miscast

[ mis-kast, -kahst ]

verb (used with object)

, mis·cast, mis·cast·ing.

1. to assign an unsuitable role to (an actor):

   Tom was miscast as Romeo.

2. to allot (a role) to an unsuitable actor.
3. to select unsuitable actors for (a play, motion picture, or the like).

miscast

/ ˌmɪsˈkɑːst /

verb

1. to cast badly
2. often passive
   1. to cast (a role or the roles) in (a play, film, etc) inappropriately

      Falstaff was certainly miscast

   2. to assign an inappropriate role to

      he was miscast as Othello

Word History and Origins

Origin of miscast¹

1925–30; mis- ¹ + cast (in sense “to select or assign actors”)

Example Sentences

A surprisingly miscast Duff — too bland as the ingenue, with little of the spark of her scheming scene-stealer on “Younger” — plays 29-year-old Sophie, a photographer who’s gone out with practically half the guys on Tinder in her search for the One.

From Washington Post

In doing so, prosecutors allege, its members miscast criminality as patriotism.

From Time

At the least, it appears the seventh-year player, who torched the Hawks in the regular season, has been exposed in the playoffs as miscast in the role of No.

From Washington Post

It was the best performance by a woefully miscast actress in decades.

From The Daily Beast

Roberts is miscast here, never cracking that blockbuster smile and speaking in a terrible Irish accent.

From The Daily Beast

The vice president has to be himself, not a reprise of a miscast LBJ.

From The Daily Beast

Everyone feels spectacularly miscast here and I was left scratching my head, wondering just who would want to watch this.

From The Daily Beast

The news got us thinking of other actors who were miscast as famous literary characters in films.

From The Daily Beast

For one thing the production was doomed at the start: it was wofully miscast.

From Project Gutenberg

Terriss looked all wrong as Orsino; many other people were miscast.

From Project Gutenberg