# Re-cast "Blazing Saddles" using today's actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689 "2014-01-25T14:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/41 "2014-01-26T05:43:13Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I think Don Cheadle would work as Bart. That’s the name I was thinking of. He would be brilliant in that role. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/42 "2014-01-26T05:45:53Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > These threads always make me cringe, for exactly what we see above. > > Actors 20 years past the point where they could convincingly play the character, because people have a vision of them fixed in their head that isn’t keeping up with time. Like the constant “Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania” crap on wrestling sites. > > Orlando Jones is 45. Sam Jackson is 65(!) Cheadle is 49. None of them young enough for the part of a “Dashing young urbanite”. Cleavon Little was, by contrast, 35 when he played Bart. If you don’t like Cheadle, how about Dulé Hill? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/43 "2014-01-26T05:53:41Z")
You have to have Chris Rock playing Bart. Otherwise don’t even start. I like the idea of Robert Downey Jr as Jim. There should be cameos by Brooks, Wilder, Gilliam, Hillerman, and Huddleston. Unrelated sidenote: I never realized that Jack Starrett (aka Gabby Johnson) also played the deputy who harassed Rambo in _First Blood_. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/44 "2014-01-26T05:55:18Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Cloris Leachman could be old lady that that says Up Yours N\*\*\*\*\* and then brings Bart a pie. She’d love that role, but I don’t see her in it. Leachman is more of a make you some ovaltine (wink wink nudge nudge) old woman, not an apple pie. You need more than an old lady, you need a sweet old grandmotherly lady. Maybe Betty White? I can’t see Salma Heyak as Lili Von Schtupp either. She’s not Aryan enough. Maybe Charlize Theron, but they’d have to make her up to look like she’d been with thousands of men and like everything below her waist was kaput! ---
**Author:** ![amorali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@amorali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amorali)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/45 "2014-01-26T21:17:05Z")
What about Kristen Wiig as Lily? I don’t know if she can sing though. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/46 "2014-01-27T00:27:26Z")
I just wanted to glare at this thread in advance, since I can already feel it ruining CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER for me. I mean, there’s inevitably going to be a scene where Anthony Mackie takes in that this here white guy really is the inhumanly fast kid from [del]Waco[/del] Brooklyn, and now this is all I’ll be able to think of… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/47 "2014-01-27T00:48:24Z")
I was going to suggest \*\*Mos Def \*\*(or whatever he’s calling himself these days) for Bart and \*\*Matthew McConaughey \*\*for Jim, but I rather like the idea of **Andy Samberg** for Jim instead. Mr Def is 40, if anyone cares. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/48 "2014-01-27T00:53:25Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Tim Tebow as Mongo > > D&R If no other role on your list makes it, this one has to be included. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/49 "2014-01-27T22:19:08Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > That would be interesting! But I don’t know if Dwayne is “black” enough for the role. Dule Hill certainly has the facial expression talent; maybe him and James Roday as Jim? I was picturing Dwayne as a perfect fit for Mongo! He’s definitely big enough for the role and has enough presence. “Mongo only pawn in great chess game of life.” Agree with Cheadle for Bart. How about Ron Livingston for Jim? Alec Baldwin would be great as Hedley Lamarr, Ben Stiller as Gabby Johnson, and this is a little bizarre, but I’m calling Donald Trump for Governor William J. LePetomane. Gotta be Diane Kruger as Lili von Shtupp. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/50 "2014-01-27T22:46:04Z")
Donald Trump would be a great Governor. Mayor Rob Ford as Mongo? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/51 "2014-01-27T22:50:57Z")
> [@Jack\_Burden](#): > > Alec Baldwin would be great as Hedley Lamarr I’m sticking with the guy upthread who said George Clooney. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/52 "2014-01-28T10:48:01Z")
> [@Jack\_Burden](#): > > Gotta be Diane Kruger as Lili von Shtupp. Better idea: Lady Gaga ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/53 "2014-01-28T11:37:29Z")
OMG! I just feel terribly, terribly inadequate to try to cast this film using today’s actors. Let me just try one or two? Pick the biggest asshole in the film. I would cast maybe … Quentin or maybe Billy Bob Thorton? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/54 "2014-01-28T20:14:53Z")
Robin Williams as the Governor. And probably anyone else he wanted to be. Ralphie May as Mongo. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/55 "2014-01-28T22:33:24Z")
Johnny Knoxville IS the Waco Kid. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/56 "2014-01-28T23:39:51Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > OMG! I just feel terribly, terribly inadequate to try to cast this film using today’s actors. > > Let me just try one or two? > > Pick the biggest asshole in the film. I would cast maybe … Quentin or maybe Billy Bob Thorton? I like Billy Bob as Taggert. Whoever suggested Lithgow as Headley is a freakin’ genius. How about Jane Kazmerack (however it’s spelled – the mom on “Malcolm in the Middle”) as Lili? She’s got that “pooped” look, and can do hot-to-trot as well. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/57 "2014-01-29T23:56:10Z")
Eddie Murphy Clint Eastwood Madonna ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/58 "2014-01-30T00:06:22Z")
Donald Glover … Bart Joel McHale … Jim Matthew Perry… Hedley Lamarr Kristin Wiig … Lili Von Shtupp Will Ferrell … Governor William J. Lepetomane / Indian Chief Dwayne Johnson… Mongo ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/59 "2014-01-30T01:00:36Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Eddie Murphy > Clint Eastwood > Madonna What is this, 1991? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689/60 "2014-01-30T02:05:34Z")
^ Now. I have more faith in senior actors and actresses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-blazing-saddles-using-todays-actors/679689.md?page=4)