35 Contemporary Actors Who Could Reboot Iconic Roles

With a quiet resolve and understated intimidation factor exuding in most of his roles, Ben Mendelsohn would make for a perfect substitute for Robert Shaw’s rugged shark hunter.

For a great match to embody Eddie Murphy’s beloved cop with a con man’s wit, who else could expertly balance the comedic and dramatic requirements of the role as well as Atlanta mastermind Donald Glover?

Though she is best known for her roles in Stranger Things and Fear Street, her role in Gia Coppola’s Mainstream was a further testament to the emotional versatility necessary to fill her mother Uma Thurman’s (dancing) shoes. 

Kieran Culkin’s chaotic energy and dark humor chops so often on display in Succession would pay dividends as Hunter S. Thompson’s unpredictable and under-the-influence alter ego in a role previously made iconic by Johnny Depp.

The Umbrella Academy actor has showcased his ability to handle badass action and witty physical humor, which would be qualities instrumental to reviving the guitar-playing gunslinger.

This stand-up sensation displayed a natural screen presence in The Irishman, and while Joe Pesci will always own this role, there’s no one more suited to bring a unique contemporary spin to this fast-talking big city lawyer stuck in the deep south.

Miles Teller has proven himself effective as an action and dramatic lead, and his breakout performance in Whiplash hinted at a stoic and unwavering constitution that are akin to the trademark qualities of John Rambo.

With incredible comic timing and the pitch perfect embodiment of “I hate to be a bother BUT…” energy in his roles in Veep and Werewolves Within, Sam Richardson could make for a top tier new version of the famously destructive hypochondriac.

Just as Patrick Swayze brought his unconventional physicality and dance background toward creating a surprisingly different breed of action hero in Road House, many of those same qualities can be seen in Gosling, who previously got to show off his badass side in Drive, The Gray Man, and Only God Forgives.

Ariana DeBose has quickly become one of the top stars to watch with her memorable turns in West Side Story and Schmigadoon!, and given her phenomenal musical talents as well, she could easily handle Whitney Houston’s signature role.

Despite becoming the most reprehensible supervillain ever on The Boys, Antony Starr’s amazing turn as an anti-hero on Banshee is more than enough evidence to prove he could make an awesome Snake Plissken for a new generation.

The blend of nervous energy and go-for-broke confidence oozing from every frame of Licorice Pizza feels like the perfect primer that could usher Cooper Hoffman into such a beloved pop culture institution as Marty McFly.

Taron Egerton has the look, the athletic build, and the temper necessary to don the thick-rimmed glasses and #99 jersey of the fan favorite pitcher from the Major League franchise.

The undeniably charismatic Cuban-Spanish actress has re-established herself as a stone cold badass following her physically demanding turns in The Gray Man and No Time to Die, which would make her a more-than-viable option to headline this long-dormant franchise.

Andrea Riseborough has cemented herself as a powerful performer capable of all sorts of emotionally versatile roles, so why not give her the chance for something more lighthearted while utilizing the subtlety and subtext needed to bring Marge Gunderson to life once more?

We’ve never quite received the on-screen version of Frankenstein’s Monster initially envisioned by Mary Shelley, one that’s as poetic and acerbic as he is conflicted and volatile of which the Cumberbatch/Miller Frankenstein stage production from several years back serves as a prime example. For this undertaking, few modern performers have the potential to take this role to the next level, with Adam Driver perhaps being the best possibility to do so.

Dan Stevens has been largely dedicated to exploring roles beyond the limitations of the traditional leading man, and with his weird and wild turn in Legion, he showed off a lot of parallels to the curious performance of Jeff Goldblum’s brilliant yet doomed scientist in The Fly.

The intensity that he can command in any given scene and the ability to inject humanity even to the most hardened characters would put him at the top of the list to take over this unforgettable role.

William Wallace may be a meaty role that requires just as much charm and charisma as it does stamina and physical presence, by Jamie Dornan has proven himself as a multi-tool player who could bring a modern sense of empathy to the character.

Offering amazing comedic timing as well as dramatic chops worth their weight in gold in Nope, there are few performers that would be better to bring this Oscar-winning role to a new generation than Keke Palmer.

You may know him as the perpetually positive title character from Ted Lasso, but anyone who has seen Jason Sudeikis in his shockingly against-type casting in Colossal knows that he can embody menacing darkness quickly and believably, which would make him an inspired choice for Jack Torrance.

This scene-stealing acting wunderkind from It and Shazam! has the mischievous attitude and confidence it would take to create a new Ferris Bueller for the iPhone generation.

JD Pardo has delivered time and time again on Mayans M.C., and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks big on a major scale, which could be nothing short of good news for the long-gestating Scarface reboot.

Frank Booth’s unrelenting in-your-face demeanor is one not many performers can mach, but if anyone can, the best case scenario would have to be Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell, who recently earned raves with another abrasive character via David Mamet’s American Buffalo on Broadway.

Rami Malek’s strange yet hypnotic on-screen talents would certainly qualify him to take on any new iteration of this iconic (and duplicitous) role.

With the one-two punch of Fresh and Where the Crawdads Sing firmly placing Daisy Edgar-Jones atop the “to-watch” list, there’s no denying she could make a compelling and engaging substitute for Sigourney Weaver should the Alien franchise decide to start from scratch once more.

With the determination, wit, and “it” factor all over his performance in The Bear, Jeremy Allen White is due for a chance at the big time and would be a fitting actor to revive cinema’s best “ordinary cop in extraordinary circumstances.”

He may be an outside-of-the-box choice, but LaKeith Stanfield’s an outside-of-the-box performer who could genuinely bring something fresh and unexpected to such a legendary horror character.

Jenna Ortega is becoming one of the most intriguing young performers working today, and with her ability to capture myriad aesthetics on-screen, it would be a treat to see her put a new spin on The Wizard of Oz‘s heartfelt protagonist.

Chris Pine has previously had many comparisons to Jack Nicholson in regards to blending charm and levity with pathos and gravitas, yet the Nicholson role he might best be suited for would be the unwavering smart-ass private investigator from Chinatown, Jake Gittes.

One of the fastest rising stars in Hollywood today, Samara Weaving has more than enough presence and talent to breathe new life into the ’90s’ most iconic femme fatale.

Frankly, I have no idea what Ace Ventura would look like through a modern lens, but if there’s any working comedian who could bring a new take to this manic animal-centric P.I., I’d trust in SNL‘s former most unpredictable performer.

It’s hard to even imagining performing in the shadow of Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning villain performance, though Sope Dirisu’s incredible work on Gangs of London, Silent Night, and His House are a solid testament to his immense talent, which could help him bring a contemporary twist to this character in today’s sociopolitical climate.

It seems Robert Pattinson has dedicated his entire post-Twilight career to showing his versatility as a performer, a story oddly similar to that of Brad Pitt’s post-Legends of the Fall career and one that could be redefined by the film world’s most notable anarchist.

Angourie Rice has long been touted as the next big name in Hollywood since her exceptional supporting turns in The Nice Guys and Jon Watts’ Spider-Man trilogy, and with Honor Society expected to be her breakout role, she could elevate her career to the stratosphere with the opportunity to become the modern Cher Horowitz.