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.
* * *
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?
Inspired! I might have to pop this one in tonight.
ReplyDeleteReally great choices.
ReplyDeleteI greatly approve of this cast!
ReplyDeleteClue 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!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteDamn, now I want to see this movie again. Thanks a lot. I need to buy this one.
Love Clue!
ReplyDeleteHahaha 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteInspired 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.
ReplyDeleteShelagh @ 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.
ReplyDeleteWow. Now THAT'S a cast.
ReplyDeleteWow, 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;)
ReplyDeleteOh, 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.
ReplyDeleteAnd 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.
ReplyDelete