One thing that I love to do in my spare time is fancast. What is fancasting, you might be asking? The Urban Dictionary defines FANCAST as "When a fan of a franchise makes a list of actors they would like to see in a movie based on the franchise. Usually specifically refers to a type of threads found on internet forums. The threads will be tagged or labelled "Fancast <franchise>: Who would you cast?" or something similar." In this series of posts, I'll be doing a little fancasting of my own. Welcome to the first edition of "Fancast Time".
I initially was going to call this "The Casting Couch", but apparently the phrase "casting couch" has a dirty definition and I want to keep this blog at least RELATIVELY clean. Sooooooooooooo, yeah.
Let's talk a little about The Wizard of Oz. When I say those four words, you probably think of the 1930s movie adaptation of the Oz books starring Judy Garland and Bert Lahr. But there have been so, so many different adaptations of the Oz stories over the years - many of them animated. For example, there's this one I've already looked at...
And there's also this, which I plan on reviewing another time...
And this, which I've heard was unnecessarily creepy...
So, let's play a game of hypotheticals here: what if somebody made ANOTHER animated adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Like, a direct-to-video movie or something? Specifically, one that didn't have Tom and Jerry in it? Who would they get to voice the characters?
Well, here's what I think... and just to make it a little harder on myself, I'm gonna try to avoid using anyone who's actually voiced any of these characters before - so, no Jess Harnell as the Cowardly Lion, no Tress MacNeille as the Wicked Witch of the West, etc.
Brooklynn Prince as Dorothy
How old is Dorothy supposed to be? Apparently, she's 11, at least in the original books. So I figured, why not cast an actual child actress as Dorothy? I'm not even sure how many times that's been done... a child actress played her in Return to Oz, there was an anime adaptation where she was voiced by the girl who played Annie... The one problem here is that I'm not super up-to-date when it comes to child actors and actresses.
Brooklynn Prince has been acting since she was two years old, and she's currently fourteen. She's appeared in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, The Angry Birds Movie 2 and The One and Only Ivan - plus she won a Critic's Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer back in 2017. With all of this in mind, I see no reason why she shouldn't take a whack at Dorothy.
Dee Bradley Baker as Toto
Toto is a dog. He doesn't talk, he just makes dog noises. Now, what voice actor is well-known for his incredibly realistic dog noises? Well, there's Frank Welker, of course, who actually did Toto's voice in the 1990s Wizard of Oz cartoon. But there's also Dee Bradley Baker, who's "woofed" and "barked" for such cartoon dogs as Diogee in Milo Murphy's Law, Charles in The Loud House, and Buster in My Friends Tigger and Pooh. So if you need a good Toto and Frank Welker's either too busy or too expensive, Dee is your guy. Oh, and Dee could also voice some if not all of the Flying Monkeys as well.
Bill Farmer as the Scarecrow
I'm not sure why not too many adaptations of the Oz stories have the Scarecrow speaking with a Southern accent. I mean, I'm not saying that he HAS to have one, but it just seems so OBVIOUS to me. When I think of scarecrows, I think of the country. And also autumn.
But anyway, I think that Bill would be a wonderful choice for the Scarecrow. For one thing, it's Bill Farmer, he's great at everything he does. He's actually FROM Kansas. An episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse called The Wizard of Dizz was a parody of The Wizard of Oz - and it had Goofy, Bill's most iconic role, playing the Scarecrow! On top of that, you probably know that Walt Disney World once had an attraction called The Great Movie Ride, which featured characters from The Wizard of Oz. On that ride, Bill provided the voice of the Cowardly Lion! I personally believe that something similar to Bill's voice for Doc from The 7D, maybe with a more pronounced Southern accent (so... basically Hop Pop from Amphibia?), would fit the Scarecrow quite nicely.
Other actors I could see making for a good Scarecrow are Jack McBrayer, Tom Kenny, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, or Tom Hanks (which I think stems from the fact that Woody was inspired by the Scarecrow, at least when he runs).
David Hyde Pierce as the Tin Man
I believe that my idea of a British Tin Man was inspired by the casting of Kelsey Grammer as the character for Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return. And no, my suggestion of David Hyde Pierce in particular is not just because he played Kelsey Grammer's brother on Frasier... okay, maybe that's PART of the reason, but it mainly stems from the fact that I think David Hyde Pierce is delightful, and he's certainly no stranger to voiceover work - if you're an animation fan, you probably know him best as Slim from A Bug's Life. I think that he'd be able to bring a large amount of charm and gusto to the Tin Man.
Kevin Michael Richardson as the Cowardly Lion
I think this is my favorite of the casting choices here. Not only does Kevin Michael Richardson has an enormous range, but he's no stranger to voicing lions (The Wild, Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Production, Prince John in House of Mouse) and he also provided the voice of Grimace in The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald, a similarly cowardly but good hearted character. With all of this in mind, I could see Kevin either emulating Bert Lahr or just doing his own thing as the Cowardly Lion, and either way it would work wonderfully.
Grey Griffin as the Wicked Witch of the West
You're familiar with "Twisted Toonz", right? It's this thing where a bunch of voice actors get together at a convention and do a script-reading of a movie as their characters - like, you'll have Tara Strong reading Han Solo's lines as Twilight Sparkle, for instance. I believe you can find a few of these on YouTube. Anyhow, at one of these Grey did an impression of the Wicked Witch of the West (I don't remember what movie they were doing, though...). Ever since then, I've been thinking that Grey would make a wonderful Wicked Witch of the West - not only that, but she also provided the voice of Dorothy in Tom and Jerry Meet the Wizard of Oz! How cool would it be if she were one of the few people to have voiced both Dorothy AND the Witch?
Candi Milo as the Good Witch of the North
Interesting fact: in the original Oz books, there are TWO Good Witches - the Good Witch of the North and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. Most animated Wizard of Oz productions do what the 1939 movie did and merge the Glindas into one character. But let's say that this hypothetical production wanted to be closer to the book and have two Good Witches. This character is a kindly old grandmother-type, right? So who better to do her voice than Candi Milo, the current voice of Granny from Looney Tunes?
Jennifer Hale as Glinda, the Good Witch of the South
I'm going to be very particular with this one - I want an actress with a voice that's both soothing and regal. Something that isn't too young-sounding or too old-sounding. After much deliberation, I decided on Jennifer Hale mainly based on her work as two different Disney princesses, Cinderella and Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.
Eric Bauza, Jeff Bennett, Dee Bradley Baker and Bob Bergen as the Munchkins
Because all four of them can do high-pitched, squeaky voices. I don't need a better reason than that.
Alan Tudyk as the Wizard
Okay, what kind of voice do we want for this guy? He kind of looks like the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland from me, so I was originally thinking of Corey Burton. But then it came to me - Disney's lucky charm Alan Tudyk! Not only did he do the voice of the Mad Hatter in the recent Once Upon a Studio short, he also voiced King Candy in Wreck-it Ralph, whose voice is based on Ed Wynn's and also has a bit of a Wizard of Oz influence in his design and role. Of course, the Wizard wouldn't necessarily HAVE to sound like Ed Wynn - given Alan's versatility as a voice actor, I could see him crafting a unique voice for the Wizard, or even something that mimics Frank Morgan's take.
If you have any ideas of your own in regards to possible casting choices for the Oz characters, feel free to post 'em in the comments section below. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm... dang it, I can't think of a good Wizard of Oz joke here. "I'm off to see the Wizard" sounds a tad too obvious...
How about the following if they were using a Vancouver voice cast:
ReplyDelete- Dorothy: Andrea Libman
- Toto: Brian Drummond (did dog noises as Skits on Martha Speaks)
- Scarecrow: Scott McNeil
- Tin Man: Ian James Corlett
- Cowardly Lion: Trevor Devall
- Wicked Witch of the West: Kathleen Barr
- Good Witch of the North: Tabitha St Germain
- Glinda, Good Witch of the South: Nicole Oliver
- Munchkins: Lee Tockar, Brian Drummond, and Ian James Corlett
- The Wizard: Terry Klassen (going by the Ed Wynn style voice you have in mind)
All looks good to me. I could hypothetically see Garry Chalk as the Cowardly Lion, too.
