A Star Recast
With artificial intelligence all over the news (and our lives) these days, many people are worried about AI taking their job. But, do casting agents need to worry? ChatGPT can do a lot of things. But can it recast a movie? Well, that's what we wanted to find out. So, we asked ChatGPT to recast some classic films. And these are the casting choices it made?
What do you think of the choices?
Casablanca (1942)
Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart): Oscar Isaac
Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman): Lady Gaga
Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid): Rami Malek
Captain Renault (Claude Rains): Bill Hader
Oscar Isaac brings that world-weary charm, and Lady Gaga has the glamor and emotional depth for Ilsa. Rami Malek’s quiet intensity makes him perfect for Laszlo, and Bill Hader would add unexpected wit to Renault.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Joe/Josephine (Tony Curtis): Adam Driver
Jerry/Daphne (Jack Lemmon): Bo Burnham
Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe): Zendaya
Bo Burnham’s nervous charisma would shine in drag-era hijinks, and Zendaya would nail a modern take on Monroe’s blend of innocence and allure.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
The Godfather (1972)
Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando): Denzel Washington
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino): Timothée Chalamet
Sonny Corleone (James Caan): Oscar Isaac
Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall): Rami Malek
Denzel would crush the quiet power of Vito. Timothée’s range fits Michael’s transformation arc. (And Oscar Isaac again—because he’s too good not to cast twice.)
Office of Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Wikimedia Commons
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze): Harry Styles
Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey): Rachel Zegler
Rachel Zegler has the musical chops and acting charm, and Styles as a soulful dance instructor is just fun enough to work.
Brutallygolden, Wikimedia Commons
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Vincent Vega (John Travolta): Pedro Pascal
Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson): Donald Glover
Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman): Florence Pugh
Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis): Jake Gyllenhaal
Donald Glover would add both menace and sharp wit to Jules. Pedro Pascal’s cool detachment is perfect for Vincent, and Florence Pugh as Mia? Iconic.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
The Sound of Music (1965)
Maria (Julie Andrews): Sara Bareilles
Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer): Hugh Jackman
Bareilles has Broadway cred and warmth; Jackman adds class and heart. A musical recast made in heaven.
Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Psycho (1960)
Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins): Barry Keoghan
Marion Crane (Janet Leigh): Anya Taylor-Joy
Keoghan’s unsettling charm is tailor-made for Norman. Taylor-Joy brings the right mix of vulnerability and mystery to Marion.
Sara Komatsu, Wikimedia Commons
The Princess Bride (1987)
Westley (Cary Elwes): Paul Mescal
Buttercup (Robin Wright): Phoebe Dynevor
Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin): Pedro Pascal
Fezzik (André the Giant): John Cena
Pedro Pascal saying “You killed my father” is a full-circle dream. Cena adds a goofy sweetness that works beautifully as Fezzik.
Diego Serrano, Wikimedia Commons
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole): Dev Patel
Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif): Riz Ahmed
Dev Patel is long overdue for a massive, sweeping epic—and this fits his talents perfectly. Riz adds modern complexity to Ali.
Clueless (1995)
Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone): Olivia Rodrigo
Dionne (Stacey Dash): Marsai Martin
Josh (Paul Rudd): Noah Centineo
Rodrigo’s pop-star charisma turns heads like Cher did in the ’90s. And Marsai Martin would absolutely steal every scene.
Justin Higuchi, Wikimedia Commons
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly): Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds): Ariana DeBose
Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor): Ben Platt
DeBose and Platt bring Broadway energy, and JGL has that old-school song-and-dance charm.
gdcgraphics, Wikimedia Commons
Jaws (1975)
Chief Brody (Roy Scheider): Mahershala Ali
Quint (Robert Shaw): Woody Harrelson
Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss): Andrew Garfield
Harrelson’s wild-card energy modernizes Quint, and Garfield’s nerdy charm makes Hooper shine.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh): Ana de Armas
Rhett Butler (Clark Gable): Tom Hardy
Ana de Armas gives Scarlett a fierce, modern edge; Tom Hardy delivers the smolder.
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Back to the Future (1985)
Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox): Finn Wolfhard
Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd): Jim Carrey
Wolfhard brings retro-kid vibes and attitude. Carrey’s manic brilliance is perfect for Doc.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Thelma (Geena Davis): Ayo Edebiri
Louise (Susan Sarandon): Aubrey Plaza
JD (Brad Pitt): Jacob Elordi
Ayo and Aubrey together would be an incredible combo—sharp, funny, dangerous. Elordi is the smooth-talking wildcard.
