Remember the “Cast the Simpsons movie” thread? Now’s your chance to pick the real-life characters for the real-life Futurama movie. You’re the casting director! The only rule: the performer who does voice for the character can’t portray the character in the movie.
My turn first: Ummmm, uh –
Christopher Lloyd as Professor Hubert Farnsworth.
Dana Carvey as Fry
They’re both so sweet and lovable and huggable. And Dana Carvey can probably do a variety of roles, and could make Fry a super funny character…not that he isn’t already. 
I think Dana Carvey’s too old to play Fry.
I vote for Seth Green. He’s the right age, funny, and he’s even a redhead!
Zhang Ziyi to play Amy, but only if she can handle the English without too much of an accent. Otherwise, this Chinese-Martian character should be played by the Japanese-American actress who plays the Korean-American best friend on Gilmore Girls.
Maura Tierney for Leela.
No thoughts yet on the others.
Here’s a better idea for Fry: Ryan Stiles. While he may be a tad tall for the part, he’s got the “gangly, stupid, and awkward” thing down pat.
Umph – this one’s tougher than the Simpsons. Lessee –
William Shatner as Zap Brannigan (please God lengthen the uniform)
Martin Short as Kif
Robert de Niro as Bender
Martin Short is perfect for Kif! But Shatner’s too old to play Zapp Brannigan. I like Patrick Warburton in the role.
The voice of Nathan Lane for Bender, who will be a CGI effect on screen.
What? Okay what happened to my post, and secondly- isn’t Martin Short a bit too self-confident to play Kif? I was thinking of someone who’s a mere shell of a person, and after Jiminy Glick…
Sure, Martin may be uber tiny, but I’ve always thought of him as a loudmouth.
For some weird reason, I get this image of an outdated, over-the-hill C3-PO as Bender.
Fry: Jim Breuer
Zap Branigan: Kevin Kline
Kif: Colin Mochrie
Dr. Zoidberg: My mother-in-law’s husband.
I’m watching Emeril Live. Jeez, why didn’t I think of:
Emeril Lagasse as Bender
-and-
Cloris Leachman as Mom from Mom’s Old Fashioned Robot Oil Co.
Dog my cats if I can think of a chubby, short black guy who can do a good Jamaican accent for Hermes. I guess Johnny Brown’s too old?
No way! Dame Judi Dench as Mom!
French Stewart as Kif
Jon Stewart as Dr. Zoidberg
Martha Stewart as Mom
Jimmy Stewart as Farnsworth
okay that’s where the pattern stops working, but I still like the French Stewart idea.
Wow, that Martha Stewart thing was kind of uncanny.
I think Jon Lovitz would make a good Bender. Well, except that his voice is so…theatrical. Maybe if he took up smoking?
Smoky voice?
What about Tom Waits as Bender?
Well, if Jon Lovitz’s voice is theatrical, then he’d do a darn good Calculon, especially if he assumed the persona of Master Thespian.
Hmph - I can’t come up with a black actor who reminds me of Hermes. How about Mike Meyers? The man is a genius with dialects, he’s short and a little chubby – if he wore makeup and a wig with little dreads, I think he’d do fine.
Mel Brookes as Dr. Zoidberg
How about Cedric the Entertainer for Hermes?