Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now was hailed as one of the greatest movies of the 1970s. ‘70s icons Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, and Marlon Brando gave unforgettable performances in the film. But if it had been released in the 1990s, it could’ve turned out very differently.
The production of Apocalypse Now faced so many setbacks and complications that the movie did almost end up coming out in the ‘90s. If Coppola had put off the filming of Apocalypse Now from the decade he made The Godfather Parts I and II to the decade he made The Godfather Part III, he might’ve cast these actors instead.
Edward Norton As Captain Willard
Casting the role of Captain Willard, the lead in Apocalypse Now, proved to be so difficult that Coppola himself got it wrong the first time. According to The Guardian, Harvey Keitel was initially cast in the role, but Coppola fired him a few weeks into shooting because it wasn’t working out. Keitel was replaced by Martin Sheen, who knocked the role out of the park.
Willard is a disturbed, sleep-deprived, psychologically scarred antihero. Since that same description could be applied to the Narrator from Fight Club, Edward Norton would’ve made a great Captain Willard in the 1990s.
Tom Hanks As Kilgore
Although some of his scenes were cut, Robert Duvall’s Kilgore ended up being one of the most memorable supporting characters in Apocalypse Now – not least because he delivers the unforgettable one-liner, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
Kilgore’s casualness in the face of the horrors of war bolsters the movie’s theme of how fighting in wars chips away at people’s humanity. In the ‘90s, lovable everyman Tom Hanks could’ve deftly conveyed Kilgore’s grace under pressure.
Nicolas Cage As Chief Petty Officer George Phillips
Chief Petty Officer George Phillips is the guy in charge of the boat that Willard takes up to Colonel Kurtz’s compound. The Chief runs a tight ship and butts heads with Willard whenever he questions his authority or tries to take over the voyage.
He was played by Albert Hall in the 1979 movie, but in the 1990s, he could’ve been played by Nicolas Cage. Cage’s eccentric line deliveries would’ve spiced up the Chief’s clashes with Willard.
Chris Tucker As Mr. Clean
According to Peter Cowie’s The Apocalypse Now Book, Laurence Fishburne lied about his age to land his role as “Mr. Clean” in Coppola’s war epic. He was only 14 when he was cast, but since the movie took so long to produce, he was 18 by the end of the shoot.
The role of Mr. Clean, a cocky 17-year-old crew member, required a youthful actor with a lot of energy. Chris Tucker’s star was on the rise in the ‘90s, thanks to his frequent appearances on Def Comedy Jam, so he could’ve filled this role.
Samuel L. Jackson As Colonel G. Lucas
Named in honor of Coppola’s friend George Lucas, Colonel G. Lucas has a small but pivotal role in the crucial exposition scene near the beginning of Apocalypse Now. The sequence is just a couple of minutes long, but it deftly sets up the goals and stakes of Willard’s mission.
In the original movie, the role was played by a cameoing Harrison Ford. Colonel Lucas needs a compelling actor who can handle long monologues. Tarantino made Samuel L. Jackson the most renowned speech-giving actor of the ‘90s with his iconic scenes in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown.
Keanu Reeves As The American Photojournalist
The unnamed American photojournalist that greets Willard when he arrives at Colonel Kurtz’s compound was originally played by Dennis Hopper. Hopper’s erratic acting style ensured that this character made an unforgettable impression, despite his brief screen time.
This role requires an actor with a spiritual air around them to sell the cultish atmosphere of Kurtz’s compound. Having played the metaphysical savior of humanity in The Matrix, Keanu Reeves could’ve nailed this part.
Denzel Washington As Chef
Originally played by Frederic Forrest, Engineman 3rd Class Jay Hicks (nicknamed “Chef” because he was a chef in New Orleans before being drafted) is one of the most human, relatable characters in Apocalypse Now. Unlike the jaded Willard or the lackadaisical Kilgore, Chef is horrified by what he sees around him.
This role needs a sensitive actor who can give nuanced turns as conflicted characters. Denzel Washington, one of the biggest stars of the ‘90s who went on to win an Oscar for playing a crooked cop, could’ve done wonders with this character.
Anthony Hopkins As Colonel Kurtz
Colonel Kurtz, originally played by Marlon Brando, is one of the most memorable villains in movie history. The role needs an actor who, like Brando, can make an impression as a sinister baddie with a small amount of screen time.
Sir Anthony Hopkins could’ve been a perfect choice in the ‘90s. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor with just 16 minutes of screen time as the villainous Dr. Hannibal “the Cannibal” Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.