In long-running film series, or sometimes just between two installments of the same stories, things can happen to cast members. They get a busy schedule, they get injured, they refuse to do a film based on their poor experience with the previous one, they ask for too much money, or sometimes even pass away.

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Studios can struggle to get an actor back for another film for any number of reasons, but a film's production is unlikely to be halted just because one cast member doesn't return, even if they played a major character, or even the main character. As a result, many film series boast characters who have a sudden actor change mid-series.

10 Sabretooth Went From Tyler Mane To Liev Schreiber

Sabretooth in both of his different portrayals in the X-Men film series

The character of Sabertooth has appeared in two separate X-Men movies, and is vastly different in both of them. In the very first X-Men, Sabretooth is a crude, bestial mutant who does not speak, and simply serves as an attack dog for Magneto against the X-Men.

In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, however, the character undergoes a radical transformation. He becomes a cunning, charismatic hunter who speaks eloquently and taunts Wolverine frequently, as well as being his brother, played by Liev Schreiber. The two portrayals are so different that fans have given up on attempting to reconcile the two.

9 Sarah Connor Became Emilia Clarke

Sarah Connor as portrayed by Linda Hamilton and Emilia Clarke in Terminator

Linda Hamilton won acclaim for her portrayal of Sarah Connor in The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, expertly acting the role of a strong woman who is nonetheless traumatized by everything that has happened to her, dedicated to protecting her son at all costs.

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The character is absent from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Terminator: Salvation, having been killed offscreen when Hamilton refused to return for the third film. In Terminator: Genisys, ostensibly within the same timeline, the character is played by Emilia Clarke, with a radically different storyline. Genisys would underperform and be panned, so when the latter films were rebooted with Terminator: Dark Fate, Hamilton would return to the role.

8 Jason Voorhees Had Many Actors

Jason Voorhees in two different portrayals across the Friday the 13th series

The character of Jason Voorhees, the villain of most Friday the 13th films, usually has his face covered, often by his iconic hockey mask. As a result, the appearance of the actor playing him has never been important, just the character's physicality, and aura of menace.

From stuntman Steve Daskewisz portraying him masked and actor Warrington Gillette portraying him unmasked in Friday the 13th: Part 2, the role has had numerous actors. The best known, is stuntman Kane Hodder, who portrays Jason in four movies, the most of any one actor.

7 Bryce Dallas Howard Took Over As Victoria

Victoria in both of her different portayals across the Twilight saga

In the first two Twilight films, Victoria is a minor onscreen presence. She is a secondary villain to James in the first film, and while she is the primary antagonist of much of the second, she is primarily off-screen being hunted by werewolves. It is in the third film that she steps up as a major onscreen villain.

In the first two films, her few scenes feature Rachelle Lefèvre playing her. When the time came to shoot Eclipse, however, Lefèvre was busy with other roles. As a result, Bryce Dallas Howard portrays the vampire in Eclipse.

6 Pierce Brosnan Dropped Out Of Percy Jackson

Chiron in his two different portrayals with Pierce Brosnan and Anthony Head Percy Jackson

In Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, the poorly-received adaptation of the acclaimed young adult novel, the character of Chiron, a wise and capable centaur who takes on the responsibility of training the next generation of heroes, is portrayed by Pierce Brosnan.

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In the second film, the role is recast without comment, instead featuring Anthony Head as the centaur. Neither Brosnan nor the studio have ever commented on why Brosnan dropped out between films.

5 Tom Cruise Only Had One Outing As Lestat

Tom Cruise and Stuart Townsend as Lestat in Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned

1994's Interview with the Vampire is beloved by fans for the intense chemistry between Brad Pitt's Louis, and Tom Cruise's Lestat, as well as the energy and charisma brought to the role by Cruise.

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In the standlone sequel, Queen of the Damned, Cruise does not appear, despite Lestat becoming the film's main character. Instead, Lestat is portrayed by actor Stuart Townsend, to less acclaim.

4 Evy O'Connell Changed Actresses For Her Last Movie

Rachel Weisz and Maria Bello in The Mummy

In The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, deuteragonist Evy O'Connell (formerly Evy Carnahan) is played by Rachel Weisz, and enjoyed by fans for her steadfast stubbornness, and her wit.

When the time came to film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Weisz declined to return, citing the recent birth of her son, as well as "problems with the script", which would be echoed in the film's negative reviews. Instead, actress Maria Bello takes over the role for Evy's final outing.

3 Richard Harris Passed Away After Chamber Of Secrets

Richard Harris and Michael Gambon both portraying Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films

Albus Dumbledore is one of the most important characters in the Harry Potter series, with his role increasing in prominence throughout until he is arguably the deuteragonist in the last movies, even after the character's death.

However, his casting changes between Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban, due to the tragic death of Richard Harris. While initially Peter O'Toole was planned to take over the role, eventually it went to Michael Gambon, giving a markedly different performance.

2 War Machine Was Initially Played By Terrence Howard

Both portrayals of james 'Rhodey' Rhodes in the MCU, Terrence Howard and Don Cheadle

In Iron Man, Terrence Matthews plays the role of James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, Tony Stark's military liaison, and one of his closest friends. When the character reappears in Iron Man 2, he is played by Don Cheadle, who would go on to reprise the role throughout the rest of the MCU.

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Howard left the role due to a payment and contract dispute. The result is a Rhodey who is different in both appearance and demeanor. Howard's Rhodes is more openly emotional, whilst Cheadle's is more stoic and reserved, often acting as the Straight Man to the other characters. Nonetheless, Cheadle's performance has earned him acclaim.

1 James Bond Has Changed Actors Several Times

Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, and Roger Moore in their portrayals of 007 James Bond

As one of the longest-running film series ever, the James Bond films have had numerous actors in the role of the titular secret agent. Different actors have had tenures of different lengths in the role, with George Lazenby notoriously having one film, whilst Roger Moore has the most at 7.

Due to the loose continuity of the films, it is never specified whether they are meant to be one character, or several different individuals assuming the in-universe role of 'James Bond,' and the tangled and often contradictory continuity of the films ensures debates continue to rage among fans.

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