Rian Johnson’s Knives Out reinvigorated the whodunit genre. With a nonlinear narrative structure, Johnson crafted a murder mystery like no other. But despite being a new take on the genre, Knives Out still feels like a throwback to its classics, thanks to its creepy mansion setting, its unexpected twist reveals, and its star-studded ensemble cast.
In 2019, that ensemble was rounded out by such contemporary stars as Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans. But if the movie was made two decades earlier in the 1990s, it might’ve starred Jennifer Lopez, Tom Cruise, and Samuel L. Jackson instead.
Jennifer Lopez As Marta Cabrera
As a nurse who always acts morally and is ultimately rewarded for her good nature, Marta Cabrera is one of the most likable movie protagonists in recent memory. Ana de Armas became a huge star overnight after playing Marta in Knives Out.
In the ‘90s, this role could’ve been played by Jennifer Lopez instead. Lopez proved her comedic chops, her dramatic chops, and her ability to fit seamlessly into an auteur’s vision with her turn as Karen Sisco in the Elmore Leonard-based crime caper Out of Sight.
Tom Cruise As Ransom Drysdale
Spoilt Ransom is an outsider in the Thrombey clan, on bad terms with most of his family and roundly rejected from most of their get-togethers. The part was played spectacularly by a smarmed-up Chris Evans at the height of his Marvel fame.
Thanks to his tenure as Captain America, Evans is implicitly trusted by audiences, which made the final rug-pull in Knives Out even more effective. In the ‘90s, the same gambit could’ve been used with Tom Cruise, who had by that time become one of the most recognizable and revered movie stars in Hollywood.
Angie Dickinson As Linda Drysdale
Played by Jamie Lee Curtis, Linda Drysdale is one of the greediest and most vindictive members of the Thrombey family (which is saying a lot, because they’re all greedy and vindictive).
In the ‘90s when Curtis was still a prominent “scream queen,” this part could’ve been played by Angie Dickinson, the star of Police Woman, Rio Bravo, and Dressed to Kill, who always brought real nuance to genre material.
Steve Buscemi As Walt Thrombey
Harlan’s youngest son Walt Thrombey is a creepy red herring throughout the middle act of Knives Out. Michael Shannon dials up his unnerving approach to each scene so that the audience will suspect foul play from an ultimately innocent character.
Steve Buscemi could’ve been perfect for this part in the ‘90s. He rose to prominence playing pulp archetypes in Reservoir Dogs and Fargo, but went on to play veritable creeps in Con Air and Monster House.
John Leguizamo As Detective Lieutenant Elliott
Originally played by Lakeith Stanfield, Detective Lieutenant Elliott is a reactionary role. He’s Blanc’s likable sidekick who’s just as intrigued by the enigmatic detective as the audience is.
In the ‘90s, this role could’ve been filled by rising star John Leguizamo. Leguizamo gave a wide range of memorable performances throughout the decade in movies like Summer of Sam and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. He would’ve done a great job with Elliott’s deadpan quips.
Gene Hackman As Richard Drysdale
For the role of Linda’s cheating husband Richard, Rian Johnson cast Miami Vice star Don Johnson. But if the movie was made in the ‘90s, this part could’ve been played by Gene Hackman.
Hackman doesn’t have a lot in common with Johnson as an actor, but he played a similarly charming yet unfaithful spouse in The Royal Tenenbaums. In Wes Anderson’s movie, Hackman managed to be funny despite playing an unlikable character. He could’ve done the same in Knives Out.
Carrie Fisher As Joni Thrombey
A year after haunting audiences with her lead performance in Hereditary, Toni Collette gave a hilarious scene-stealing supporting turn in Knives Out as Joni Thrombey, the widow of Harlan’s deceased son Neil.
While Carrie Fisher is primarily known for playing Leia Organa in the Star Wars saga, she was just as renowned as a comedic actor with roles in Shampoo, The Blues Brothers, and When Harry Met Sally. Fisher would’ve nailed Joni’s kooky personality and dry line deliveries in Knives Out.
Gregory Peck As Harlan Thrombey
Since his death kicks off the central mystery, bestselling crime author Harlan Thrombey has more impact on the plot as a corpse than a living person. But Christopher Plummer still made a memorable character out of Harlan with limited screen time.
In the ‘90s, the part could’ve been played by Gregory Peck. A screen legend much like Plummer, Peck returned to prominence in the ‘90s with a supporting role in the remake of his own classic thriller Cape Fear.
Samuel L. Jackson As Benoit Blanc
Although he cast British actor Daniel Craig to play the part (brilliantly), Johnson created private detective Benoit Blanc to give American crime fiction its own answer to Poirot. Samuel L. Jackson proved his ability to deliver captivating monologues in Pulp Fiction, and would later play the Poirot figure in a different Tarantino movie, The Hateful Eight.
The actor behind “The path of the righteous man” speech could’ve made audiences just as awestruck and compelled by Blanc’s donut hole analogy as Craig did.