# The Simpsons with real live actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2006, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059 "2006-01-02T07:34:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/1 "2006-01-02T07:34:12Z")
i figure that for my first thread, i should make it a doozy. i’ve been lurking and waiting until the end of (beginning of) the year to get the bang for my 15 bucks. i hear that a simpsons movie has been made, but it won’t be released until the show gets retired. one of the possibilites of a movie would be a live action one. now, the question: who would you cast? how would you cast? child actors or teenagers? i vote for ed o neill of al bundy fame for homer. automatically, katey segal becomes marge. after that, i get fuzzy. and now, have at it. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/2 "2006-01-02T07:43:35Z")
Well, from his [IMDB bio](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000513/bio), “The writers and producers of “The Simpsons” (1989) have joked semi-seriously that if there was ever a live action version of the show, then he would be the perfect choice to play Ned Flanders.” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/3 "2006-01-02T07:45:02Z")
“He,” of course, being William H. Macy. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/4 "2006-01-02T07:47:50Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > “He,” of course, being William H. Macy. > > :smack: No need to clarify, it’s a given: “He” is always William H. Macy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/5 "2006-01-02T07:48:55Z")
> [@Least Original User Name Ever](#): > > i hear that a simpsons movie has been made, but it won’t be released until the show gets retired. one of the possibilites of a movie would be a live action one. IMDb has a 2008 release date for the film, and confirms it’s animated. Doing it any other way would get them killed. I’m sure 7 million people have nominated John Goodman to play Homer - hell, Bart even said it in one episode of the show - so I’ll just get in line. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/6 "2006-01-02T07:52:54Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > No need to clarify, it’s a given: “He” is always William H. Macy. AKA: That Guy, HIM!, The Guy from That One Movie, and No! Not Him! The OTHER Guy! ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/7 "2006-01-02T12:00:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m sure 7 million people have nominated John Goodman to play Homer - hell, Bart even said it in one episode of the show - so I’ll just get in line. That’s so obvious. It should be Gary Oldman. ---
**Author:** ![Tio\_Gringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Tio\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tio_Gringo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/8 "2006-01-02T13:26:36Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > That’s so obvious. It should be Gary Oldman. Nope. Christopher Walken. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/9 "2006-01-02T13:28:47Z")
Dan Castellaneta for Homer. No one else would work. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/10 "2006-01-02T13:31:47Z")
Having real life actors would replace the voices of the characters, where basically of the presence of the original characters are. You could just as well redo them entirely! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/11 "2006-01-02T13:38:32Z")
> [@cactus waltz](#): > > Having real life actors would replace the voices of the characters, where basically of the presence of the original characters are. You could just as well redo them entirely! Not if you have them lip sinc to the original voices! ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/12 "2006-01-02T15:01:43Z")
I think if you gave him the chance, Richard Moll could pull off a pretty decent Homer. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/13 "2006-01-02T15:03:43Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6953786#post6953786) thread brings thoughts to mind of Tom Cruise playing Troy McClure. The sound you now hear is Phil Hartman spinning in his grave. ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/14 "2006-01-02T15:30:02Z")
I would rather have the movie in animated form. I can’t think of anyone who could replace the voice actors. Would they really get a bigger audiance if it was a “live action” movie? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/15 "2006-01-02T16:01:36Z")
Patrick Stewart = Mr Burns. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/16 "2006-01-02T16:06:02Z")
No, Dennis Franz for Homer. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/17 "2006-01-02T16:14:18Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > [This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6953786#post6953786) thread brings thoughts to mind of Tom Cruise playing Troy McClure. > > The sound you now hear is Phil Hartman spinning in his grave. I was listening to one of the _Simpsons_ DVD commentaries, and Matt Groening was commenting that Phil Hartman wanted to do a live-action Troy McClure movie with himself playing Troy McClure. It’s sad that that will never come to be. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/18 "2006-01-02T16:30:49Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > No, Dennis Franz for Homer. Been done, Dennis portrayed homer in the made for TV movie _Portrait of an Ass Grabber_. I do like the choice of Patrick Stewart for Mr. Burns but even the best casting can’t overcome the expectations of fans who have watched the show evolve. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/19 "2006-01-02T16:31:59Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > Dennis portrayed homer in the made for TV movie _Portrait of an Ass Grabber_. “Ooh, ‘Portrait!’ Sounds classy!” ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059/20 "2006-01-02T17:32:32Z")
I think they should use that actor that’s always standing on his hind legs and walking. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-with-real-live-actors/338059.md?page=2)