Forbidden Planet is one of those incredible sci-fi films that forced everyone else to up their game in order to remain competitive. It was one of the first ’50s sci-fi movies that took itself seriously and touched on subject matter that went far beyond just little green men in rubber suits. Indeed, the film questioned the nature of our very psyche and the dark dangers that lurk within it. Some have flirted with the possibility of a Forbidden Planet remake, but so far the slate remains in mothballs.
If fans were in charge of casting, they’d choose these fantastic actors to fill in the characters of Forbidden Planet. Do you agree or disagree with this list? Read on to find out!
Garrett Hedlund (Youngerford)
The character of Youngerford is best remembered as one of three crew members reprimanded by Commander Adams for failing to detect an unknown intruder which made its way onboard the ship. There isn’t much else to go by, which is why a remake could expand on Youngerford’s character in some way.
Garrett Hedlund could take on this role. He has a similar physical stature and appearance to original actor Jimmy Thompson. To expand on the story, Youngerford could end up being roped into a sub-plot whereby his character is angry about his reprimand and subsequent punishment and does something rash that ends up putting the crew in further danger.
Daniel Gillies (Bosun)
In the original film, Bosun was little more than a construction foreman, but a remake could also serve to expand on his role. Daniel Gillies has the same rugged stature as original actor George Wallace, and could easily pull off this kind of role.
He’s also talented enough to take his character in a more developed direction. This would require a solid script, as the original source material doesn’t leave a lot of intel as to Bosun’s history.
David Tennant (Cook)
Earl Holliman portrayed the ship’s cook in the original film, and it was rather a bit part to add some comic relief into a film that was (for its time) rather spooky. A remake could see the role expanded on with a sub-plot that goes beyond simply having Robby the Robot cook up a mountain of hooch. While Holliman’s portrayal of the character was indeed a highlight of the film, we’d love to see David Tennant take a stab at it, and go in a new direction.
Jake Gyllenhaal (Chief Engineer Quinn)
We thought Richard Anderson’s character Chief Quinn checked out unceremoniously in the original film, and we’d want to see his role expanded on if a remake were to happen. After all, shouldn’t a Chief Engineer tag along during an inspection of ancient alien technology? There’s room for the story to breathe here, by taking background characters and giving them more screen time.
Jake Gyllenhaal has a “chief engineer” type look, with his inquisitive face and a seeming desire to learn. If handled correctly, Quinn could serve as a pivotal character who sticks his nose a bit too far into Krell technology, thereby earning the subconscious wrath of Dr. Morbius. You know what comes next!
Margot Robbie (Altaira Morbius)
Margot Robbie has proven her chops as a highly versatile actress who can play anything from a deranged super-villain (Suicide Squad) to Tarzan’s immortal lover Jane (The Legend of Tarzan). She also has a face full of wonder, a trait that would serve her well if she portrayed Altaira Morbius. The role requires a degree of innocence and naivety, as well as a keen intellect.
She also bears a strong enough resemblance to original actress Anne Francis, which would go a long way towards adding nostalgia value to a remake. We’re quite confident that she’s got enough acting prowess to pull off the trauma the character eventually endures when Morbius’s dark psychic thoughts are channeled outwards.
Benedict Cumberbatch (Robby The Robot)
He’s already portrayed Smaug the Dragon in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, so why not put Benedict Cumberbatch in the voice role of everyone’s favorite intergalactic robot? Marvin Miller did a marvelous (albeit thankless) job portraying the voice of Robby in the 1956 original, and Cumberbatch would be a natural follow-up. He lacks Miller’s thundering baritone delivery, but that’s not a bad thing.
Cumberbatch could make the role his own by going down a slightly different, though similar path. It would be an opportunity for Cumberbatch to inject a bit of his English accent into the role, to give Robby a more classy delivery. Plus, it wouldn’t require much in the way of digital voice processing, as Cumberbatch already has everything he needs to give an accurate portrayal of the character, right out of the box.
Sam Worthington (Lieutenant Jerry Farman)
The character of Jerry Farman was equal parts military man and lecherous player. After meeting Dr. Morbius and his young doctor Altaira, he attempts to seduce the latter, only to be sent off by Commander Adams. That’s about as far as it goes until his character is killed off during a battle with the mysterious energy creature, and we believe that was a missed opportunity.
A remake of the film could have Farman pushing his luck by obsessing so heavily on Altaira that Dr. Morbius summons the creature to kill him directly, setting up a terrifying sub-plot that kicks off paranoia among the crew. Sam Worthington would be a great actor for this role. He’s versatile enough to summon a great degree of dark energy for a character with less-than-stellar morals, and his portrayal of Jerry Farman could end up strengthening the overall plot-line.
Kyle Chandler (Lieutenant “Doc” Ostrow)
Warren Stevens portrayed the all-too-curious Lieutenant Ostrow in the original film, and his scenes with Leslie Nielsen provided a nice counter-balance between brains and brawn. Kyle Chandler is an actor that would be perfect for this kind of role. He’s more emotionally intense than Stevens was, which would suit his character; a man obsessed with the brain-enhancing properties of Krell technology.
Chandler’s inherently gruff look would have to be tailored back a bit to give him a sense of intellectualism, without looking like a full-on soldier type. That means no five o’clock shadow for this actor! With the right script and the correct tone, Chandler could definitely take Doc’s obsessive side and expand on it, for the betterment of the story.
Ian McShane (Dr. Edward Morbius)
Ian McShane has just enough of a balance between good and evil to pull off the tortured character of Dr. Morbius. On the one hand, Morbius is a loving father and a devoted scientist who is obsessed with his work. On the other, he’s an unstable genius who inadvertently let the Genie out of the bottle, yet can’t manage to put it back in.
Ian McShane has enough presence to pull the role, and his uncanny ability to play charismatic characters that you’re drawn to, despite their untrustworthy nature, is amazing. The first half of the film could see McShane putting on his best Winston suit from John Wick, whereas the second act could see him summoning the same unstable energy as his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in 1977’s Jesus of Nazareth.
Henry Cavill (Commander John J. Adams)
Cavill’s got our vote for the good Commander. He’s already proven himself a fine actor, most recently in Netflix’s Witcher series, but he possesses several other elements that make him a great fit. Cavill can pull off a guy-in-charge look without appearing over-the-top obvious about it. He also projects a bit of an introvert, which would aid him in more psychologically intense scenes, such as conflicts with Dr. Morbius.
Cavill is understated, and that’s his main appeal. He’s a straight-up actor who would, in turn, play a straight-up, no-frills military man. There are a lot of actors who could play this role, but we believe Cavill ticks off the right boxes, in the right order.
