Nothing gets a conversation and/or debate going faster than an alternate casting. Everyone has their own opinion about what actor should play which role and, more importantly, nobody can ever agree with anyone else’s picks. If it’s even slightly different than what you pictured in your head, you will immediately disregard it and ridicule the person who suggested it. The aim of the FanCast is to inspire conversation, create debate and provide ammo for the bloodthirsty nerds who can’t ever be wrong.
Sometime in 2009, Disney was bitten by the remake bug. It started in 2010 with the release of a live-action Alice in Wonderland film. Soon after, live-action remakes or re-imaginings from the studio began to come out every other year. However, in the last two years, they have been churning them out like it was nobody’s business. 2019 saw Dumbo, Aladdin, and The Lion King come out.
The studio has shown no signs of slowing down, so it is only a matter of time before every animated film has been remade in live-action. So for SAW’s Disney Themed Month, we are going to FanCast four animated films that are serious contenders to be remade within the next five years.
Last week we did Tarzan. Next up: the 1996 film The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Lewis Capaldi | Quasimodo
What you might have heard him sing: “Someone You Loved”, “Hold Me While You Wait”, “Before You Go”
Why he’d be perfect for the role: I decided to go with singers for the two lead roles. For Quasimodo, I wanted an actor who I know could belt out a lot of songs, but also wasn’t necessarily the definition of Hollywood heartthrob. I didn’t want to cast Ed Sheeran, so that left me with Lewis Capaldi. Who I think actually looks like a version of Quasimodo where his mother didn’t drop him face first off Notre Dame. The man has zero acting credits that I know of, but he’s capable of giving a lot of emotion through his vocals and that exactly what Quasimodo does.
Camila Cabello | Emeralda
What you might have heard her sing: “Havana”, “Consequences”, “Señorita”
Why she’d be perfect for the role: Cabello is set to make her lead acting debut in Sony’s Cinderella as the titular character. This means she must be a somewhat capable actress (but it is Sony, so then again). I can see Cabello filling the role of Esmeralda easily and I think she’d make a great match with Capaldi. Imagine these two singers creating new music for the film. When was the last time a new Disney movie had a #1 hit on the charts?
Richard E. Grant | Judge Claude Follo
What you might have seen him in: Jackie, Logan, Star Wars: The Rise of Skwalker
Why he’d be perfect for the role: I’m casting Grant in this role for two reasons: 1) he sort of looks like the Disney animated version; and, 2) he’s one away from the Disney Trifecta. He’s been in Star Wars, and he’s set for a role in Loki, so all that’s left is acting in a purely Disney property. Grant loved his time working on The Rise of Skywalker, so he’s clearly down for fun roles like this.
Sam Heughan | Captain Phoebus
What you might have seen him in: Outlander, The Spy Who Dumped Me
Why he’d be perfect for the role: Heughan doesn’t have many major acting credits outside of Outlander, but thankfully that series is all it takes to show off his skill. I’m definitely casting Heughan as Frollo’s Captain of the Guard based off his role in Outlander, but oh well. I’m also aware that I am casting more Scottish than French actors, but what can you do?
The Lonely Island | Victor, Hugo, and Laverne
What you might have seen them in: Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Why they’d be perfect for the role: I wanted a comedy trio because I look at these gargoyles as the Three Stooges. Just like for my Tarzan FanCast I turned my attention to Saturday Night Live. Andy Samberg was one of the first actors to pop into my mind and then it just made sense to make it The Lonely Island. It doesn’t matter who plays which gargoyle, what matters is these three would be throwing jabs at one another while trying to help Quasimodo. And yes, I’m aware the animated version had a female gargoyle, but I’m making them all male. But we don’t make Laverne into a masculine name. We use it for comedy.
These are the actors I would cast if I was making live-action Hunchback of Notre Dame for Disney. Who would you FanCast?
