The spree of animated Disney classics being renewed for modern-day audiences in live-action continues, with The Hunchback of Notre Dame becoming one of the latest to join the slate of upcoming remakes. While no release date has yet been confirmed, fans can expect news on this project to come sooner rather than later.
Though the reaction to Disney's live-action remakes have been mixed, most of the films have been major successes at the box office, indicating that audiences are at the very least interested to see what new elements might be added to the story. Given that the cast of these films is vital to the film's success, a very capable actor must be chosen to play Quasimodo, the titular bellringer that lives within Notre Dame. What performers do Redditors believe could perfectly inhabit the character?
Iwan Rheon
Redditor bxxfxxisml has their picks for both director and star of the live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, writing that they want "Tarsem Singh as the director... [and] Iwan Rheon as Quasimodo."
Iwan Rheon is most recognizable for his role of Ramsay Bolton in HBO's Game of Thrones. He also had starring roles in Misfits and The Inhumans, though the latter of which was critically panned. The Welsh talent is more than an actor, however, but also has a passion for music, an ability which would lend itself nicely to the musically-inclined role of Quasimodo.
Taron Edgerton
"Taron Egerton," writes Redditor ComicBookFan20 rather matter-of-factly while commenting in a thread discussing prospective actors to fill the lead role in Hunchback. The Kingsman actor is a rising star whose burgeoning fame could very well land him such a part.
Egerton has often proven both his acting and singing talent, often at once in a single film. Besides his voice work in Sing! as the fan-favorite gorilla Johnny, the actor also dazzled as Elton John in one of Edgerton's best films, Rocketman, which earned him a Golden Globe in 2020.
Nicholas Hoult
In an extremely detailed outline for their idea of a proper Hunchback reboot, Redditor Nice-Investigator-17 explained their choice of Nicholas Hoult to play the main character, admitting that he "isn't perfect casting, but he's the best choice currently. He's a great actor and a pretty good singer... [who can] pull off the right amount of innocence needed for Quasimodo."
Hoult is certainly a reliable star who can inhabit a wide array of onscreen presences, from dark and brooding villainy to a purity beyond measure. The actor has also garnered for himself enough star power to bring some extra notoriety to the film, which, though stemming from a popular original movie, still does not have the same surefire nature as other Disney remakes, such as Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King.
Eddie Redmayne
Replying to a fan-cast that included Eddie Redmayne as Quasimodo, Zendaya as Esmerelda, and John Lithgow for Judge Claude Frollo, Redditor Rocket_the_Raccoon noted that they "love the idea" of seeing Redmayne take on the iconic role, emphasizing their excitement for such a project.
Academy Award-winner Eddie Redmayne does seem like a great match for Quasimodo, who could bring just the right amount of charm to a character that is so often unjustly put down for his appearance, even despite his heart of gold. Redmayne has also proven his vocal capabilities, appearing in musicals such as the film adaptation of Les Miserables, as well as a West End production of Cabaret.
Neil Patrick Harris
"YES!" enthusiastically posts a deleted Reddit account in response to the announcement of the forthcoming Hunchback remake, "I want NPH [Neil Patrick Harris] as Quasi," though others in the same comment section pointed out that the actor would also make a great fit for the boisterous Clopin in the film.
Neil Patrick Harris is a bonafide showman, who often can't help but break into a musical number (especially when hosting the Oscars). His vibrant energy and fantastic singing voice perfectly match those of the beloved Quasimodo character, even despite being a bit older than other fan casting choices.
Michael Arden
Reddit user words_words_words sings the praises of Hunchback of Notre Dame's score, composed by Alan Menken, as well as the off-Broadway production of the classic story, leading them to suggest Michael Arden, the original Quasimodo from the stage production, to play the character in the remake, calling him "the perfect Quasimodo."
Casting an actor that has portrayed the character in previous media would likely be a well-received move on the part of Disney, which has garnered some criticism for its series of live-action remakes despite their success at the box office. Arden, who is generally beloved in the role, would go a long way in winning over a more skeptical audience.
Ben Platt
Redditor pjtheman, along with several other commentators on a thread discussing the live-action film, writes that they would like "to see Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) in the role [of Quasimodo]." Platt is a well-known stage and film actor, who also has a prominent career in the music industry.
Casting Platt as Quasimodo would certainly give the actor a chance to redeem himself after the box office bomb that was Dear Evan Hansen, a movie treacherously unfaithful to the Broadway musical. Not only that, but it would give audiences the chance to see what Platt is really made of, rather than having him be remembered for the failure of his most recent film.
Tom Hardy
In a post discussing the merits of casting Venom star Tom Hardy to play the live-action Quasimodo, Redditor lustynads1 defends their unusual choice, writing that the age difference between the actor and the character given Hardy's propensity to be enveloped in a role. They go on to discuss how "all the little moment in [Hardy's] moves, his facial ticks, mouth manipulation... just sing the same characteristics of Quasimodo's spirit and complicated character."
Given his history and the dark subject matter dealt with in the film and its source material, Hardy's casting could perhaps serve the role best in a PG-13 version of the Disney film. Nevertheless, the English actor has a reputation for giving his all to every role, fully inhabiting it to the point of becoming unrecognizable on a number of occasions. As such, he could be the perfect actor to lose himself in a character as complex as Quasimodo.
Daniel Radcliffe
Reddit user Danivelle believes that "Daniel Radcliffe" could be the perfect man to bring one of The Hunchback of Notre Dame's best characters to life. A subject to many fan castings over the past few years, including in the role of the MCU's Wolverine, Radcliffe could indeed make a compelling Quasimodo.
The former star of the Harry Potter series has been working to expand his resume of films over the past several years and could do well to take on yet another iconic role in doing so. The actor also has a history in musical theater, having starred in a Broadway production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which would come in handy with a role as musically oriented as Quasimodo.
Josh Gad
In a personal fan cast from before The Hunchback of Notre Dame's live-action remake was announced to be in development, Reddit user tomservo88 suggested that "we have Josh Gad as Quasimodo, Ben Mendelsohn as Frollo... [and] Chris Pratt as Phoebus."
This Redditor was likely very surprised at the announcement of the live-action remake shortly after their comment, especially when it was confirmed that Josh Gad was attached to the project. While it was later suggested that Gad had not signed on to play the main role of Quasimodo, but rather to be involved in some other way, the possibility still remains that fans could see the actor take on yet another classic role from the Disney catalog after his turn as LeFou in 2017's Beauty and the Beast.