So, last week, I asked the question about iconic roles and whether it's the actor who makes the role or the role itself that puts the actor on the map.
The classic example was Han Solo in the Star Wars movies and Harrison Ford. Before Star Wars, Ford was a carpenter working behind the camera and those three movies made him an overnight sensation and a star was born. To be fair, Harrison has plenty of talent and it's a pretty good bet that he would have experienced a nice bit of success on his own anyhow.
But still, it makes you wonder.
And then there are the roles that might not have defined an actor, but an actor owns it so much that it's impossible to think of anyone else playing the character. Just think if Marlon Brando hadn't been cast as The Godfather.
FEEDBACK{So, what roles do you think are untouchable? Who would you like to see play a role that you're not happy with?
Update #1
Mad Max! The buzz has been out there for years about a fourth movie, but without Mel it wouldn't sit right, better to not be made then with someone else, it's his iconic role.
--Jason from Yuma, AZ
Great choice Jason. That's definitely a role that I really can't see another actor even attempting to pull off.
Update #2
I know I'm going to sound like a broken record from my poster and image response, but V for Vendetta's Hugo Weaving. I know he was behind a mask the entire movie, but I thought he just gave SO much character to V like no one else could. Also, I thought Robert Downey Jr. was the most AMAZING Tony Stark that could have been. As far as ones I think should have been in a role... I would say Jason Statham should have been 47 in the Hitman movie. But that may be some bias on my part since he IS one of my favorite actors. I also didn't really care for the guy who played Venom(my favorite spiderman villan) in Spidey 3. I mean... all I could see the whole time was him as Venom sitting around a table in his basement in true That 70's Show style...
--Matt from Broken Arrow, OK
All worthy considerations to be sure. I really don't know who would've been a better choice for Tony Stark instead of Robert Downey Jr.. He owned the role and from what I know about the character, they battle some of the same personal demons.
There were so many things wrong about Spider-Man 3 that I don't think this column is long enough to address them all.
Update #3
Hey guys, good topic this week. When you talk about iconic/untouchable roles a couple of performances come to mind that I don't believe anyone could ever have done better. The first is Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone. I don't believe that character should ever be put to film again, simply because Kilmer hit him so far out of the park (Kilmer seems to thrive in these kind of parts; Jim Morrison in the Doors, John Holmes in Wonderland, even Elvis in True Romance). The second is a movie that should be untouchable, but especially Jack Nicholson's character in A Few Good Men. He plays the general in that film with such fervor that you'd believe the man had been commanding soldiers all his life. That whole film should never be remade, one of Rob Reiner's masterpieces. As far as replacing an actor who didn't do his film justice, I would simply take every Charlton Heston role throughout his existence and replace him with someone who can act. That over-actor ruined reel upon reel of film for something like six decades. Enough is enough. Anyway have a great weekend, guys.
--Eric from Shawnee Mission, KS
Thanks Eric.
I think Heston and Shatner should have started a club of some sort for over-actors. It's a disease and it needs, no not more cowbell, but a cure.
Update #4
David Carradine two infamous roles as Kwai Chang Caine of Kung Fu and as well as Bill are such memorable characters that I could never see anybody else ever playing either of those to characters. Carradine just seemed to have this presence about him that not really any could imitate.
--Robert from Pittsburgh, PA
Nor at this point should anyone attempt to imitate David Carradine It could be dangerous for their health. What? Too soon?
Update #5
Great subject to discuss. Everytime you watch an old movie, you always say, no one else could play that role. So here are my thoughts. Nobody else could have played Ferris Bueller the way Matthew Broderick did. He blew that was off the park! Arnie as the Terminator, of course it is an easy role to do, but the movie would not have been succesful if it was someone else besides Arnie. Clark Gable as Rett in Gone With The Wind. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector and Christopher Llyod as Doc Brown. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump! And lastly, I would say Robert Englund as Freddy Kruger. However, this could change by next year.
--Jason from Canada
Yeah, I have to agree with you. Some actors just really step into a performance like they were born to play it. I do think that's the tricky part of remakes. How do you convince a whole generation to accept someone else as Freddy Kruger or whatever.
There should be board somewhere that is allowed to approve or deny remake and sequel movies based on merit. That would be interesting.
Update #6
The two that immediately came to mind for me are Peter Billingsley in A Christmas Story...I'd even say the entire cast is sacred!And the other is Chevy Chase / Randy Quaid in the National Lampoon Vacation franchise. And they should have kept using Anthony Michael Hall as well.
come to think of it...i couldn't see anybody else doing ROCKY, besides sly himself.
man...this list could go on forever! hollywood should just leave the great movies of the 80's alone!!
--Angelo from Pittsburgh, PA
First, congrats on the Penguins win in the Stanley Cup finals. To be honest, having grown up in Detroit, I was sure the Wings had that series, but the Penguins fought back valiantly.
No one could ever replace Peter Billingsley as Ralphie. And there will never be another Chevy Chase, but I feel as though that some day they will attempt to replace him and revisit the Vacation movies.
Update #7
I have two choices when it comes to an actor and the role they're in. My first choice is, of course, Heath Ledge as the Joker from The Dark Knight. Sure there were plenty of other Jokers before him, but those Jokers were never really all that interesting (Nicholson's Joker was interesting, in the Burton-Cheesy way. Heath Ledger's Joker gave the character an edge and fleshed out a new type of Joker that was scary, interesting, and comedic all at once. He essentially raised the bar that all future Jokers need to meet. I hope the (supposed) third new Batman movies doesn't include the Joker, because Heath Ledgers performance cant be topped, only poorly imitated. My second choice, believe it or not, has to do with the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movies. I know, I know, they aren't "actors" per say, but the way the characters were portrayed. I grew up with and highly enjoyed the first 3 movies (the first 2 more so) and when they introduced the new totally CGI movie, I was only slightly entertained. I mean the old turtle movies are iconic as they brought the turtles to life (somewhat)and gave us classic characters on screen. The new TMNT tried to replace a classical act with a fake CGI one. While the movie was well done and had nice effects, it didn't have the same feel as the previous movies. I heard they are making another live-action movie that returns to the roots of the previous three movies, with the suits, and I am eager to see how this how this one turns out! I believe those original movies made the TMNT series...I hate to see it shrugged off to a new generation of computer effects.
--Travis from Decatur, IN
When you make Jack Nicholson look bad then you know you've done it. Heath Ledger played the joker so well that any attempt to remake a Batman with Joker as the villain in the future will be a disappointment. Sure I could probably think of others who could have been cast into the roll but what Ledger did with the roll redefined how we saw The Joker. Like the above comment about Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday; there have been others that have played the roll but what an actor does with a roll changes the character in such a way that we can not imagine that roll with any other person.
--Jake from Victorville, CA
There is a huge problem right now in the Batman world and that is the void left by Heath Ledger's untimely demise. The problem is that the character of the Joker needs to be in the Batman continuity or it will be like a big pink elephant in the room. They can't kill him off off-screen and they can't really recast now can they?
It will be interesting to see what the filmmakers ultimately decide to do.
Update #8
Well sir, It depends on the role and the actor. Now if the actor has any talent at all the actor can pull off anything. Sometimes the role calls for a certain quality that certain actors could put into it and if you put someone else into that same role it would not be the same. Al Pacino would not make a good Han Solo but he does make a good mobster or devil role. Just the way he is.
--Matthew from San Diego, CA
Great point. I also believe that certain actors are more suited for particular types of roles. However, I also think it's amazing when they step out of their comfort zone and can pull off something that 180 degrees different than what they are used to.
That's the mark of a true thespian.
Update #9
Well sir, Well, speaking about some of the most recent movies, I would say that no one could be as half as good as the talented mr. Johnny Depp in the role of Captain Jack Sparrow! Arrgghh!!!
--Uldis from Latvia
Johnny Depp is one of the most talented actors working in film today. He commands everything that he does and when it's all said and done, it's hard to imagine anyone else in those roles.
I mean this is the guy who brought humanity to a man with Scissorhands. And as Tim mentioned, welcome Latvia. We're big in Latvia!
