Though the Coen Brothers have given audiences some of the best movies ever made, The Big Lebowski may be the most popular of all their work. This zany crime-comedy may have been a flop when it was released, but it has since developed a huge cult following and earned a reputation as one of the funniest movies of all time.
A big part of the reason the movie works so well is the amazing cast that helps bring these colorful characters to life. While each role seems to have found the perfect actor, it is fun to imagine what actors would have starred in the movie if The Big Lebowski were made today.
The Stranger: Timothy Olyphant
The movie features some of the best narration of all time. The Western drawl heard over the opening credits is unmistakably belonging to Sam Elliott as the voice telling the story who is also prone to going on tangents. Interestingly, the narrator later pops up in the story as the mysterious Stranger.
If there is one modern actor who could hope to match Elliott's cowboy persona, it is Timothy Olyphant. Though he has shown his talent in a wide range of movies, Olyphant has perfected the cowboy role in projects like Deadwood, Justified, and The Mandalorian among others.
Jesus Quintana: Michael Peña
Though a very small role Jesus Quintana is one of the most popular characters in the whole movie. John Turturro makes the most of his limited screen time as a creepy rival bowler to The Dude and his team. Though he has nothing to do with the larger plot, he is certainly memorable.
The perfect actor to bring the right amount of hilarious absurdness to this role is Michael Peña. He is a skilled dramatic actor, but he is likely best known for his comedic roles where he can make a character just cartoonish enough without going over-the-top.
The Big Lebowski: Brian Cox
While The Dude shares the same last name, the title of the movie actually refers to the "other" Jeffrey Lebowski, also known as the Big Lebowski. He is a boisterous and short-tempered man of wealth who hires The Dude to get his kidnapped wife back.
The Big Lebowski is the kind of intimidating man of power who is actually funny in how tyrannical he is. This makes it the perfect role for Brian Cox to take on. His role as Logan Roy in Succession shares a lot in common with this man.
Bunny: Kathryn Newton
As an example of the kind of man the Big Lebowski is, he is married to a much, much younger woman named Bunny. Tara Reid made an early acting appearance as Bunny, the young wife and former porn star who only cares about money and partying.
Kathryn Newton is a very talented young actor who is getting more and more notice in Hollywood. She showed off her darker side in the recent horror-comedy Freaky and it would be interesting to see her take on the filterless Bunny.
Brandt: Jesse Plemons
Another small but very memorable role is that of Brandt, the very dutiful and enthusiastic assistant to the Big Lebowski. The role was expertly played by the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman who injected the part with a dose of pathetic charm.
Jesse Plemons is quickly becoming one of the best character actors in the business as he has proven himself to be skilled at just about any type of role. He shares Hoffman's skills in that sense and would really make Brandt a wonderfully unique character.
Uli Kunkle: Daniel Brühl
One of the many strange antagonists in the movie is Uli, the leader of a trio of nihilists tied to the kidnapping of Bunny Lebowski. Again, the role is quite small, but it is really brought to life thanks to the wild energy of character actor Peter Stormare.
Like Stormare, Daniel Brühl is mostly known for his villainous roles, including the upcoming Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Though he has not done much comedic work, he could have some fun with this wacky character.
Maude Lebowski: Emma Stone
Julianne Moore continued her amazing string of performances in the '90s with this role as Maude Lebowski. Maude is the daughter of the Big Lebowski and reveals herself to be the real power behind the family's company. She is artistic, eccentric, and as bizarre as the other characters in the movie.
Emma Stone is another actor who has a talent for picking wonderful roles that show off her considerable skillset. She is a very talented comedic actor about would likely have a lot of fun with a character like Maude.
Donny: Jesse Eisenberg
Though Steve Buscemi was an established character actor at the time who had worked with the Coen Brothers several times, he was cast in the role of Donny, who barely speaks the whole movie. Donny is the bowler friend of The Dude and Waler and is constantly ignored and insulted by Walter.
A great actor is needed to make this silent and timid character memorable and sympathetic. Jesse Eisenberg would be an ideal fit as he seems to excel at the kind of roles that are quiet and neurotic yet fun.
Walter Sobchak: Adam Sandler
John Goodman teamed up with the Coen Brothers yet again for this hilariously loud-mouth role of Walter Sobchak. Walter is The Dude's best friend and perhaps the most outrageous character in the whole movie. He is a solid friend who is nevertheless prone to fits of explosive anger and idiotic ideas.
Adam Sandler has proven himself to be a very talented actor with movies like Uncut Gems. While he might seem like an odd choice for this role, he could no doubt nail the epic rage of Walter and the tough-guy immaturity.
The Dude: Brad Pitt
At the time this movie was released, Jeff Bridges was mostly known for his dramatic work. However, he gave a brilliant comedic performance as The Dude, the aimless middle-aged stoner who finds himself in the middle of a kidnapping plot.
Brad Pitt is another who is not known for comedies yet has shown a surprising talent for them. His early role in True Romance actually feels like a precursor to The Dude. He would be perfect for the laidback and reluctant hero.