DeleteDorothy Gale – Cardi B
ReplyDeleteWhy? Cardi B's vibrant personality and fearless attitude transform Dorothy from the sweet farm girl into a bold, outspoken protagonist. Her rap skills add a unique flair to the journey down the Yellow Brick Road, complete with impromptu verses about her adventures in Oz.
Scarecrow – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Why? Known for his action-packed roles and commanding presence, Schwarzenegger brings muscle and unexpected wisdom to the Scarecrow. His iconic "I'll be back" line gets a clever twist as he seeks not just a brain, but also some brawn.
Tin Man – Vin Diesel
Why? Vin Diesel’s tough-guy image and deep voice add an edge to the Tin Man. His portrayal emphasizes the emotional struggles of the character, blending stoicism with moments of surprising vulnerability.
Cowardly Lion – Gordon Ramsay
Why? Gordon Ramsay’s fiery temperament and no-nonsense attitude make for a hilariously intense Cowardly Lion. His constant exclamations and critiques turn the Lion’s quest for courage into a series of comedic confrontations.
Glinda the Good Witch – Lady Gaga
Why? Lady Gaga’s extravagant style and theatrical presence make her the perfect Glinda. Her elaborate costumes and powerful performances add a dazzling, pop-culture twist to the role, complete with choreographed dance numbers.
The Wicked Witch of the West – Sacha Baron Cohen (as Ali G)
Why? Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedic genius and ability to embody outrageous characters turn the Wicked Witch into a hilariously over-the-top villain. Expect unexpected humor and absurd antics as she tries to thwart Dorothy’s journey.
Toto – Grumpy Cat (via CGI)
Why? Incorporating the internet-famous Grumpy Cat as Toto adds a layer of sarcastic humor. Using CGI, Toto’s perpetual scowl and side-eye reactions provide comedic relief throughout Dorothy’s adventure.
The Wizard of Oz – Steve Carell
Why? Steve Carell’s impeccable comedic timing and ability to play lovable goofballs make him an endearing Wizard. His bumbling attempts to maintain the illusion of power add heart and humor to the story.
Miss Gulch – Kim Kardashian
Why? Casting Kim Kardashian as Miss Gulch brings a reality TV twist to the antagonist. Her obsession with social media and fashion influences turn her pursuit of Dorothy into a series of glamorous yet petty schemes.
The Flying Monkeys:
Played by: Keanu Reeves
All of the Flying Monkeys are played by multiple Keanu Reeves, who says very little, but appears calm and intensely focused on his monkey business. Occasionally, one Keanu will randomly offer philosophical advice to Dorothy mid-flight.
The Munchkins – Various Influential YouTubers and TikTok Stars
Why? Bringing in popular internet personalities as the Munchkins connects the classic tale with today’s digital culture. Their diverse fanbases and unique content styles add a modern, relatable touch to the whimsical inhabitants of Oz.
Glinda’s Fairy Godmother – Oprah Winfrey
Why? Oprah’s nurturing presence and inspirational persona make her a perfect fit for Glinda’s Fairy Godmother. Her motivational speeches and heartfelt advice guide Dorothy through her challenges with grace and wisdom.
Flying Monkeys – Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Why? Dwayne Johnson’s charisma and larger-than-life personality turn the Flying Monkeys into charming yet formidable allies. His action-hero background adds a fun twist to their magical abilities and aerial antics.
The Emerald City Mayor – Donald Trump
Why? Casting a controversial figure like Donald Trump as the Emerald City Mayor adds a satirical edge to the story. His brash demeanor and unique speaking style create humorous conflicts and political satire within Oz.
Jester (Original Character) – Jim Carrey
Why? Introducing Jim Carrey as an original character, the Jester, adds unpredictable humor and wild antics. His ability to shift between comedy and drama brings an extra layer of entertainment to the magical court of Oz.
Cardi B as Dorothy flips the traditionally meek and sweet character into a powerhouse of confidence and modern swagger, creating unexpected humor as she navigates Oz with her unique style.
ReplyDeleteArnold Schwarzenegger as Scarecrow adds an unexpected layer of physicality and action-hero charm to a character typically focused on intellect, resulting in amusingly incongruent interactions.
Gordon Ramsay as Cowardly Lion turns the timid lion into a fiery, outspoken character who demands perfection and gets frustrated easily, clashing hilariously with his quest for courage.
Lady Gaga as Glinda transforms the benevolent witch into an extravagant, pop star-like figure, bringing over-the-top performances and unconventional magical solutions.
Sacha Baron Cohen as the Wicked Witch injects irreverent humor and absurdity into the antagonist role, making her more of a comedic foil than a menacing villain.
Grumpy Cat as Toto via CGI provides a perpetually unimpressed sidekick, adding sarcastic commentary that contrasts Dorothy’s exuberance.
Kim Kardashian as Miss Gulch satirizes the antagonist role by blending it with reality TV drama and social media obsession, creating a modern, relatable villain with a twist.
Steve Carell as the Wizard ensures that the mysterious figure is more of a lovable goof, providing endless comedic moments as he tries to maintain his façade.
Dorothy Gale:
ReplyDeletePlayed by: Danny DeVito
Instead of a sweet, innocent Kansas farm girl, we get a short, grumpy, wisecracking Dorothy who’s more concerned with getting out of Oz than anything else. He often mutters about "stupid shoes" and "annoying flying monkeys."
The Scarecrow:
Played by: Cardi B
She brings a unique street-smart attitude to the role, constantly making up for her lack of brains with sass and impromptu rap verses. Her flashy outfits and wild expressions contrast hilariously with the rustic cornfield surroundings.
The Tin Man:
Played by: Nicolas Cage
A bizarre, over-the-top performance where Cage’s Tin Man often breaks into random philosophical monologues about life, oil, and heartache. Occasionally, he screams into the sky for no apparent reason, in classic Cage fashion.
The Cowardly Lion:
Played by: Jeff Goldblum
Goldblum's eccentric, awkward line delivery makes the Cowardly Lion more like an anxious, quirky scientist who's overthinking every aspect of his bravery journey. Expect lots of "um, uh, y-yes, but should we?" moments.
The Wicked Witch of the West:
Played by: RuPaul
This version of the Witch slays the runway while plotting Dorothy’s demise. Her entrance is always accompanied by a fierce drag performance, and she’s more interested in Dorothy's poor fashion choices than the ruby slippers.
The Wizard of Oz:
Played by: Christopher Walken
A Wizard who's oddly calm but unsettling. He delivers all of his lines with cryptic pauses and bizarre facial expressions, making everyone question what exactly the Wizard is up to. Half of his speeches leave people scratching their heads.
Glinda the Good Witch:
Played by: Mike Tyson
Soft-spoken and kind, but with the unmistakable voice of Mike Tyson, this Glinda’s comforting presence is often offset by the sheer confusion of hearing those high-pitched tones combined with that unmistakable lisp. It works, somehow.
The Munchkins:
*Played by: The Entire Cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Instead of singing joyfully about the Lollipop Guild, these Munchkins are loud, sarcastic, and often bickering with each other. Charlie Day’s shrill voice as the lead Munchkin is particularly notable as he rambles on about "big shoes" and "flying houses."
Aunt Em:
Played by: Megan Thee Stallion
Her energy is electric as Aunt Em, delivering advice in her signature, confident style while wearing over-the-top farm clothes. She’s not just offering comfort; she’s bringing an entire pep talk with attitude.
Uncle Henry:
Played by: Post Malone
A tattooed, laid-back Uncle Henry who spends most of his time lounging on the farm, strumming his guitar and occasionally getting emotional about the tornado. He somehow makes every scene feel like a soft country concert.
The Wicked Witch’s Guards:
Played by: The Kardashians
In matching black-and-gold outfits, the Kardashians play the Witch’s guards, strutting their stuff while delivering lines with as little emotion as possible. Their obsession with selfies continues even while chasing Dorothy through the Witch's castle.