It is an almost impossible task to properly remake a classic film, but that hasn’t stopped Hollywood from trying. So we started thinking, what if instead of copying the classics with a new spin, the original films had never been made? What if cinematic classics like The Godfather were casting right now, for the first time – in 2010?
Before you light the torches and break out the pitchforks, understand that this is hypothetical fun. There are countless options for many of these characters, but we’ve picked the actors and actresses we feel best fit the profile of each – and the ones we would most like to see if these iconic roles were being filled for the first time.
The main problem with coming up with something like this is distinguishing a character from the actor. Sometimes actors create a character by bringing a distinct personality to the role. Others would argue that happens with every performance. For instance, how can you ever imagine Don Vito Corleone played by anyone other than Marlon Brando?
Some of the actors that follow could even outperform the original if given the opportunity. But don’t forget, these casting calls are being treated as if there is no knowledge of the original film’s existence. As difficult as it sounds, release your grasp on these memorable movies and tell us what you think of these modern day re-casts.
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Revenge of the Nerds
There is no better time to bring up Revenge of the Nerds than 2010. In the era of “geek chic” dorky, scratchy-voice actors are today’s big thing and if Nerds had never been made, it could very likely happen today.
The only person missing is Christopher Mintz-Plasse, but there just wasn’t a spot for him. The following is the best collection of dorks and nerds that Hollywood has to offer. On the other side of things, Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy) seems perfect for the jock character, Stan Gable.
You may also think Charlie Day from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is too old to portray Booger, but Curtis Armstrong made the character legendary and he was already 31 years old.
- Lewis Skolnick – Jay Baruchel
- Gilbert Lowell – Michael Cera
- Arnold Poindexter – Jesse Eisenberg
- Lamar Latrelle – Donald Glover
- Dudley ‘Booger’ Dawson – Charlie Day
- Stan Gable – Garrett Hedlund
- Betty Childs – Blake Lively
- Coach Harris – Seth Rogen
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Bonnie and Clyde
The two toughest actors in Hollywood would fit perfectly together as the titular pair of criminals. Tom Hardy’s rugged charm and Evangeline Lilly’s down-home toughness would provide the bang needed to bring Bonnie and Clyde to life.
The age range is the most important part of this casting process and these two are the best fit for a romantic tangle in the middle of gunfire and excitement. Based on their prior acting credits, you know they’ll bring solid acting to the roles as well.
- Clyde Barrow – Tom Hardy
- Bonnie Parker – Evangeline Lilly
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The Graduate
Anne Bancroft, the actress who played Mrs. Robinson, was only 36 years old at the time of The Graduate‘s release. It played into the storyline of the character regarding her relationship with her daughter and Ben Braddock. It may seem like Braddock and Elaine Robinson are the main characters, but the headliner was Anne Bancroft.
Angelina Jolie is 35 years old now and in the perfect form to portray a young mother who seduces her daughter’s new love interest. But starring opposite her need to be the brightest stars in Hollywood and there are plenty right now.
- Ben Braddock – Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Elaine Robinson – Emily Blunt
- Mrs. Robinson – Angelina Jolie
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The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is a story that has been told in a number of ways, from the original book to the classic film, remakes and multiple musicals. Even Michael Jackson sported the Scarecrow outfit in The Wiz. But if none of this existed and the original story had never been made into a major motion picture, how would it all shake down?
The story focuses on Dorothy’s adventure, and she is the most difficult to cast. Imagine crazy Al Pacino as the strange Wizard of Oz or Jim Carrey’s physical comedy in the role of The Scarecrow. But a beautiful, young girl that exudes innocence and intrigue must be cast as Dorothy. While her upcoming role in Sucker Punch might change that image of her, Emily Browning fits the bill.
- Dorothy – Emily Browning
- The Wizard of Oz – Al Pacino
- The Scarecrow – Jim Carrey
- The Cowardly Lion – Mickey Rourke
- The Tin Man – Sharlto Copley
- The Wicked Witch of the West – Keira Knightley
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Taxi Driver
It’s almost too easy casting Iris in a 2010 Taxi Driver. There is only one young actress in Hollywood that seems willing to tackle the controversial roles and blow people away: Chloe Moretz.
