not quite "English-English" enough for 007. "#Lost in translation," he tweeted. Elba's already used to the speculation, however. He's been rumored to be playing the dapper hero, portrayed by Daniel Craig in November's  Spectre, for years.(Photos from Left: Ian Gavan/Getty Images, Keith Hamshere/Getty Images)

Extras Casting in Straight Outta Compton  - Last year, the extras casting call for the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton drew outrage from fans. The notice ranked girls according to skin color, from exotic and light-skinned ("A girls") to dark-skinned and overweight ("D girls"). The company apologized.  (Photo: Todd MacMillan/Universal Pictures) 

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Extras Casting in Straight Outta Compton  - Last year, the extras casting call for the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton drew outrage from fans. The notice ranked girls according to skin color, from exotic and light-skinned ("A girls") to dark-skinned and overweight ("D girls"). The company apologized.  (Photo: Todd MacMillan/Universal Pictures) 

Alexandra Shipp as Aaliyah  - No one's good enough to play Baby Girl. Fans of the R&B princess practically revolted when Zendaya was cast in the lead role of the Aaliyah biopic, but that was nothing compared to the backlash served to Ms. Shipp, who replaced the Disney star when she dropped out of the film, once it hit the TV screens. (Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/Lifetime)

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Alexandra Shipp as Aaliyah  - No one's good enough to play Baby Girl. Fans of the R&B princess practically revolted when Zendaya was cast in the lead role of the Aaliyah biopic, but that was nothing compared to the backlash served to Ms. Shipp, who replaced the Disney star when she dropped out of the film, once it hit the TV screens. (Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/Lifetime)

Exodus  - Director Ridley Scott revealed that his account of Exodus couldn't afford to have "Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such" cast as the lead role. "I'm just not going to get it financed," he said. So he went with Christian Bale.   (Photo: 20th Century Fox)

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Exodus  - Director Ridley Scott revealed that his account of Exodus couldn't afford to have "Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such" cast as the lead role. "I'm just not going to get it financed," he said. So he went with Christian Bale.   (Photo: 20th Century Fox)

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In Character - Zoe Saldana is spotted on the set of Nina wearing an Afro wig and makeup to darken her skin for her role in the film biopic of late jazz musician and classical pianist Nina Simone. There's been much controversy about the Dominican actress playing the much coveted part. (Photo: FameFlynet)

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Zoe Saldana in Nina  - Fans waited years for the biopic on Nina Simone to finally go into production and many were shocked when director Cynthia Mort cast the Dominican actress as the High Priestess of Soul, whose music and persona were largely defined by her looks. Change.org even launched a petition to get Mort to reconsider her decision. As for Saldana, she finally addressed the controversy by telling reporters, "I know what Nina Simone means to me."(Photo: FameFlynet Pictures)

Winnie - After a break from acting, Hudson returns to the big screen later this year in the film “Winnie.” The Oscar winner will portray Willie Mandela. Hudson will be joined by Academy Award nominated actor, Terrence Howard, who plays former South African president Nelson Mandela.

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Jennifer Hudson in Winnie  - Playing a historical icon is intimidating enough, but nothing could be worse than when the subject of a biopic doesn't agree with the choice. Winnie Mandela took issue with the decision to cast the American Idol alum in this "unauthorized" biopic, saying she found it "disrespectful" that she was not consulted on the matter.(Photo: D Films)

Tom Cruise in Interview With a Vampire  - Author Anne Rice did not hide her disappointment when it was announced that Tom Cruise would play her character Lestat de Lioncourt in this 1994 film. "Tom Cruise is no more my Lestat then Edward G. Robinson is Rhett Butler," she said dramatically, referring to Gone With the Wind. But after seeing Cruise's critically acclaimed performance, she admitted that the actor "proved me wrong."(Photo: Geffen Pictures)

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Tom Cruise in Interview With a Vampire  - Author Anne Rice did not hide her disappointment when it was announced that Tom Cruise would play her character Lestat de Lioncourt in this 1994 film. "Tom Cruise is no more my Lestat then Edward G. Robinson is Rhett Butler," she said dramatically, referring to Gone With the Wind. But after seeing Cruise's critically acclaimed performance, she admitted that the actor "proved me wrong."(Photo: Geffen Pictures)

Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart  - Mariane Pearl, the widow of the Wall Street Journal reporter who was slain by the Taliban in 2002, might have been thrilled at the choice of Jolie to play her in the 2006 adaptation of her memoir, but fans were outraged. A BET.com commenter went so far as to call the casting of Jolie as the biracial, Afro-Cuban woman a "new generation of Hollywood in Blackface."(Photo: Paramount Vantage Pictures)

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Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart  - Mariane Pearl, the widow of the Wall Street Journal reporter who was slain by the Taliban in 2002, might have been thrilled at the choice of Jolie to play her in the 2006 adaptation of her memoir, but fans were outraged. A BET.com commenter went so far as to call the casting of Jolie as the biracial, Afro-Cuban woman a "new generation of Hollywood in Blackface."(Photo: Paramount Vantage Pictures)

The Help - In her Best Actress Oscar-nominated role as Aibleen Clark in The Help, Viola got a chance to portray a multifaceted character who exhibits tolerance, vulnerability and strength in America circa 1960s. (Photo: Courtesy Dreamworks Entertainment)

