From Mukesh Khanna to Robert Downey Jr: Celebs trolled for returning to famous film franchises
In recent years, Hollywood and Bollywood stars have faced mixed reactions from fans and critics over returning to their iconic roles in some of the biggest film franchises. While some fans are thrilled to see their favourite stars return as their beloved characters again, others troll them for being unable to ‘move on’. The latest actor to face criticism from fans over his casting is none other than Mukesh Khanna, who has announced his return as Indian superhero ‘Shaktimaan’. From Robert Downey Jr to Hugh Jackman and many more, here is a list of stars who faced criticism for their return to iconic film franchises.
Mukesh Khanna
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Mukesh Khanna
Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, best known for his role as ‘Shaktimaan’, announced his return as the Indian superhero. He told ANI, “I did well in Shatimaan because it came from within me… I am happier than anyone else to be playing Shaktimaan again.” Though fans were initially thrilled with the update, the excitement soon turned to trolling. On social media, many users were not too thrilled with the actor’s alleged casting, with many suggesting that it was time to give the role to a new actor. “Please don’t ruin Shaktimaan, don’t do this,” one fan pleaded. Meanwhile, another said, “The man is stuck in the past. Someone needs to explain it to him.”
Robert Downey Jr
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Robert Downey Jr
Meanwhile, on the international front, Robert Downey Jr recently made headlines on social media after the Russo Brothers announced his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), however, this time as the villain Doctor Doom. The actor, best known for playing Tony Stark aka Iron Man, bid goodbye to the superhero role in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019), where the character met a heroic end at the hands of Thanos, marking the end of an era in the MCU. While some fans seemed excited about the possibilities in the upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, others were not thrilled to see their favourite hero turn into the next big screen villain for an estimated $100 million salary.
Hugh Jackman
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Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman played Wolverine in several X-Men films, making him a fan favourite. His character ended in the critically acclaimed ‘Logan’ (2017), which was called a fitting final farewell and hailed as a masterpiece. So, it was no surprise that fans of the character and the actor were not too happy with his return as Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3’ alongside Ryan Reynolds. However, fans around the world loved the idea of his return just a few months before it was released and ‘Deadpool 3’ became a blockbuster success at the box office, garnering a billion dollars.
Noah Schnapp
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Noah Schnapp
Famous for his role as Will Byers in the hit series ‘Stranger Things’, Noah Schnapp recently faced criticism over comments he made about the Israel-Hamas conflict. With the final season of the hit show coming to a close, fans demanded the actor’s ouster from the series and said that the show would be boycotted if the team did not meet the fans’ demands. Amid the controversy and demands to kill off his character in the first episode, Schnapp was forced to apologize to fans.
Amber Heard
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Amber Heard
Amber Heard’s return as Mera in ‘Aquaman 2: The Lost Kingdom’ drew a lot of criticism, especially after her widely publicized defamation suit with ex-husband Johnny Depp. Some fans called for a boycott of the film, expressing dissatisfaction with Warner Bros.’s decision to keep her in the role while removing Depp from his role in the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise. The film was well received by audiences