Our Movie Guide, Wikimedia Commons
12 Angry Men (1957)
Juror #8 (Henry Fonda): Daniel Kaluuya
Juror #3 (Lee J. Cobb): Bryan Cranston
Kaluuya’s quiet command fits the voice of reason; Cranston brings volcanic tension to the opposing side.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson): Cate Blanchett
Joe Gillis (William Holden): Adam Scott
Blanchett is the perfect blend of grandeur and menace. Scott has the tired cynicism and vulnerability needed for Joe.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Goodfellas (1990)
Henry Hill (Ray Liotta): Jeremy Allen White
Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro): Benicio del Toro
Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci): Pete Davidson
White channels chaos and charm well, and Davidson’s unpredictable edge makes for a terrifying Tommy.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn): Janelle Monáe
Paul Varjak (George Peppard): John Boyega
Monáe’s old-Hollywood presence and quirky glam are perfect for a modern Holly.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick): Jabari Banks
Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck): Gaten Matarazzo
Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara): Maya Hawke
Banks makes Ferris feel fresh, and Maya Hawke is the perfect too-cool-for-school Sloane.
Our Movie Guide, Wikimedia Commons
West Side Story (1961)
Tony (Richard Beymer): Shawn Mendes
Maria (Natalie Wood): Auli’i Cravalho
Bernardo (George Chakiris): Bad Bunny
Cravalho’s vocals and warmth modernize Maria, and Bad Bunny brings the bravado. Mendes fits right in as the heartfelt lead.
The Shining (1980)
Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson): Lakeith Stanfield
Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall): Dakota Johnson
Stanfield’s intensity can shift from subtle to full madness fast. Johnson adds an understated, relatable fear.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Roman Holiday (1953)
Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn): Florence Pugh
Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck): Henry Golding
Pugh captures both royalty and rebellion, and Golding radiates classic charm.
PelucheEn ElEstuche, Wikimedia Commons
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Jim Stark (James Dean): Jacob Elordi
Judy (Natalie Wood): Lana Condor
Elordi has the brooding presence; Condor brings the emotional depth and warmth.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
The Matrix (1999)
Neo (Keanu Reeves): Kendrick Lamar
Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss): Riley Keough
Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne): Idris Elba
Kendrick brings a thinker’s presence to Neo, and Elba brings calm, grounded authority.
U.S. Government, White House photographer., Wikimedia Commons
Double Indemnity (1944)
Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck): Ana de Armas
Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray): Ryan Gosling
Ana and Gosling would ooze chemistry and tension—modern noir gold.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Luke (Paul Newman): Miles Teller
Teller’s blend of defiance and vulnerability is right for a modern take on Luke.
Mingle Media TV, Wikimedia Commons
Annie Hall (1977)
Alvy Singer (Woody Allen): Bo Burnham
Annie Hall (Diane Keaton): Zazie Beetz
Burnham's neurotic introspection and Beetz's quirky confidence give the rom-com a fresh dynamic.
Montclair Film, Wikimedia Commons
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster): Jodie Comer
Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins): Daniel Day-Lewis
Comer could carry the film’s tension; Day-Lewis as Lecter would be unsettling perfection.
The Tony Awards, Wikimedia Commons
Chinatown (1974)
Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson): Robert Pattinson
Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway): Rooney Mara
Pattinson’s modern noir résumé makes him ideal for this sleuthing role.
Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck): Mahershala Ali
Ali would bring grace, moral strength, and sincerity to this iconic role.
Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons
The Graduate (1967)
Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman): Timothée Chalamet
Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft): Charlize Theron
Chalamet’s existential awkwardness and Theron’s bold elegance would be electric together.
Amy Martin Photography, Wikimedia Commons
It Happened One Night (1934)
Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert): Emma Stone
Peter Warne (Clark Gable): Chris Evans
A perfect rom-com duo: Stone is screwball gold, and Evans has the swagger and warmth.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Enter the Dragon (1973)
Lee (Bruce Lee): Simu Liu
Roper (John Saxon): Channing Tatum
Liu is the natural heir to Lee’s blend of athleticism and charisma.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
My Fair Lady (1964)
Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn): Dua Lipa
Professor Higgins (Rex Harrison): Benedict Cumberbatch
Dua Lipa brings glam and edge, while Cumberbatch delivers condescension with wit.
Warner Music New Zealand, Wikimedia Commons
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Dorothy (Judy Garland): Billie Eilish
Scarecrow (Ray Bolger): Josh Gad
Tin Man (Jack Haley): Donald Glover
Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr): Jack Black
Billie brings eerie magic to Dorothy, while Gad, Glover, and Black are a dream team of misfits.
Toglenn, Wikimedia CommonsYou Might Also Like:
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