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Viola Davis in The Help  - There were decidedly mixed feelings about The Help, particularly since it was written by a white woman, and no one was more skeptical than Davis... at first. After she read the script, she accepted the role of embattled maid Aibeleen because she "didn't see stereotypes." Audiences agreed. Despite petitions to boycott, and the negative buzz surrounding the film before its release, the film grossed over $100 million and swept the Oscar nominations.(Photo: DreamWorks)

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Thor - Earlier this year, Elba played Heimdall in the Marvel Studious film Thor.  He signed a four picture deal with Marvel, despite complaints from the Council of Conservative Citizens that a Black man shouldn't play a Nordic god. (Photo: Courtesy of Marvel)

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Idris Elba in Thor - The choice to cast Idris Elba as Heimdall brought race to the forefront, with many up in arms that the role didn't go to a white actor. "Thor has a hammer that flies to him when he clicks his fingers. That's OK, but the color of my skin is wrong?" Elba asked in response. He delivered a top-notch performance and was invited back for the sequel. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Edi Gathegi in Twilight\r\r - Gathegi had to deal with some internet haters when he was cast as blood-thirsty vampire Laurent in the Twilight series. "People were upset about an African-American being cast in this mythology because everybody has pale skin," he said. But he managed to prove that an appetite for O-positive transcends race.\r(Photo: Courtesy Summit Entertainment)

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Edi Gathegi in Twilight - Guess there are some Twilight fans with no imagination. Gathegi had to deal with some Internet haters when he was cast as blood-thirsty vampire Laurent in the Twilight series. "People were upset about an African-American being cast in this mythology because everybody has 'pale' skin," he said. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Selena (1997) - Responsible for skyrocketing Jennifer Lopez's acting career to what it is today, Selena proved celebrity biopics can be commercially lucrative if correctly and carefully cast. No actress would have been more ideal for fulfilling the role of the Tejano music star, and critics seemed to agree; Lopez earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture.(Photo: Q Productions)

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Jennifer Lopez in Selena - Jennifer Lopez landed the role of a lifetime when she was cast as late Mexican-American pop star Selena, but ardent fans took serious issue with the idea of the Puerto Rican singer playing Mexico's most beloved daughter. J.Lo managed to turn critics around by delivering a career-making performance. (Photo: Warner Bros Pictures)

The Last Airbender - The lack of Asian actors in the leading roles of this martial arts fantasy, based on an animated series, left some scratching their heads and others throwing up their arms in protest. More confusing still was the fact that the film was directed by South Asian filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan. The casting controversy was just one more log in the fire that burned down this franchise, which was one of the year's biggest box-office disappointments. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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The Last Airbender - The lack of Asian actors in the leading roles of this martial arts fantasy, based on an animated series, left some scratching their heads and others throwing up their arms in protest. More confusing still was the fact that the film was directed by South Asian filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan. The casting controversy was just one more log in the fire that burned down this franchise, which was one of the year's biggest box-office disappointments. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Madonna - Like with everything she does, the Material Girl worked and trained hard to prepare for her role as Eva Perrone in the film Evita. So, discovering she was pregnant half way through the lengthy production nearly spelled disaster for the film. But the show must go on, and Madge powered through the morning sickness and delivered what is still considered the best performance of her career. (Photo: Buena Vista Pictures)

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Madonna in Evita - Madonna's reinvented herself so much she could easily pass for an Argentine, but that didn't stop the Latino community from knocking the choice to cast her as beloved first lady Eva Peron in Evita. Don't cry for her, however. The film was a critical and box office success and earned Madge a Golden Globe. (Photo: Buena Vista Pictures)

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Halle Berry in X-Men - Who knew talking about the weather could be this interesting? As Ororo Monroe, a.k.a Storm, a Harlem-born, Cairo-raised daughter of Kenyan immigrants, Berry's character plays a superhero with a seemingly mundane power: controlling the weather. Anyone who has lived through a nor'easter or superstorm knows how potent that power can be.  (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Halle Berry in X-Men - The controversy surrounding Berry's role in this fantasy franchise has nothing to with race and gender and everything to do with performance. Die-hard fans point to the mysterious case of Berry's disappearing accent as the main reason to call for recasting the Oscar-winning actress. (Photo: 20th Century Fox Pictures)

Cleopatra - Late actress Elizabeth Taylor took on the role of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, in the 1963-released film Cleopatra. While her portrayal of the Egyptian queen was well-received by the public of the time, many modern Black critics and movie aficionados expressed offense to seeing a white actress being chosen to portray an Egyptian woman, which many say was Black. White actors playing characters of color would be an ongoing theme in Hollywood over the years.  (Photos: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra - With her alabaster skin and blue eyes, Liz Taylor isn't the first image that comes to mind when you think African queen. But the iconic actress was tapped to play controversial Egyptian ruler Cleopatra, and became the first actress to be paid a cool million in the process. Historians claimed at the time that Cleopatra came from Greece. That theory was later disproven and now many believe she was, in fact, of African descent. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

Kim Kardashian - The reality star's motto seems to be, "love me or hate me, as long as you're taking about me." On that front, she certainly delivered in her debut performance in Tyler Perry's Temptation. Kim takes this year's Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress. (Photo Credit: Lionsgate)

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Kim Kardashian in Tyler Perry's Temptation - Tyler Perry spent the better part of a decade building up a loyal fan following, and many of his supporters nearly ditched him when he cast Kardashian in a film. The reality starlet plays a marriage counselor in the movie, which started shooting soon after her split from baller Kris Humphries. (Photo: Lionsgate)