Let's Cast The Clue Remake
The next step, while the script comes together, is to assemble a cast for the film and Fox/Disney has plans to bring in high-profile actors to fill out the cast. This won't be an easy task as fans of the original movie (myself included) have certain expectations for the characters and want to make sure they don't stray too far from what's expected, but still be able to bring talent and diversity to the project. I thought I'd take a stab at putting together such a cast of actors myself. Take a look below and tell me what you think!
Wadsworth
The role of The Butler was originally filled by the incomparable Tim Curry and will very likely be the toughest role to fill. Curry is the glue that held this project together, carrying the story from one point to the next quite seamlessly. I chose Ryan Reynolds for this role specifically because I think he's one of the very few people who could do that very thing. His dry, yet effective humor would translate well to a more modern take on the character. Additionally, I don't see Reynolds taking the lead on such a project behind the scenes and not take one of the leads for himself. I don't mean that in a negative way either. He's got the talent and skill to make it happen.
Colonel Mustard
Martin Mull initially played the military man of Clue, and it was pretty stellar casting. His look and demeanor, along with his comedic timing fit the bill perfectly. I don't think you'd need to change too much when it comes to this character and there's only one person who came to mind for Mustard: Nick Offerman. First off, just look at the guy. Second, it only takes watching him on Parks & Rec a few moments to see how perfect he'd be for tackling the bumbling Colonel Mustard.
Mr. Green
The character of Mr. Green, played by Michael McKean, eventually plays a pivotal role in the story of Clue, at least in the original film. Up until that point, he plays a character that always just seems to be in the background, serving as an effective comedic element. Initially, this is the role I'd thought Ryan Reynolds should take on (I wouldn't be upset if he did, by the way), but after I chose him for the role of Wadsworth, I needed someone who could handle both slap-stick and more subtle humor. I eventually landed on Andre Braugher. He's fully capable of tackling all aspects of such a character as Mr. Green - the funny, quirky, closeted State Department worker who eventually becomes the hero of the story. Braugher's work on Brooklyn Nine-Nine this season has been a stand-out, with impeccable comedic skill and timing, something that would serve him well in the role of Mr. Green.
Professor Plum
Christopher Lloyd originally played the role of Professor Plum, a disgraced psychologist who has an affinity for beautiful women. This was another tough role to cast, not only because comedic icon Christopher Lloyd set such a high bar, but also because this type of character needs someone to balance the sometimes off-putting sexuality that would need to be addressed. Plum often takes things a bit too far (all for the sake of comedy, of course), so finding an actor who could pull that off and actually get away with it could be tough. After some thinking and researching, Bill Hader came to mind and it got me all sorts of excited (no pun intended). His style and look would fit this role perfectly to me - the awkward sexuality he'd be able to pull off would be painful to watch in all the best ways.
Miss Scarlet
Lesley Anne Warren filled the role of Miss Scarlet, the quick-witted Madame from Washington, DC in the original film. She's sassy, sexy, and confident, which are qualities that many well-known actresses possess. Names like Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, and Kate Winslet are often suggested for this role and all of them would do well. But I wanted to take the opportunity to embrace a more modern take on the character. In more recent versions of the board game, Miss Scarlet is portrayed as an Asian woman and this would be a great way to bring in some much-needed diversity to the cast. Gemma Chan (Captain Marvel and the upcoming Eternals) would be perfect. She's beautiful, talented, and has the chops to tackle the role of a woman who takes no crap from no man.
Mrs. Peacock
The role of the Senator's wife, or in more modern versions, the Senator herself, Mrs. Peacock comes across as the overly dramatic and ever talkative character and I honestly wouldn't change that for the new film. Quite frankly, this was the easiest roles to fill and I went immediately to comedy legend Catherine O'Hara. If you've seen Schitt's Creek, or Beetlejuice, or Best In Show or literally any of her films, then you know O'Hara would have no problem taking a character like Peacock, played so well by Eileen Brennan and make it her own, all while paying tribute to the original. Not much more to say about this one.
Mrs. White
Madeline Kahn, the ad-lib queen and one of the greatest comedians to ever grace the silver screen, will be a tough act to follow and honestly, I don't expect to see the actor who takes on this role even attempt to play the Mrs. White character the same way. Having said that, there's a way to approach this character in a manner that both pays tribute to Kahn's take while still creating something new. When I first started thinking about this write-up, Anna Kendrick came to mind. While I think she'd be funny in the role, I don't think she's old enough to properly convey the "experience of marriage" that would be needed. After some digging, I came across Rose Byrne, who for a long time was known for her more dramatic roles. However, recently, she's tackled some comedic roles and she pulls it off quite effectively. She'd bring her own British style to the role, which can be quite dry but hilarious. Not only that, but she also has a similar look to Kahn that I think would only add to the effectiveness of her portrayal.
Yvette
The French maid of the film is known for certain...features and at the time, it was something you could get away with. The director of the film even stated later on that Colleen Camp landed the role after showing up to her audition in the maid's outfit and her look essentially made the decision for them. These days, that might be a bit tough to pull off. That doesn't mean you can't make the character sexy and mysterious. I have two actors listed for this role, mainly because they are both crazy talented, beautiful, and look nearly identical. Both Margot Robbie and Samara Weaving have the look and talent to fill the smaller, yet important role of Yvette. I think both would also have a blast playing the role of the mysterious and potentially lethal maid.
Mr. Boddy
Is he the man behind it all or is he just the Butler? While the role of Mr. Boddy, played by Lee Ving in the 1985 film, may be small, it's pivotal in the overall story and sets the ball rolling in terms of the murder and the mystery. I wanted to find someone who was both refined and deviant at the same time. Idris Elba, who is certainly refined, would also jump at the chance to play a deviant blackmailer who is only looking out for himself. He'd definitely make the most of his short time in the film.
Clue is by far and away my favorite film and I'm not overly excited by the prospect of seeing a remake come to theaters. However, I understand the draw to this property, as it has loads of potential to be a fun whodunnit murder mystery and with the success of last fall's Knives Out, I suspect this project will move rather quickly. I feel like they are headed in the right direction and have great names attached, I just hope they don't try to duplicate perfection and try an make their own film while paying tribute to what has become a cult favorite.
What are your thoughts on my casting choices? Who would you like to see take on these iconic (at least to me) roles? Leave a comment below!
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