Casting any movie is difficult, since matching already existing characters to potential actors is tough. For a franchise like Animal Crossing, the situation becomes harder, since the characters all originate as anthropomorphic animals, like tanuki, foxes, and dogs. Not to mention, all of these fully established characters will already be familiar to game fans, so picking an actor who suits a character that fans already know is even tougher.
An Animal Crossing movie could be a fun romp through the world that has existed since 2001, and the vivid and fun world of the game would look great on the big screen. But who would ideally play every major player in the franchise?
Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Villager
A relative newcomer to the acting scene, only getting his first starring role within the last few years, Kelvin Harrison Jr. can offer a fresh take on the Villager character. Villager is not well-defined, as they are the player character that can be customized, but they are seen as a friendly face with a lot of personality.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. has proven his range as an actor and his ability to gel with other fantastic actors, as he's starred alongside Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts, Sterling K. Brown, and Dakota Johnson. Most of his performances have been dramatic, so a light-hearted Animal Crossing would be a nice change of pace.
Nick Offerman as Tom Nook
The epitome of a capitalist capitalizing on others, Tom Nook is, at best, technically the villain of the Animal Crossing franchise, and at worst, a reflection of the real world’s many problems in housing and money flow. He also likes to wear Hawaiian shirts and craft literally anything from materials found around the immediate area.
Nick Offerman is arguably one of the most famous carpenters in pop culture and has proven that he can play a multi-faceted character like Tom Nook. Unlike his Ron Swanson days, however, Tom Nook is essentially the government for the village folk.
Kathryn Newton as Isabelle
Riding a career-high over the last few years, Kathryn Newton has become one of Hollywood’s go-to actresses across the genres. Her most recent starring role in Freaky opposite Vince Vaughn proved her comedic abilities, while her roles in projects like Big Little Lies and A Map of Tiny Perfect Things show her range.
Isabelle has been a fan-favorite character since her introduction in New Leaf, with a massive following leading her to seemingly become the new mascot of the Animal Crossing franchise. She's so popular that she was even brought into the fight of Super Smash Bros.
dodie as K.K. Slider
K.K. Slider is the main event of the Animal Crossing franchise, even acting as the final task for the recent Animal Crossing New Horizons overarching story. He is the only musician in the game as well, making all the music discs the player can get their hands on.
Dodie Clark (stage name dodie) would perfectly fit as K.K. Slider. As a performer, Dodie has been in the public eye since the early 2010s, achieving fame via YouTube. Her music ranges from tragic and soulful to comedic in content and stretches across multiple genres, much like K.K. Slider’s tracks.
Donald Glover as Blathers
Donald Glover’s storied career as an actor and rap artist (nder the name Childish Gambino) has focused a lot on comedy, with strong character work being put into the characters. From portraying a young Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story to his time on Community and Atlanta, Glover has proved himself as a great actor.
Blathers is a little off-kilter for Glover, as he's a huge nerd focused on bugs, fish, fossils, and art. With a lot of personalities to work with, Glover is a great choice for the owl.
Michael Cera as Redd
Redd is a criminal fox who runs the black market of the Animal Crossing franchise. He is sketchy in the most blatant way, giving his personality a bit of levity. It isn’t known how he gets his goods, but considering some of them are art pieces like Michelangelo’s David Statue, plenty can be inferred.
Michael Cera was a major name for a decade, starring in films like Juno, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, and Superbad, but hasn’t done much acting since the end of Arrested Development in 2019. Since he’s been away, it might be time to reinvent himself as a character actor instead of the meek kid he’s known for.
Patti Harrison as Mabel
Coming off the heels of a stint as the hilarious Ruthie in Shrill and starring opposite Ed Helms in Together Together, Patti Harrison’s career seems to be on the incline. Thanks to her poignant comedy style and personality, she has made a name for herself in the major comedy circuit.
Mabel Able is the Co-Owner of Able Sisters and acts as the direct shopkeep, helping the player with their purchasing. As the more outspoken of the sisters in the shop, she has plenty of opportunities to crack a joke and offer some much-needed fashion advice to the Villager.
Aubrey Plaza as Sable
Sable Able on the other hand is a shy, behind-the-scenes character. With low self-confidence, Sable presents an entire character arc that could be addressed in an Animal Crossing movie. Once she becomes acquainted with the player, she becomes a regular Chatty Cathy.
After hitting her stride alongside Nick Offerman in Parks And Rec, Aubrey Plaza has become an indie star with the occasional role in major productions, including the Child’s Play reboot and Hulu’s Happiest Season. Playing Sable would be a fun use of her on-screen personality.
Elijah Wood as Timmy
Rounding out the cast of characters is the twin team of Timmy and Tommy, Tom Nook’s apprentices. Though they are not related, the two share a resemblance to the head honcho. Timmy is the clear leader of the two, often talking over his brother whenever he gets the chance.
Elijah Wood has been acting since he was a child, first appearing in Back To The Future II, and later starring in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as Frodo. He’s recently made appearances in several dark comedy and horror movies and series. He's also a known player of the series.
Daniel Radcliffe as Tommy
The other half of the twin duo is Tommy, the shy, timid brother that tends to trail behind Timmy’s abrasive attitude unless the player speaks directly to him. They both do the same thing canonically, but most players will choose who they speak to in the shop.
Daniel Radcliffe, formerly Harry Potter of the Harry Potter franchise, has also had his hand in a plethora of indie films like Swiss Army Man, Guns Akimbo, and playing multiple roles in Miracle Workers. Elijah Wood and Daniel Radcliffe have always been said to resemble each other, so this casting would be a nod to that as well.