As for one of the more difficult roles of all time, Travis Bickle, it seems there is only one man for the job. Sam Rockwell is a perfect choice for blending melancholic sarcasm with an ability to physically decay on film.
As for the pimp, Matthew ‘Sport’ Higgins, Oldman’s performance in True Romance proves he can become anybody he wants. A simple reprisal of that character would make an intriguing turn as the disgusting pimp who controls Iris and clashes with Travis.
- Travis Bickle – Sam Rockwell
- Iris – Chloe Moretz
- Matthew ‘Sport’ Higgins – Gary Oldman
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While I appreciate the concept, this is not a game I’d be up for participating in. True, it sounds fun and interesting for movie buffs to imagine, but in this day and age of remakes, reboots, and unnecessary sequels that bank off of the decent name of original films and bastardize them into something unrecognizable, I can’t toss my hat in the ring for this. What would happen if a movie exec gets their hands on these ideas? Meanwhile, I have a game that my friends and I play which is basically the same but in reverse. Imagining films that could’ve been. One of our favorites was X-men circa 1985. The majority were relative unknowns at the time, whose stars were shortly to be on the rise, with a few names in there to even it out. Cast as follows:
Professor X: Anthony Hopkins
Cyclops: Rob Lowe
Jean Grey: Kathy Ireland
Beast: Kelsey Grammar
Angel: Val Kilmer
Iceman: Tom Cruise
Nightcrawler: Robert Downey Jr.
Colossus: Dolph Lundgren
Wolverine: Sylvester Stallone
Storm: Iman
Magneto: Malcom McDowell
Mr. Sinister: Tim Curry
Mystique: Brigitte Nielsen
Juggernaut: John Matuszak
Sabretooth: Vincent D’Onofrio
Apocalypse: James Earl Jones
Thoughts?
if i’m not mistaken, wasnt Val Kilmer already Iceman?
ROFLOL! Somebody made a Top Gun ref. Awesome!
In The Graduate, replace Angelina Jolie with Diane Lane.
OMG yes to Diane Lane instead of Jolie for the Graduate. With those 3, I’d definitely watch it. Perfect casting of JLG and Emily Blunt!!!
I also like the cast idea for the graduate
Man, these were terrible. Absolutely terrible. The only one that was pretty okay was Taxi Driver but the rest… ugh.
love to see YOU do better… though i agree with great khali for chewi is terrible lol
Bonnie and Clyde – Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt! Perfect match just like what we’ve seen on Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Oh, Angelina was “Bonnie” on the movie “The Original Sin” cause she was like Bonnie from Bonnie and Clyde. With Holywood’s hottest couple on that movie, it’ll totally rock!
Kinda sounds like if the question is, What if these classics were remade into remakes? With today’s celebs that is. Well my opinion would be to simply leave the classics alone. This news makes me wonder if studios are planning to remake all those films like everything else. Comes to no surprise since im losing count to how many franchies are getting the reboot treatment or films being remade.
What about Ice-T or Mark Hamil for Darth Vader’s voice? Both have a certain gravitas in their VO work.
cool that pic of gary oldman is of him as Sirius Black
How about Isaiah Mustafa, a.k.a. “The Old Spice Guy”, as Lando Calrissian?
Picture it:
“Hello, Leia, look at Han Solo, now back to me, now back at Han, now back to me. Sadly, he isn’t me, but if he stopped using Chewbacca’s flea shampoo and switched to Colt .45 Malt Liquor, he could smell like he’s me. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re on the Milennium Falcon with the man your man could smell like. What’s in your hand, back at me. I have it, it’s an mini-droid with two tickets to that thing you love. Look again, the tickets are now diamonds. Anything is possible when your man smells like Colt .45 Malt Liquor and not a Wookiee…I’m also a Jedi.”
