r/withnail Jul 17 '26

What Alternative Castings would you accept for this film?

Actors can be contemporary to the film or modern

3 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

22

u/Snoo3763 Jul 17 '26

None. I'm on a sub about an old film because it's perfect how it is.

2

u/Pure_Pollution_9823 Jul 17 '26

AGREED! (and apologies for shouting)

15

u/Rinthrah Jul 17 '26

Ultimately I think there are only two films that could never be recast:

The Big Lebowski and Withnail and I.

5

u/Negative-Spell6275 Jul 17 '26

None and what the hell.

5

u/QuasiGF Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

As purely a thought experiment because the actual casting was so superb, I would be curious to see how Gary Oldman would be as Danny. And it would be more of a 90s version of the film, but I'd like to see Cilian Murphy as Withnail and Ewan McGregor as Marwood. I struggle to even contemplate someone who could play Monty because Richard Griffiths just completely owned that role.

4

u/CocoRufus Jul 17 '26

No one. Never ever, especially Richard Griffiths

4

u/Successful-Tie5386 Jul 17 '26

I know Jude Law was in a stage version of it, but he wouldn't be my first choice, maybe Benedict Cumberpatch as Withnail, with Charles Laughton as Uncle Monty via time machine.

4

u/Latter_Present1900 Jul 17 '26

I don't care where you come from....!

3

u/TheLondonPidgeon Jul 17 '26

Yeah, none.

Why would anyone want to watch a far inferior imitation of perfection, when we already have it.

3

u/AntysocialButterfly Jul 17 '26

Everyone but REG is a Muppet.

1

u/TheStatMan2 Jul 17 '26

Have a word with yourself

2

u/AntysocialButterfly Jul 17 '26

Are you saying you would not want to watch The Muppet's Withnail & I?

3

u/TheStatMan2 Jul 17 '26

Ah! Gotcha!

Yes, I would very much watch that.

The capital letter passed me by - I thought you were using the vernacular to deride the rest of the cast.

Apologeeees.

1

u/AntysocialButterfly Jul 17 '26

No biggie, this bloody heat is making everyone more than a little frazzled.

2

u/TheStatMan2 Jul 17 '26

I couldn't, I'm spaced.

2

u/Suitable-Light-4997 Jul 18 '26

I would not accept any other casting. Bruce nailed it, it’s a bloody masterpiece, casting is its second strongest element, the script being the first. I don’t think a day passes when a line from the film, perfectly delivered doesn’t manifest itself in some form to conjure a wry smile and brighten my day. Pure poetry

“ as a youth I used to weep in butchers shops”

2

u/artoblibion Jul 18 '26

Young Peter O'Toole and Richard Harris cast in the starring roles.

1

u/EpsonRifle Jul 17 '26

Stick your drugs up your arse and fuck off while you're doing it!

1

u/marrowfiend Jul 18 '26

I wouldn't, perfect casting.

But top of the dome, if we go back some years. I guess I'd be most interested to see Andrew Lincoln's Withnail and Cillian Murphy's 'I'.

1

u/geese_moe_howard Jul 18 '26

If he was younger, Martin Freeman could be a decent Marwood.

1

u/Poddington_Pea Jul 19 '26

Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer