The temptation to transition into movies can be very appealing, and history has proven this to be a viable option for a number of show hosts/casts. The odds are better if one comes from “Saturday Night Live”, with Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, and Kristen Wiig being prime examples.
Chris Kattan finally made the plunge in 2001, leaving the SNL nest to take a lead role in a Hollywood movie. The only problem was, the movie he chose: “Corky Romano”. It was a dream come true for Kattan, up until the reviews tore him apart, leaving a deep and permanent scar on his acting career. Audiences detested the film with a passion, and Kattan’s opportunities to pursue a successful movie career dried up.
Lori Petty as Tank Girl
Somehow, some actors are better suited for supporting roles. Lori Petty did quite well while she played parts in "Point Break," "Free Willy", and "A League Of Their Own". Then she finally got a leading role she supposedly deserved, in "Tank Girl". It was an ambitious film that cost $21 million in 1995.
While the film boasts a loyal base of superfans, they are an extreme minority. Most mainstream critics felt that Lori Petty failed dismally in the role; and casting agents must have sensed something about her as an actress, as they avoided giving her leading roles after her cataclysmic performance. She finally made a mark in her career in 2014, after almost 20 years, in the TV series, "Orange Is the New Black".
Demi Moore In Striptease
Demi Moore had established herself in Hollywood as an A-list actress when "Ghost" and "The Juror" became instant successes. For a while there, she was all people could talk about, and the opportunities started pouring in. Moore became the highest-paid artist of all time, following from her growing reputation.
She made history by playing the lead role in "Striptease", with a paycheck of $12.5 million, raising brows amongst peers. But the movie barely took off. It wasn’t entertaining, Moore wasn’t on par with the role either. Critics couldn’t stand it, nor Moore, and she’s never made it back to the elite’s tier since.
Scarlett Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi
One of the major challenges of works of fiction is how to make them appear as authentic as possible. Someone must have forgotten that Scarlett Johansson isn’t Japanese, and more importantly, shouldn’t be cast for roles that ought to be given to Japanese nationals (obviously).
But she happened to be cast as Motoko Kusanagi in the Hollywood adaptation of "Ghost in the Shell". Media Action Network for Asian Americans was extremely upset when she denied knowing she’d be playing a Japanese role, but how could she not have known? Anime fans all over the world were less than impressed.
Christopher Reeve Superman IV
Christopher Reeve has for years been the ideal actor for the role of Superman. In fact, his iconic good looks and personality became so associated with the role, that in the eyes of his fans, he became the superhero himself. After the third movie, Reeve was ready to take on new challenges but stayed on when management agreed to give him more creative freedom in the making of "Superman IV: The Quest For Peace".
This decision saw him sacrifice opportunities to star in "Body Heat", "American Gigolo", "Fatal Attraction", and "Lethal Weapon", among many others. Meanwhile, "Superman IV" didn’t live up to expectations and slumped at the box office.