Peacemaker recast Vigilante for a mysterious reason and fans want to know more

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Before Peacemaker came out, another actor originally played the role of Vigilante. The reason for the change is still a mystery to many fans, even after all this time.

It’s pretty normal for actors to be swapped during a movie or show, either right before filming or even while it’s happening. A good example is the character Peacemaker, which was initially intended for Dave Bautista. Similarly, in the Lord of the Rings films, Stuart Townsend, who was first cast as Aragorn, was replaced by Viggo Mortensen after only a few days of shooting.

Freddie Stroma first appeared as Adrian Chase, also known as Vigilante, in the initial season of Peacemaker. The character quickly became popular with viewers, known for being quirky, attention-seeking, and a little unpredictable, all while remaining deeply devoted to those he cares about.

Originally, the actor Stroma wasn’t chosen for the role of Vigilante, and it’s still a mystery how he ultimately landed the part.

Why was Peacemaker’s Vigilante actor recast?

So, Chris Conrad was the first actor to play Vigilante on the Peacemaker show. He actually filmed a good chunk of it – about five and a half episodes – but then he and the creators had some disagreements about the character, which meant he had to leave. That’s how Freddie Stroma ended up getting the role!

Born in 1970, Conrad is significantly older than Stroma – he’s currently 55. While he was well-known for roles like Eric in *The Next Karate Kid* and Johnny Cage in *Mortal Kombat Annihilation* in the 1990s, he hasn’t been in many major films or shows recently, aside from his work in *Patriot*.

On the Peacemaker podcast, James Gunn shared that they had finished filming the first five episodes, and a portion of the eighth, when they decided to replace the actor for certain reasons.

Gunn hasn’t explained the specific reasons for his replacement. He shared that he was worried about losing his role, saying, ‘I really loved working on this show – it meant more to me than anything else I’d ever done,’ and that caused him a lot of anxiety.

A key element of the project wasn’t functioning optimally, and unfortunately, it involved the most popular character in the story.

During the first season, viewers see Vigilante in costume several times, and James Gunn confirmed it’s usually the actor who originally plays the role.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Aldridge (who plays Vigilante) didn’t discuss any changes he made to the character. However, he described the pressure of filming scenes where the crew had to repeatedly reshoot takes, saying it was ‘quite intimidating’ to feel like everyone was watching and expecting more.

I didn’t really get involved in that part of it. It was still the same character, though. The script didn’t change at all-it was just two different actors playing the role, as far as the audience could tell.

The change in actors sparked discussion on the show’s online forum, with many fans wondering about the reasons behind it. One commenter speculated that the full story will likely remain a secret, as the show’s creator has no incentive to publicly discuss any behind-the-scenes issues.

I was reading some theories about who could have played Vigilante, and a lot of fans agreed that Freddie Highmore really nailed the look from the comics – the show’s version was quite different! Someone else pointed out that while Conrad Ricamora is a great actor, he might have been a little too mature to capture Vigilante’s more innocent and awkward side. Freddie just seemed like the perfect fit.

I just finished watching Peacemaker Season 2, and if you’re curious, you can check out my review. I’m also thinking about what questions still need answering after Episode 6, and honestly, it’s got me wondering where this show stacks up against all the other great superhero TV series out there. I’ll share where I think it ranks!

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2025-09-24 15:19