Fantasy Film Casting 4 – Shaun of the Dead

Let’s Recast a Film

You know how us film fans always want to recast a film, well today we play the role of producer and this script has turned up on our desk. The next job is to cast the film as if it the year is 2016, the rules are as simple you can’t use anyone who is in the original film however good or bad you think the film is. So without further ado let’s cast this movie.

Film: Shaun of the Dead

Original Cast: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Peter Serafinowicz

New Cast: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Amy Poehler, Amber Tamblyn, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson

Why I have picked this star:

Simon Pegg – Steve Carell – Shaun Shaun is a worker but slacker if I am not mistaken and who better to take this role than the man who led the Office for all those years. We know Carell can play the straight comedy and move into another genre with ease making him my ideal choice to lead this film.

Nick Frost – Jason Segel – Ed Ed is the flat out slacker easily getting distracted and believing anything bad will just blow over. Ed needs to be a bigger guy that Shaun and I see Jason as a great choice, sure he isn’t as lazy looking but he could pull this off with ease making him a great choice for the partnership in comedy here.

Kate Ashfield – Amy Poehler – Liz Liz is the on again off again girlfriend of Shaun, this character needs to be a strong character and why not have the strongest comical force in America. Amy has the ability to move into plenty of different comedy styles which is need in this role.

Lucy Davis – Amber Tamblyn – Dianne Dianne might only be a supporting character but she is outside hippie like character. After seeing Amber in Two and a Half Men and a variety of other roles it appears she has the ability to work in any comedy film and needs that chemistry with David’s character.

Dylan Moran – Will Arnett – David David is the boyfriend of Dianne who is easily the least likable character in the film. His character never really fits in with the rest and I feel Will could easily do this character who is always trying to be the main character in the film.

Peter Serafinowicz – Rainn Wilson – Pete Pete is the stuck up flat mate of Shaun and Ed, this needs a serious comical actor to play the role and Rainn is brilliant at playing the serious role in a comedy movie.

How will this change the film: It is clear that I am turning this into an American comedy which is one change I will be bringing into the film. I do think the overall story could be the same with the only changes being setting it in Boston and just for fun have the survivors trying to get to Cheers Bar. This might seem silly but the idea is to get to an iconic bar. I do think the sense of comedy will change but this seems like a good concept for the American version of Shaun of the Dead.

Will you be going to see this new version of the film?
Who would you rather see in this film?