History Main / ActorIsTheTitleCharacter

A common turn of phrase on film posters is to have it stated that an actor ''is'' the main character. Sometimes, the poster designer wants to convey that the actor is so much like the character that he ''is'' the character. It's a slightly odd expression, even with DyeingForYourArt in play. Often used when the character's name is also the movie's title.

* ''Film/TheGirlInTheSpidersWeb'' had on home media Lisbeth Salander's sobriquet, if only as a ContinuityNod: Creator/ClaireFoy IS Film/TheGirlWithTheDragonTattoo.

* Creator/TomHanks IS ''Film/ForrestGump''...and ''[[Literature/AmancalledOve A Man Called Otto]]''.

* ''Literature/TheStupids'': "Tom Arnold is Stupid" ''*lower down the poster*'' (Stanley Stupid)

* ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|2023}}'' (2023): The trailer has "François Civil is D'Artagnan", "Creator/VincentCassel is Athos", "Creator/RomainDuris is Aramis", "Pio Marmaï is Porthos" and "Creator/EvaGreen is Milady".

* Creator/TomHanks IS ''Film/ForrestGump''...and ''Film/AManCalledOtto''.

* Creator/TomHanks IS ''Film/ForrestGump''.

* The film ''Icarus'' is also known as "The Killing Machine". However, some sources actually actually title it as "Creator/DolphLundgren is The Killing Machine".

* ''Film/{{The Princess|2022}}'': "Joey King is The Princess", as seen on the movie's release poster.

* "Creator/DudleyMoore is ''Film/{{Arthur 1981}}''".

* ''Film/ThePrincess'': "Joey King is The Princess", as seen on the movie's release poster.

* In ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', the Pythons wanted George Lazenby to play Jesus as a cameo, purely so they could say "George Lazenby ''is'' Jesus Christ!" They couldn't get him, so it didn't pan out.

* David Hyde Pierce IS ''Film/ThePerfectHost''.

* ''Magazine/StarWarsInsider'' published an issue based around ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' with a number of individual articles about the characters of the film and the actors playing them, titled variously "Adam Driver is Kylo Ren," "Carrie Fisher is Princess Leia," "Harrison Ford is Han Solo," etc.

* The poster for ''Film/PeterRabbit'' states that James Corden is PETER RABBIT.

* Author Mickey Spillaine played his own creation, detective Literature/MikeHammer, in the 1963 movie of "The Girl Hunters". The movie's opening credits declare, "Mickey Spillaine is Literature/MikeHammer", while the closing credits list it as, "Literature/MikeHammer is Mickey Spillaine".

* For ''Series/DoctorWho'''s 50th Anniversary, the Magazine/RadioTimes released [[http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2013/11/radio-times-covers.html twelve special edition covers]], one for each actor to take the title role: William Hartnell IS the Doctor. Articles announcing the next Doctor often run with this format.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Mayored to the Mob", guest-starring Creator/MarkHamill played with this, with two posters in the DinnerTheater performing ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls'': "Mark Hamill IS Nathan Detroit" and "Pepper Steak IS the Entree".
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "The Biggest Douche in the Universe", all the parody trailers close with: "Creator/RobSchneider is ''The Stapler''/''A Carrot''/''Da Derp De Derp Da Teetily Derp Da Derpee Dumb''/''Kenny''! Rated PG-13."

* One poster design for ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'', which was [[DuelingMovies competing with the]] ''Casino Royale'' spoof, had "Creator/SeanConnery IS Film/JamesBond." Ironically it was this movie where Connery quit the role partially because he wanted to be known as something other than Bond.
* Speaking of the ''Film/{{Casino Royale|1967}}'' spoof, which was "too much ... for one James Bond!", Creator/UrsulaAndress IS Film/JamesBond.

* On Broadway and on tour, in many productions across more than 40 years, Cathy Rigby WAS ''[[Theatre/PeterPan1954 Peter Pan]]''.

* On Radio/GTARadio, the [[ShowWithinAShow radio program within a video game]] of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'', the above-mentioned exaggerated version of the trope is used with ''Jack Howitzer is Jack Howitzer in Jack Howitzer''. (A Reality TV fame vehicle for the titular washed-up celebrity, and the game's resident [[TheAhnold Ahnold]]).

* "Creator/DudleyMoore is ''Film/{{Arthur}}''".

[[folder:Films -- Western Animation]]
* Three posters of this type were released featuring characters from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'': "Zoe Saldana is Captain Celaeno," "Cathy Weseluck is Spike the Dragon" and "Andrea Libman is Fluttershy."
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Smallfoot}}'' was advertised this way, inspiring the [[MemeticMutation memetic]] "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx5YqFKjTCY Zendaya is Meechee]]" song.
* Creator/JohnnyDepp IS ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}''. Rather ironic given that Rango is a pseudonym.
* Disney released a line of posters for ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing2019'' stating that "[=JD McCrary=] is Simba," Creator/JamesEarlJones is Mufasa," "Creator/JohnKani is Rafiki," "Creator/DonaldGlover is Simba," "Music/{{Beyonce}} Knowles-Carter is Nala," "Creator/SethRogen is Pumbaa" and "Creator/BillyEichner is Timon."
[[/folder]]

* In a [[Radio/GTARadio television show-within-a-show]] of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'', the above-mentioned exaggerated version of the trope is used with ''Jack Howitzer is Jack Howitzer in Jack Howitzer'' (a Reality TV fame vehicle for the titular washed-up celebrity and Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger {{expy}}).

* In ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', the Pythons wanted George Lazenby to play Jesus as a cameo, purely [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar so they could say "George Lazenby]] ''[[GettingCrapPastTheRadar is]]'' [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Jesus Christ!"]] They couldn't get him, so it didn't pan out.

* ''Series/AwkwafinaIsNoraFromQueens'', starring Creator/{{Awkwafina}} as a woman named Nora, has this in the ''title''.

* Series/{{The Incredible|Hulk}} Creator/LouFerrigno is ''Film/{{Hercules|1983}}''.

* Creator/HalleBerry [-IS-] ''Film/{{Catwoman}}''.