MovieChat Forums > Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) Discussion > Who could play Kolchak now ?

Who could play Kolchak now ?

posted 6 years ago by macken74 (618)
29 replies | jump to latest

If they did bring the tv series back again , same format ... who could play kolchak ?

No one could ever top darren mcgavin in the role ! but who ya think could do the role some justice at least ?

Tbh i really can't think of anyone myself , perhaps billy crystal when he was in his early 50's , he always struck me that he had the same easy going wisecracking nature mcgavin brought to the role ! .... But more recent actors , i can't really think of anyone suitable !

[–] RickGee (263) 6 years ago

Christian Slater?

[–] macken74 (618) 6 years ago

Yeah that's a pretty good choice !

[–] TandyMan (10423) a year ago

ha. this would actually be brilliant.

[–] SteveG (1370) 5 years ago

Steve Carrell?

[–] macken74 (618) 5 years ago

Yeah sounds good !

[–] horrorfan000 (2092) 5 years ago

Richard Dean Anderson.He's gained a bit of weight since his Stargate days but other than that i could see him pulling it off.

[–] PaladinNJ (20335) 3 years ago

A bit?

[–] horrorfan000 (2092) 3 years ago

True but then Darren McGavin wasn't exactly slim.I heard somewhere that he takes steroid medication because of injuries sustained during his Macgyver days which causes weight gain.

[–] PaladinNJ (20335) 5 years ago

Bryan Cranston

[–] SteveG (1370) 5 years ago

Thats a good choice.

[–] PaladinNJ (20335) a year ago

Looks like this won't be happening. Cranston just announced his retirement.

[–] SteveG (1370) a year ago

Yeah and he is also a bit long in the tooth now as well. But there was a window and he was also the kind of everyman, with comedy chops as well as a full range. He really would have been perfect. I also still like Christian Slater.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 4 years ago

Well, Kolchak today needs to be black and possibly a lesbian.

[–] macken74 (618) 4 years ago

Hahaha

[–] wearsalan (5554) 4 years ago

Kevin Bacon or John Cusack....that is unless they go the black lesbian route.

[–] jk90us (5483) 8 months ago

Hey. Bacon and Cusack could play that. They have range.

[–] liscarkat (16702) 4 years ago

"Kolchak, The Ambiguously Intersectional Night Stalker"

[–] Jeepster (1033) 4 years ago

McGavin was so unique, like most things you just chalk it up to fate that he was the one & the only who could embody that role. Sometimes there is a destiny to the iconic roles that actors are know for. Who else could’ve been Jim Rockford but James Garner? or Fred Sanford but Redd Foxx? Or Archie Bunker but Carroll O’Connor or George Jefferson but Sherman Hemsley?

You did neglect to mention that the question is moot because they DID try Kolchak with a different actor with Stuart Townsend which I hear some people loved & others loathed. But it’s been done so your question was answered when you think about it. Peace.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Somehow I completely missed this re-make series. IMDB tells me it ran for just five weeks in 2005.

I'm guessing it was a dud. From the description, it sounds like they tried to go all dark and emo with the character, instead of feisty and cantankerous a la Darren McGavin.

[–] Owlwise (1497) 4 years ago

Nobody could. Darren McGavin made & owned that role.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 4 years ago

Wanda Sykes would make an excellent Kolchak.

[–] nufsaid16 (631) 8 months ago

She would, because she's funny as heck anyway.