I've always loved Clue.
Call me a geek, call me silly, whatever. When I was a kid I played the board game any chance I got (yes, I'm from the era when we didn't have X-boxes and Play Stations, ok?) and was really good at it. And I thank my mother for all those hours she sat and entertained me.
When they made the movie back in 1985 I was all about that.
It is hilarious, I don't care who you are.
So....I've always wondered what it would be like to re-make it (not that it could ever reach the same ridiculous comedic tone the first one had) and so today I give you my re-casting choices.
A dream cast from the get-go, can't you just imagine the movie with these actors in the roles?
The original cast:
...and my choices, starting with Wadsworth the butler.
Tim Curry was fab. No doubt made the entire film. So I was thinking who else could lend that much humor to the role - and naturally Simon Pegg came to mind.
* * *
Casting the house help wasn't too hard.
First, Jenny McCarthy in the role of Yvette (played by Colleen Camp in the original)...
Jenny has the comedic chops and the (a-hem) body to get this one right.
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The cook, Ms. Ho (Kellye Nakahara of M*A*S*H fame) will be replaced with Kathy Bates.
I believe she has some previous experience with kitchen utensils at some point in her career.
* * *
And now for the main players:
Christopher Lloyd as Professor Plum...
Philip Seymour Hoffman as the perverted Professor.
* * *
The wonderful Madeline Kahn brought life to Mrs. White...
I see Anna Paquin as a somewhat younger version of the "grieving" widow.
* * *
Michael McKean as the closeted Mr. Green would be replaced by:
Steve Carell. Because the man is funny, okay?
* * *
Eileen Brennan played Mrs. Peacock the bribe-accepting politician's wife.
Like I said, dream casting. Meryl Streep could be kooky enough if she wanted to.
* * *
Martin Mull, to me, would be hard to top. His performance in the movie as the always curious, nervous-Nellie war profiteer, Colonel Mustard was my favorite.
Could Gary Oldman break a smile long enough to portray the part?
* * *
I really wanted to go different for Miss Scarlet, for as much as I liked Leslie Ann Warren, I never thought she matched the playing card enough, you know? She, to me, didn't exude the sexual chemistry that I thought the role deserved.
I thought long and hard and in the end, after I'd had several possibilities (Eliza Dushku, Kate Beckinsale) I settled on an actress not as well known for movies as for television.
Lindsay Price would have been a perfect choice for Scarlet. I can absolutely see her with the cigarette holder that was so popularized over the years and all the different versions of the game. I think she's quite sexy, and I like the idea of having someone with not as much star power in the role.
* * *
I also picked out a Mr. Boddy, the blackmailer who is killed off in the beginning and is the entire reason everyone is playing detective in the first place.
Lee Ving (actually a punk rocker from the band, Fear) portrayed Mr. Boddy in the movie.
I've cast Alec Baldwin. Well, because he looks the part.
* * *
Let's not forget the three unfortunates who came to the door of the mansion that evening during the nefarious events.
A stranded motorist:
Jeffrey Kramer/Josh Hartnett
* * *
A singing telegram girl:
Jane Wiedlin/Katy Perry
* * *
And a policeman:
Bill Henderson/Tony Todd (because I had to give the genre great some love...)
* * *
And who could be better to replace Howard Hesseman (in a cameo seen only in the rare fourth ending version) as the police chief?
Why, Tommy Lee Jones, of course!
* * *
There you go. Bad choices or inspired casting?
Comments? Opinions?
14 comments:
Inspired! I might have to pop this one in tonight.
Really great choices.
I greatly approve of this cast!
Clue is one of my all-time faves! Though I would, in fact, hate to see the film re-done, I wouldn't mind so much if it had this new cast. Fantastic choices!
I loved the game while growing up as well, and then remember my Mom renting my brother and I the movie during a sleep over and just loved it. The cast of characters you chose for a remake would be great.
Damn, now I want to see this movie again. Thanks a lot. I need to buy this one.
Love Clue!
Hahaha Chuck loves the cast but.... especially the choice of Katy Perry.
These are all such great choices! I nodded in agreement with every single one! Ms. Scarlett has always been my favorite- I'll probably be her for Halloween next year- no biggie.
Very nice. I always liked the idea of Peter Serafinowicz as the butler, but Pegg is quite fine too. I might bump him to Mr. Green in my super cast. Also I'd fit in Julianne Moore (Mrs. White?), but I'd do that to any movie.
I love the original as much as you dear sister, but I would pay to go to the theatre to see a remake with this cast. All excellent choices! I need to watch it again.
Inspired casting! I'd forgotten this movie, I'm going to have to seek it out and buy it now. My daughter's Clue-obsessed at the moment.
Shelagh @ KinderScares
The only thing is I would give the role of Mrs. White to Helena Bonham Carter, who would look great as a black widow type of lady character.
Wow. Now THAT'S a cast.
Wow, I just noticed there are at least five Academy Award winners (and multiple nominees) on that list. It would have to be the most expensive film ever;)
Oh, and Film Connoisseur: Like the Helena Bonham Carter idea, wish I'd have thought of it.
For years before the discover of IMDB, my brother and I were convinced that The Cook was indeed played by Kathy Bates, so spot on in that front.
And yes, I'm a HUGE fan, as my Halloween costume can prove: http://tiny.cc/8b54B
I think if Alec Baldwin played Mr. Body, he'd win an Oscar.
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