One of the most purely entertaining movies of the last decade has been Rian Johnson's Knives Out. The 2019 murder mystery wonderfully paid homage to the genre while also playing around with the audience's expectations for a story like this. It resulted in a hilarious and captivating movie worth rewatching again and again.
One of the charms of the movie is the fantastic ensemble cast who all do great work with their colorful characters. As perfect as the cast was, it's fun to imagine if Knives Out was made during the 1980s and which stars would have made up this brilliant ensemble during that era.
Harlan Thrombey: Alec Guinness
The mystery at the center of the movie revolves around the death of Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), the head of an affluent family and a famous mystery writer. Harlan is shown to be a playful and kind man who still takes a firm stance when trying to set his family straight.
Alec Guinness is another legendary actor who would fit into this role quite nicely. Guinness has that gravitas needed for the head of this dysfunctional household but also has that warm quality Harlan shows with Marta.
Lt. Elliott: Keith David
The lead detective on the investigation into Harlan's death is Lieutenant Elliott (Lakeith Stanfield) who is assisted by famed private detective Benoit Blanc. Elliott is a professional who maintains his authority while also trusting Blanc's superior instincts.
Keith David started to make a name for himself in the '80s with roles in The Thing and Platoon. He has the sort of presence that makes the audience take him seriously even if he might be playing a smaller role.
Joni Thrombey: Catherine O'Hara
The middle child in the Thrombey family is Neil who passed away before the events of the movie. However, his widow Joni (Toni Collette) remains very close to the family. She is also conning Harlan out of money while also running her own skin-care company.
Joni is the kind of person who really commands a lot of attention with her big personality and acts helpful even if she's just looking out for herself. Catherine O'Hara, now recognized as Moira in Schitt's Creek, was already perfecting these types of roles in the 80s in movies like Beetlejuice.
Meg Thrombey: Christina Applegate
Meg Thrombey is the very opinionated daughter of Joni and one of the more decent members of the family. She is not afraid to call out her other family members for their ignorant and self-centered behavior, though she is sometimes not as selfless as she likes to think.
Christina Applegate first started getting attention in Hollywood with her role in the '80s sitcom Married with Children. But she had an outspoken and tough nature to her that would have been perfect for Meg.
Walt Thrombey: Christopher Walken
The youngest of Harlan's children is Walt (Michael Shannon) who also helps run Harlan's publishing company. While he likes to think he is in charge, he hasn't made a name for himself and just wants to get rich off his father's work.
Like Michael Shannon, Christopher Walken has that unique presence that he brings to any performance. He would help to make Walt stand out as an unusual and somewhat nefarious character that works quite well.
Richard Drysdale: Burt Reynolds
Richard Drysdale (Don Johnson) is Harlan's son-in-law and a bit of a loudmouth member of the family. He pretends to be friendly and inviting but can also be quite ignorant and self-centered. He is also revealed to be having an affair behind his wife's back while trying to cover his tracks.
Burt Reynolds was still a big-name star in the '80s and would be ideal for this type of role. Reynolds was always very good at playing characters who were somewhat unlikeable in a humorous way while also bringing his considerable charm to the table.
Linda Drysdale: Mary Tyler Moore
Harlan's daughter Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis) seems to take over as head of the household once her father dies. She was very close with Harlan and is devastated by the loss. But she is also a fierce woman who can really lash out if she thinks she is being wronged.
Mary Tyler Moore was already an established icon in the '80s which is what is needed for such a role. She has that reputation as a sweet, kind, and caring person but it would also be so fun to see her pull off the powerful rage of Linda.
Ransom Drysdale: Tom Cruise
One of the central characters in the movie who shows up quite late in the story is Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans). He is the son of Richard and Linda whose only concern is using the family wealth to maintain his own lavish lifestyle. He is the black sheep of the family and seems very proud of it.
Like Chris Evans is now, Tom Cruise was seen as a wholesome Hollywood hero in the '80s which is why it would be so fun to see him play a complete jerk. Cruise could really have a lot of fun with this role and it could have been hilarious.
Marta Cabrera: Elizabeth Peña
Though the story revolves around the Thrombey family, the heart of the movie is the character of Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas). Marta is Harlan's caretaker and close friend who becomes embroiled in the investigation. Throughout the movie, she continues to prove herself to be a good person first and foremost.
Elizabeth Peña was just beginning her acting career in the '80s and while she never became a household name, she was a respected character actor for many years. She also has that warm and kind-hearted quality that is so important for Marta.
Benoit Blanc: Harrison Ford
The real star of the movie is the famed detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) who eagerly takes on this increasingly strange case. Daniel Craig really played against his action hero type and delivered a hilarious performance as this eccentric gumshoe who doesn't let anything get past him.
Harrison Ford was another huge star in the '80s mostly known for his action roles. However, he has a comedic side to him and it feels like this is a role he could have really sunk his teeth into and made yet another one of his member characters.