MovieChat Forums > Tootsie (1982) Discussion > Who from today could have played these r...

Who from today could have played these roles?

posted 14 years ago by dmg44
38 replies | jump to latest

********EDIT after nearly everyone blasted the idea of a remake: Which actors from today could you imagine playing these roles, even if a remake was never made? After all you have an entirely different pool of actors to pick from in this generation. Surely some actors from today could have handled these roles. Imagine you are the casting director and the movie is first being made today.

Original message:
After seeing this movie again on TCM, I'm hooked on it and think it is now my favorite movie. It's amazing how much of I remembered considering I first saw it in the theater as a 9 year old.

I've been thinking, if it were to be remade, line for line(of course some things would need to be changed to account for different technologies) who would I pick to star in it? I have not decided on Dustin's role (maybe Ashton Kutcher or Patrick Dempsey, but no one seems just right) but for Julie Nichols, I think Rachel McAdams would be good for Jessica Lange's Role and Maggie Gyllenhaal for Terri Garr (Sandy's )Role.

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear everyone's picks.

[–] johnnymonsarrat 14 years ago

Justin Long and Shia LaBeouf both have soft faces and could pull it off.

Johnny Monsarrat Consulting. All content by Jon Monsarrat!

[–] Ozymandias-King-of-Kings 14 years ago

[–] prabash 14 years ago

just finished watching it,well said dude
you can't top talent of this magnitude
and pls don't mention those kinda names to replace dustin hoffman!!!
i mean ashton kutcher?? friggin kidding me?

[–] fentress 14 years ago

I make it a personal policy never to try and postulate on remakes when the original is a stone-cold classic. A remake couldn't possibly top it.

Absolutely. Trying to remake a classic is just asking for failure. Besides that, it's totally unnecessary.

[–] katewashere 9 years ago

Just because a film shouldn't be remade, doesn't mean it won't happen. They've remade Point Break FFS which is an absolute early 90s classic, whatever you think about Keanu's acting prowess.

So, its an academic exercise anyway, I would go for setting it in London to give some physical distance.

Michael/Dorothy: Ewan McGregor/ Martin Freeman / Michael Sheen / Dan from Downton Abbey / Stephen Moyer

Julie: Carey Mulligan/ Kate Beckinsale / Rosamund Pike

[–] tmontyb 13 years ago

Dustin Hoffman was considered one of the best actors in the world at the time and had been Oscar nominated more than once. Sydney Pollack had made several classic movies across a range of genres. Jessica Lange and Terri Garr had also been in a number of very notable things. This movie contained pedigree that would be hard to emulate without looking at the very top of the current talent tree.

Besides, I make it a personal policy never to try and postulate on remakes when the original is a stone-cold classic. A remake couldn't possibly top it.

Agreed!

I'm watching it again right now after many years and my first thought was, they just don't make movies like this anymore and I don't think any remake made by today's standards could touch this. It's truly a classic.

Just because I'm chained to the fence doesn't mean I can't bark at the car

[–] suzycreamcheese1 12 years ago

well said!

RIP Heath Ledger 1979-2008

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] dmg44 14 years ago

OK, OK. Perhaps you are all correct that a remake is not necessary. However since I saw the movie as a little kid, I thought it would be fun to imagine who would be playing these roles if the movie had beed made and shown in theaters TODAY. These current actors are part of MY generation. And movie experiences are a little different as an adult and when the actors are closer to your age.
Make sense?

So instead of contemplating the dreaded remake, I will rephrase my original post to mean "who from the pool of actors today could you imagine playing these roles?" Are the actors of today so terrible that NO ONE could pull off these roles.

BTW I agree with Shia LeBoeuf. And after seeing Steve Carell in "Date Night," I don't think he would have been bad in Dustin's role, although perhaps a little older. After all he did play a less comedic role in "Dan in Real Life."

[–] stevesk0011 14 years ago

I firmly believe either Robert Downey Jr. or Dave Grohl could pull it off.

I am the Walrus - Goo Goo Ga'joob

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] mark-1589 14 years ago

This question makes more sense than "Remake?" Most good films should not be remade, but it is often interesting to speculate on who could play the roles if the film were made now.

[–] territhelin 14 years ago

Johnny Depp!!!

[–] MoggieMom 14 years ago

Billy Crudup (see 'Stage Beauty').

[–] tommytwotimes 14 years ago

My God there are a boatload of terrible suggestions in here. The only one that could be taken even slightly serious was the Robert Downey Jr. suggestion. A remake would be disastrous but if it was to be done you'd need a brilliant actor.

Dustin Hoffman is a brilliant actor; not a comedic actor. Hoffman didn't play the part as an over the top, stereotypical shadow of what a woman is according to the male mind. He fully immersed himself in the role and performed it with vigor and honesty.

Ashton Kutcher, Johnny Depp, Steve Carrell, etc. would never ever be able to capture that while also conveying a subtle form of humor. I can't think of anyone big in the business who could pull it off. Robert Pattinson was referred to recently as an A-Lister. If that's the kind of acting chops the A-List consists of nowadays, then a successful remake of "Tootsie" shouldn't even be considered for a few generations.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] ellery-6 14 years ago

The only one I have down is Lisa Kudrow as Sandy, but that similarity is pretty obvious, no?:)

I don't know anyone who could approach what Dustin Hoffman did.

When life gives you lemons, make Limoncello.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] y2010 13 years ago

James Franco (POSSIBLY) as Michael Dorsey
-I'm actually taking him seriously as an actor now, after seeing him in MILK and 127 HOURS

Amy Adams as Julie Nichols
-Only because she can play innocent roles well

Kiera Knightly as Sandy Lester
-Only cause she seems like an actress that can pull off random tantrums well

Martin Starr as Jeff
-In Adventureland, he just pulled it off so well

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] SpielbergRules 12 years ago

NO ONE. Why do people keep wondering this crap? STOP WITH EVEN THE IDEA OF A REMAKE! Watch the original. Enjoy the original. If you can't then you are banned from the internet. Sheesh. Grow up.