Alternate dialogue:
“Hello, Leia, look at Han Solo, now back to me, now back at Han, now back to me. Sadly, he isn’t me, but if he stopped using Chewbacca’s flea shampoo and switched to Colt .45 Malt Liquor, he could smell like he’s me. Look down, back up, where are you? You’re on the Milennium Falcon with the man your man could smell like. What’s in your hand, back at me. I have it, it’s an mini-droid with two tickets to that thing you love. Look again, the tickets are now diamonds. Anything is possible when your man smells like Colt .45 Malt Liquor and not a Wookiee…I’m on a Tauntaun.”
Dude, he would rock that–in a completely distracting, scene-stealing way!
Much like Robot Chicken’s Boba Fett, you have now destroyed Lando for me–love it!
(Seriously not a complaint. I think RC is the only reason I can sit through Star Wars anymore)
This made me really happy. Much more so than the overall article. I like the idea, but for most of the choices 2 thumbs down.
Which version did you prefer…the “also a Jedi” or the “I’m on a Tauntaun”?
Both. Either one would be amazing
“You liked that didn’t you? You dirty little smuggler.”
I love this…what a great idea for Lando. I’m also a Jedi is my favorite. Kudos danlister.
I can accept the choices for Bonnie and Clyde but the others…..I do not like Al Pacino and Mickey Rourke, so would not see that version of The Wizard of Oz.
lol LisaM
Nathan Fillion as Hans Solo? Hell yes.
Love Nathan Fillion – he has the perfect personality to portray Han’s cocky character plus he’s nice to look at for an entire saga of films.
Hugh Jackman and Natalie Portman to star in GONE WITH THE WIND. Keira Knightley to star in “A STAR IS BORN”
Mickey rourke and Al pacino are bad ass!
What about a remake of “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” with Madonna as Bette Davis and Cher as Joan Crawford?
better yet: Glenn Close & Meryl Streep reprising this flic would be a knockout. Get an independent director to handle it.. ah.. THAT I’d pay to see.
does the television/film industry need affirmative action too ? how about casting some more minorities.
Will Smith was the Wild Wild West remake and failed, although I do love Will Smith.
The one I’m not impressed with is Daniel-Day Lewis as Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins was very subtle in his performance… I think you have to be to play Hannibal and I’ve never seen Daniel-Day Lewis in a subtle performance. He is constantly over-the-top.
That being said, I can’t think of anybody I’d rather see in the role. So I can complain but not give you an alternative. Sorry Mike.
I love Milo as Michael Corleone and the cast of “The Graduate” and “Taxi Driver.” I’d love to see a whole movie based solely on Oldman’s character from “True Romance” but feel it would be too much of a good thing (like “Hannibal”).
I GOT IT! I GOT IT! Ian McShane would make a superb Hannibal Lecter. That’s who I would cast instead of Daniel-Day Lewis.
Liam Neeson I think would do a good job as Hannibal Lector also.
Favorites: Bonnie and Clyde, Wizard of Oz and Taxi Driver. You chose excellent actors. If you switched out Diane Lane for Angelina Jolie for the Graduate then it would be absolutely perfect.
I have never seen the Godfather (I know, I know. I’ll watch it someday) but I have to say that any movie which includes John Turturro, Milo Ventimiglia, Christian Bale AND Rachel McAdams is a must-see.
I liked this article more than I thought I would.
Only real casting on this I 100% agree with is Fillion as Han Solo and Rockwell in Taxi Driver. Rest is pretty meh/ew
Swap Christian Bale and Mark Ruffalo in the Godfather remake. Who else should play the incendiary Sonny Corleone than Christian Bale? Mark Ruffalo can play Tom Hagen.
I disagree, Bale as Hagan was a PERFECT choice.
Mark Ruffalo’s a bad choice for Sonny, though.
Jenn…if you haven’t seen The Godfather films, you’re cheating yourself.
Not really. I was never able to sit through the first one. I don’t know how people raved about Brando when you couldn’t understand a word he said. One of the most OVERRATED movies I have ever (almost) seen.
I think Michael Cera would be perfect for Revenge of the Nerds!