10 times controversial biopic casting proved everyone wrong

If you keep up with movie casting news, you know the biopic era is definitely not slowing down any time soon.
I’m sure by now you’ve seen the Beatles casting discussion all over your feed, but here’s a quick recap. Rumors about a biopic on the legendary band had been floating around for a while, and earlier this week, the actors set to play the Fab Four were finally announced: Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. While fans were excited, some folks online felt like Barry, Joseph, Harris, and Paul weren’t the best picks (yes, there’s four individual movies, but that’s a whole different can of worms). With that said, history shows that controversial casting choices often turn out to be pure magic — and here are 10 perfect examples:

Remember how the internet basically imploded after Austin Butler was announced as Elvis? People immediately hopped on the hate train, questioning how a former Disney and Nickelodeon star could portray the King of Rock and Roll. Austin took the role extremely seriously — so much so that he told Screen Daily he “didn’t sleep for two years” and had to be hospitalized after wrapping. He even needed a dialect coach to shed his Elvis accent, he revealed to Stephen Colbert. Despite all the early backlash, Austin’s hard work paid off when he won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, and even received love from Lisa Marie Presley, who championed him for an Oscar.